The culinary bucket list

How does every good day start? Of course, with a hearty breakfast! And the best meal of the day should certainly not be without the traditional Bernese “Ankezüpfe”. The skilfully woven yeast pastry can look back on a long history. It was first depicted as early as 1470. In the past, the breakfast pastry was mainly served on public holidays, but nowadays breakfast enthusiasts can enjoy it more often: Plaited bread is usually served on Sundays. This delicacy is not the only Bernese speciality that can be easily conjured up in your own bakery. We reveal the recipes for some Bernese specialities – enjoy.

On this tour, participants stroll through the beer capital to discover Bernese breweries and iconic pubs known for their special craft beers and to hear exciting facts and anecdotes from experienced beer sommeliers and sommelières. Did you know, for example, that it used to be very common to brew beer at home – and that it was a woman’s job? Or that the Oktoberfest takes place in September so that all the leftover beer is finished before starting to brew fresh beer in October? Learn all about it – and more – on the Bernese Beer Tour. Professional tasting of a total of 14 different beers (1 dl each) is also on the agenda.

Why does this internationally popular Swiss cheese have holes and how do they get there? Find the answer at the Emmental Show Dairy in Affoltern. The journey there already offers a wonderful view of the picturesque landscape, whether you travel by bike on the Käseroute (“cheese trail”) starting at Burgdorf Castle, by panoramic train, by bus or by car (40 minutes from Bern). The show dairy’s main attraction is the Königsweg (“king’s trail”): the lovingly designed tour shows how high-quality raw milk is turned into delicious cheese and takes visitors into the depths of the impressive maturing cellar. And of course you’ll have the opportunity to try the famous product.

This next world-famous culinary highlight is also located in the Emmental.Trubschachen, a picturesque village straight out of a story book, has been home to the Kambly factory since 1910. At Kambly, visitors can learn the secrets behind the art of confectionery at interactive stations and watch the Maîtres Confiseurs at work. If you’re feeling inspired, there are daily baking events for children and adults that can be booked in advance – “schnouse” (nibbling, taste-testing) is allowed! The same applies to the factory shop, where some 100 different Kambly specialities can be sampled. The Kambly Experience is open from Monday to Sunday, admission is free. There is a direct train from Bern that takes you there in 35 minutes.

A wonderful atmosphere, light-flooded rooms, parquet flooring, oak windows and stylish cast-iron heaters: the rooms of the Vatter house offer an inspiring setting for meetings, workshops and presentations for up to 60 people. As befits the historic sandstone building, the rooms were named after historical Bernese personalities: the “Helene von Mülinen”, the “Meret Oppenheim”, the “Julie Bondeli” – which one will it be? And the culinary options of the Vatter Business Centre delight the palate: there’s everything from balanced breakfasts and light business lunches to delicious pastries in the afternoon. And the in-house restaurant Mishio serves tasty Asian cuisine.

The Musigbistrot has been an integral part of the Monbijou neighbourhood since 1992, regularly hosting a wide array of events such as concerts of various styles, readings and poetry slams. When the restaurant opened, combining gastronomy and culture in a neighbourhood eatery was still a fairly new concept. And the Musigbistrot’s varied gastronomic programme with high-quality specialities from all over the world attracts a loyal fan base. Small teaser, anyone? Cevapcici, chickpea and vegetable curry or Toblerone chocolate mousse are just a few delicious reasons why it’s worth planning an outing to the Monbijou.

Be it for an afternoon of shopping under the historic arcades, a visit to one of the many museums in the Kirchenfeld neighbourhood, or a day trip to one of the more rural areas around Bern – the Kreuz hotel is the ideal starting point. It is located in the heart of the city, yet still only six minutes on foot from the train station. The world-famous Meret Oppenheim fountain and the hub for cultural events Progr are also only a stone’s throw away. Insider’s tip: the in-house restaurant Bärenhöfli is said to serve the best “Öpfuchüechli” (similar to apple fritters) in town.