The genius of chefs

Lausanne is an exceptional gastronomic destination thanks to the many Michelin-starred restaurants it is lucky enough to boast. Among the latter, the Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Ville in Crissier one of Lausanne’s most prestigious restaurants, which for almost 50 years has been a source of remarkable emulation in the region is at the top of the list. After Fredy Girardet, Philippe Rochat and Benoît Viollier, Franck Giovannini is now its fourth three-star chef. Anne-Sophie Pic, the juggler of flavours and the most starred woman chef in the world, is at the helm of the restaurant at the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne, with 2 Michelin stars and 18 points in the Gault-Millau guide. At La Table du Lausanne Palace 2 Michelin stars and 17 GaultMillau points it’s the sparkling Franck Pelux who deploys his talent and creativity in the kitchen.

Lausanne Tourisme’s website lists all the restaurants from the Lausanne area that are included in the Michelin Guide and Gault&Millau for Switzerland.

Memorable culinary experiences

In addition to these distinctions, the city of Lausanne and its surroundings boast a large number of establishments dedicated to good food. During a colourful and gourmet stay, visitors can choose from a wide range of cuisines and atmospheres that are as diverse as they are unforgettable:

• The century-old atmosphere of a traditional bar, the oldest of which, Pinte Besson, was founded in 1780.
• Enjoy a fine fish dish or a summer salad on the terrace with a spectacular view of the lake and mountains;
• Immerse yourself in a typical Vaud inn serving hearty local dishes such as papet vaudois (leek and cabbage sausage), charcuterie or the traditional tarte à la raisinée;
• The pleasure of sharing a creamy cheese fondue, fully savoured in the picturesque setting of a Swiss chalet;
• The change of scenery of a candlelit dinner served during a cruise on a Compagnie Générale de Navigation boat.

For sure, Lausanne’s culinary scene is a bustling one! A myriad of pup-up terraces spring up at the start of summer, and the foodtrucks on Place de la Riponne add every day to the many takeaways you’ll find all over the city. For our best picks, new vegetarian or vegan places, or the best brunches in town (a favourite with the locals), don’t hesitate to glean the best addresses from The Lausanner blog.

For a more exhaustive list, we invite you to visit the extensive Eating out section on the Lausanne Tourisme website.

The friendly atmosphere of the markets

Every Wednesday and Saturday, the colourful market stalls with their abundance of fruit and vegetables, cheeses and other fresh local produce fill the pedestrian streets of the city centre with a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere.

The art of chocolate

Chocolate is undoubtedly one of the most mesmerising of all the gourmet delights on offer in Lausanne. Some forty chocolate makers are well established in the city, offering both classic sweets and specialities. From intense, bewitching cocoa mouthfuls to tasty artisan milk chocolate bars and cinnamon or chilli pralines, cocoa bean aficionados are in for a treat.

Lausanne Choco Tour

During this gourmet tour, the city’s best chocolate makers will help you discover the famous history of Swiss chocolate, which began in Lausanne in 1830 with the Kohler sons’ factory. Thanks to this activity, you can visit 5 of the 11 chocolate makers of your choice and leave with a box specially designed for you, featuring all the local know-how that has made Lausanne one of the most emblematic cities in the history of Swiss chocolate.

Lausanne à Table

This festival of taste will tantalise your taste buds from April to December with surprising, exquisite and daring culinary experiences. Will you be tempted by a guided tour of the Fondation de l’Hermitage followed by a lunch in the park, by an pop-up table in an unusual location such as on a lake pier, or by the traditional picnic on August 1^st to celebrate Swiss national day?

If you’re more into street food, the ever-popular Miam Festival brings together some fifty hand-picked craftsmen of taste over the Whitsun weekend. The crème de la crème of local restaurateurs, caterers, foodtrucks, artisans and producers will treat you to a three-day feast in the heart of the city. British newspaper The Independent ranked the event among the top ten street food festivals and markets in Europe.

The Délice gourmet network

If more evidence was needed that Lausanne feeds its guests well, it would be its membership of the Délice City Network on Food & Gastronomy. Along with 26 other carefully selected destinations, Délice brings together and promotes cities around the world that are recognised for their gastronomic heritage, the expertise of their professionals, the excellence of their products and the richness of their culinary art de vivre.

Lausanne and wine: the alchemy between man and nature

Lausanne is Switzerland’s largest winegrower, with no fewer than five estates, divided between the La Côte vineyards to the west of Lausanne and the Lavaux vineyards to the east: Château Rochefort in Allaman; Abbaye de Mont between Mont-sur-Rolle and Perroy; Burignon, perched in the Lavaux vineyards of Saint-Saphorin; and Clos des Moines and Clos des Abbayes, both in the heart of Dézaley. The wines produced here can be found on the best tables in the town and the canton.

Lausanne, wine capital of Switzerland

Lausanne is proud to represent Switzerland in the prestigious ” Great Wine Capitals” network. It owes this honour to its commitment to the cultivation of grapes on its estates, its geographical location as a gateway to the canton’s wine-growing regions and its age-old tradition of wine production.

Traditional grape varieties and contemporary specialities

The favourite grape varieties that are the local darlings are undoubtedly Chasselas and Pinot Noir, predominant in the Lausanne vineyards. Produced from beautiful golden grapes, Chasselas is a fruity, delicate white wine that is particularly popular with the locals as an aperitif. Pinot Noir, on the other hand, is a light, fruity, sensual and subtle red wine. As wine lovers seek greater diversity, new grape varieties are appearing, such as Gamaret, Garanoir, Vionnier and Merlot.

The age-old tradition of auctioning off Lausanne wines

If you’re looking for an authentic experience, immerse yourself in the traditional City of Lausanne wine auction, held every year in December. Merchants, restaurateurs, associations and private individuals vie with each other to acquire lots ranging from 36 to 120 75 cl bottles.

Discovering Lavaux wines at Vinorama

A modern building, designed to blend into a setting of rocks, vineyards and water… Welcome to the Lavaux Vinorama, a genuine invitation to explore the wines of the region through images illustrating the work of the winegrower over the seasons in the heart of this unique vineyard. If you prefer a more sensory approach, opt for an à la carte tasting of one of the local specialities, such as Chasselas or Plant Robert. More than 250 Lavaux wines are available for sale.

Unique, magical, panoramic Lavaux

Suspended between land, sky and lake, the vineyards of Lavaux, shaped by man over the centuries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, form a landscape of rare beauty. In summer and winter alike, the walk above Lake Geneva is divine, the views are breathtaking and Lausanne just a stone’s throw away. Discover it on foot or on board a vineyard train, taking the time to stroll around or stopping off at a wine cellar for a typical, friendly tasting session.