An idyllic seasonal ephemeral bar nestled under the historic clock tower of St-Prex. The land itself is ancient, but the concept, the products, and the welcome at Tic Toc are fresh.
Living in Lausanne, we aren’t strangers to our summertime rituals which frequently involve the lake. There’s nothing like setting up your blanket on the grassy lawns and leisurely rotating between the rich rays of the sun and the crisp waters of Lac Leman. We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to finding reprieve from the heat, but one complaint we often hear is that our lakeside area in Lausanne is underdeveloped and underutilized when it comes to food and drink experiences.*
That’s why on a warm day over the weekend we decided to expand our radius and head just west to the closeby village of Saint-Prex. We hadn’t been back to Saint-Prex since our introduction to cold water swimming last November, but we fell in love with the little town even then when the sky spilled sepia tones onto the shore. In the summer, the village comes alive with vivid colors and energy; the lake hosts kids practicing backflips from the floating docks, and windsurfers are sprinkled throughout the cerulean water, desperate to find the sweet spot between sailing and flying.
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But if the lakefront in St-Prex isn’t enough, the historic village center, just a few minutes on foot from the lake, is beyond special. The town was founded with the construction of the château in 1234AD and you can sense its age, in the most charming way, with every step you take. As you walk down the single main street called Grand Rue, you happen upon a clock tower which is known to locals as the “town gate.” It is here, to the entrance of the town and just under the clock tower, that you’ll find an ephemeral bar that is just as inviting.
Tic Toc is a seasonal bar that offers refreshing drinks (frozen mojitos! pitchers of beer! jugs of sangria!) and creatively delicious snacks for anyone wanting to take a break. Using local artisans for their products, some as close as a few meters away, it’s truly a neighborhood hangout spot where people quickly get on a first-name basis.
St-Prex local Jasmine Gfeller, one of the masterminds behind Tic Toc.
Known as the “town gate”, this archway leads into the historic center.
And you may recognize one of the faces behind the bar: our very own Jasmine Gfeller of Un Po’ di Più fame joined forces with fellow Canadian restauranter Andrée-Anne Bergeron to open this gorgeous spot in 2020. This year, they’ve added sommelière Lætitia Cuendet-Pochon to their team, creating a well-rounded and extremely dynamic group guiding the vision. The concept feels fresh and playful, the service is attentive and welcoming, and the location could not be any more idyllic.
The consensus? Going to Tic Toc will make you want to be a part of the close-knit community in Saint-Prex, but once you have a seat, you’ll realize that to them, you already are.
Tic Toc – Restaurant St-Prex
Place de L’Horloge St-Prex
Opening hours this season (2021):
Select Thursdays (July 1, 15, 29; August 12) 17-22
Friday 17-22
Saturday 12-22
Sunday 12-22
It will close for the season on August 15
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram
*our favorite dining addresses in Ouchy (the lakeside area of Lausanne) are Jetée de la Compagnie, The Lacustre, 57 Grill, Hoi An BBQ, and Thai au Lac.