Sun shining, breeze blowing, itching to get outside? Here’s where you should spend your days and evenings when the weather is just right. We’ve rounded up a list of our favorite terraces in and around Lausanne:
La Parada
A brand new and colorful terrace in the heart of Lausanne with a dynamic lunch menu and after-work drinks and bites. We spent an entire afternoon lunching on this terrace and fell in love. Who doesn’t want to sip on a margarita and eat chips and guac under the canopy of verdant green while listening to the rippling flow of a city fountain?
Les Jardins du Vieux Lausanne & Giraf Bar
An oasis in the heart of the city, Les Jardins is one of those special places that you kind of want to keep for yourself. Nestled at the base of La Cité, the seasonal bar is a beautiful brainchild of the Restaurant le Vieux-Lausanne and Bar Giraf.
Le Café Perché
Nestled within the Quartier de la Violette just above Beaulieu lies a somewhat hidden outdoor café that’s worth finding. Le Café Perché offers homemade lemonades, organic coffees, artisanal ice cream, and flavorful sandwiches and snacks all faits maison using regional products. It’s a simple and humble space with anything but a simple and humble panoramic view.
Sardine
Verdant, lively, and right in the heart of La Cité, Sardine has become one of our favorite terraces in Lausanne for a drink with friends or a special dinner out.
Café de l’Evêché
On the hidden terrace of Café de l’Evêché, you’ll find a sympathetic crowd of cheese lovers ordering one of the café’s TEN fondue options. Although we’ve not yet tried it, the house fondue especially piqued our interest – it’s prepared with beer and armagnac.
Brasserie de Montbenon
Your first steps into the Brasserie de Montbenon will be extraordinary. Your gaze will be drawn upward, and as if by instinct, you will gasp and briefly hold your breath. It’s just that beautiful. Then you’ll step out onto the terrace and have a hard time choosing whether to sit inside or outside.
The Great Escape
There might not be a more amicable place in all the city. For many, stepping into The Great Escape is a nostalgic experience, conjuring memories of collegiate days and eternal summers.
Thai Au Lac
Situated right on the water near the Vidy harbour, the terrace stretches out underneath a canopy of trees and umbrellas. On this particular evening, the tables were filled with couples, friends, families–smiling sun-kissed cheeks drinking cocktails and sharing generous platters, the smell of curry and garlic wafting in the air.
Les Arches
Ripped jeans, body piercings, tube tops, and killer tattoos litter this bar under a bridge. Owned by the D! Club, this spot is prime time for people watching, catching a few sun rays, and drinking a killer frozen margarita.
The Lacustre
Watch boats pass, feel the breeze off the lake, gaze as the sunlight changes on the mountains, and eat and drink incredibly well. We’ve spent many brunches, lunches, and even laaaaate evenings at The Lacustre and we still keep coming back for more. It remains one of our favorite terraces in Lausanne for it’s laid back vibe and quality food.
L’Impression
A small neighborhood bistro with a flexitarian menu (meaning everyone is welcome, and flavors are just as bold and bright and fresh regardless of whether you order a vegan dish or the lamb), they are open for breakfast, brunch and lunch. We were particularly struck by how simple yet stunning our dishes were.
Jetée de La Compagnie
In a city as small as Lausanne, it’s easy to make the mistake of believing that everything has already been seen and that all the good ideas have already been had. But for all the tracks that we’ve made across this town, we never ventured beyond the Bellerive parking lot to visit the waterfront behind the CGN docks until this little buvette encouraged us to.
Les Grandes Roches
You might assume that drinking under a bridge should be saved as a last resort in life. But at Les Grandes Roches an unusual urban space has been reclaimed and under-bridge-drinking given a new cool.
P’tit Bar
Just under the shadows of our Notre Dame cathedral sits a cafe whose name is certainly no misnomer, P’Tit Bar. With just a few tables scattered comfortably on the sidewalk, it’s safe to say that this terrace has one of the best views in the city.
La Folie Voltaire
This is one of Lausanne’s family hotspots, so don’t hesitate to bring the little guys. A playground is just next to the dining area, so you can enjoy your adult conversation, knowing that your children are a short ear-shot away.
Downtown
Right in the heart of Lausanne, with a view of the Palace and the energy of the Flon, is Downtown. Known for their incredible breakfast, superfood salads and burgers, it’s a great place to start the morning or grab an apero or dinner with friends.
Café des Artisans
Snag a seat on this urban terrace in the midst of Lausanne center. Drink local brews and eat tasty dishes all while watching the city go by.
L’Auberge de Beaulieu
The outside front terrace, or beer garden, is spacious and sunny. A perfect place to let the kids run around (or play in the rocks), while you enjoy a beer, a homemade agua fresca or one of the stunning cocktails on their menu. We imagine many summer evenings spent on this terrace in the future.
Le Bar @ Beau Rivage Palace
Under a shade of trees, and views of our pristine lake – the 5* service and cocktails make this bar in Ouchy a favorite to frequent when walking the boardwalk. Plus the pebbles and large open space nearby can occupy little ones if they happen to be in your company.
Hungry Bear
It’s a terrace in the trees sous-gare where the fresh cocktails, regional plates, and local fare are highlighted. Focusing on the locality and proximity of their products, as well as small producers, Hungry Bear is a restaurant that aims to surprise and delight with unusual combinations, colors, and textures. Their daily offering of brunch toasts, both sweet and savory, as well as their emphasis on healthy, flavorful dishes brings a refreshing and dependable spot to our rotation.
Etoile Blanche
This 1930s-themed bar and restaurant is famous for its hamburgers, great selection of beers, and lively after-work drinks scene. The establishment borrows its name from the White Star Line, the British shipping company that gave the world the Titanic among other forward-thinking, turn-of-the-20th-century vessels and the décor remains faithful to this retro spirit.
Street Cellar
Self-described as a “wine bar that breaks all the codes”, Street Cellar is the result of a crowd-funding initiative by two friends. They will offer local wines drawn directly from the barrel, elevated but unpretentious street food, and their space will be decorated and painted by local street artists.
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Hope you will add more to your already-nice list. I think about Restaurant du Théâtre, Brasserie de Montbenon, Watergate
Thankfully you don’t mention the best one, Le Montriond, I want it to remain my secret spot… Don’t go there! 😉
Haha–well we must say we haven’t been since the first week they were open (years ago)! We definitely need to go back and see what all the buzz is about 😉
And the Montriond!!!
We’re on it!