10 Best Places For Brunch In Bern Switzerland

An old-world, picturesque city, Bern is a serene urban getaway for the modern traveller. In the midst of this secluded and quaint serenity, eat at Bern’s comfortable brunch restaurants and savour the best of what the capital city of Switzerland has to offer.

Schwellenmätteli

Restaurant, Swiss

Right on the river Aare is the Schwellenmätteli restaurant. The pretty terrace affords great views over both the river and the old town and is the perfect place to start a day of sightseeing. One of their highlights are the syrup drinks made from flowers and fruit, with all the ingredients being locally sourced. Enjoy the typically Swiss dish of Birchermüesli alongside the typical Continental breakfasts of cold meats, cheeses, fruit juices and even a glass of Prosecco.

Price range: fine dining

Opening hours for brunch: Sundays 10am-1.30pm

Watch out for: the views from the terrace

Kornhauscafé

Located in the center of the city, Kornhauscafé is at the heart of a historic Bern. It serves a hearty and well-known brunch: the food is fresh and robustly healthy, and always very well presented. The selection of the food is large as well: apart from the general breads and jams, there’s also a wide variety of antipasti to be sampled, smoked fishes, other meats, and freshly-pressed juices. This is the perfect place for a leisurely, sumptuous Sunday brunch.

Price range: fine dining

Opening hours: Sundays 10am-2pm

Watch out for: its selection of brunch choices

Restaurant Marzilibrücke

Restaurant, Continental, Swiss, European

The Restaurant Marzilibrücke likes to have a combination of the traditional Continental brunch-breakfast selection as well as some international items on their list (think pancakes with maple syrup). The location of the restaurant is beautiful: located just by the river, there are tables set out in their shady garden, perfect for an al fresco summer morning.

Price range: fine dining

Opening hours: Sunday 10am onwards

Watch out for: their shady garden by the river Aare

Confiserie La Praline

Bakery, Restaurant, Tea Room, Coffee, European

Choose to eat your brunch at a traditional confiserie, the beloved confection-shop of the Swiss. The Confiserie La Praline is a tea room-esque restaurant and bakery situated in the Breitenrainquartier in Bern and has a very old-world charm to it. Come on their “Bäcker-Zmorgen”, which happens on Saturdays and Sundays and has set portions of breads, juices, and other traditional breakfast items.

Price range: mid-range

Opening hours: Sat-Sun 8am-2pm

Watch out for: the delicious confectionaries (buy some with your breakfast)

Zehendermätteli

Restaurant, Swiss, Fast Food

Just outside Bern, Zehendermätteli is an idyllic restaurant on a half-island on the river Aare. This serene retreat is very family friendly and beautiful; an escape from the urban spaces of the city of Bern. Their Sunday brunch has a large range of food to choose from, arranged in a service-friendly buffet. Spend your time after your breakfast strolling along the walkways by the Aare and enjoying the lovely views.

Price range: fine dining

Opening hours: Sunday 10am-12.30pm

Watch out for: the relaxed outdoor garden

Restaurant Rosengarten

Restaurant, German, European, Swiss

Set in Bern’s stunning rose garden, the Restaurant Rosengarten has fantastic views over the cityscape of Bern. Their Frühstück (breakfast in German) lasts as long as a normal brunch would, and has enough selections for a brunch if you choose the bigger option. There’s a variety of cheeses to sample, and a little bread-basket. Alongside there are the usual hot beverages, the juices, and various meat choices.

Price range: fine dining

Opening hours: daily 9am-11am

Watch out for: their meat and cheese plate option

Caffè Bar Sattler

Bar, Coffee Shop, Coffee, European, Vegetarian

Filled with a hip retro charm, the Caffè Bar Sattler is a charming little café that sees a very mixed and alternative crowd. The service is swift and friendly, and the atmosphere very relaxed. Eat a traditional continental breakfast in the small café whilst chatting with friends or strangers; and be sure to taste their home-made ice cream afterwards as a special treat.

Price range: budget

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-11pm, Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 9am-6pm

Watch out for: the coffee

Zar Bar

Bar, Cafe, Coffee, Beer

Although primarily a bar, the Zar Bar also serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. They have a large selection of coffees and teas, as well as hot chocolate, and they serve primarily a sweet breakfast. They have cakes à la Viennese cafés as well as chocolate confections. The breakfast is laid out like a buffet, with warm breads, fruit juices, and jars of jams and Nutella. Be sure to stop by for a relaxed, laid-back breakfast or brunch.

Price range: mid-range

Opening hours: Saturdays 10am-3pm

Watch out for: the patio

Tibits

Restaurant, Vegetarian, European, Healthy

A popular vegetarian restaurant, Tibits offers sumptuous and healthy brunches. There are vegan options as well as vegetarian options, and all allergens are clearly marked. There’s a wide variety of breads and fruit juices, but you also have the option to choose between a cold buffet and a hot buffet. The hot buffet is recommended due to the more unusual variety of choices (Demeter scrambled egg, French toast, etc.)

Price range: mid-range

Opening hours: Sunday 9am-2pm

Watch out for: decadent hot-dish selection

Brasserie Lorraine

Brasserie, Restaurant, Peruvian, Vegetarian, Vegan

The Brasserie Lorraine is a quiet, unassuming restaurant that does some of the city’s finest brunches. With a large variety of both meat and vegetarian options, there’s something for everyone. Their outdoor patio is a shady, leafy area with subdued conversation. Eat your brunch at the brasserie with a newspaper and while the morning away peacefully.

Price: mid-range

Opening hours: Sundays 10am-2pm

Watch out for: al fresco brunch

About the author

Pratyusha Prakash

Pat, as she is otherwise known, is currently studying for an MA Honours in English Literature at the University of Edinburgh. Her passions include poetry, travelling, wit, and cooking. She has a perfectionist’s attitude to coursework and essay-writing and wants to write hers as artistically and exquisitely as possible. She is always open to learning more about new ideas, opinions, cultures and lifestyles. She would like to continue studying literature for a few more years and eventually branch out into academia and/or researching and presenting documentaries, as both allow her to share the things she’s learnt with the world.