8 Best Restaurants in Vaud, Switzerland

The Pichard family, keepers of this weathered centuries-old chalet, holds dear the inn's heritage of feeding and lodging stagecoach passengers and Alpine enthusiasts. In summer the front patio hugging the main street fills with boot-clad hikers reaching across platters of air-dried meats and mountain cheeses served with baskets of crusty, dark bread. The rustic structure has carved eaves with hand-painted designs, creaky floors, and old, rippled, handblown-glass windows. The change of seasons brings the crowd inside to sit on heavy wooden furniture eager to swirl ragged cubes of bread in fondue caquelons or scrape raclette and potatoes together on their plates. The menu also includes salads, meat dishes, and Rösti, but don't expect any fussy preparations.

The Auberge de Luins is beloved by locals and tourists alike—there is often a cluster of villagers gathered at the community table debating the quality of the latest vintage or regional politics.

All the customers seem to know each other at this traditional dining institution, where shared wooden tables and clattering china create the perfect ambience for fondue, mussels, sausage, or choucroûte (sauerkraut). Prominent members of Lausanne's arts community swarm here after rehearsals and concerts, as service continues until 11 pm—late by Swiss standards.

Locals have been squeezing into this cozy, eccentric café for more than a decade. More than a dozen coffee drinks are served alongside buttery pastries and heartier breakfast options. This little "ladybug" is cute as can be: the decor is decidedly funky, with gravity-defying stacks of books glued to its colorful walls and oversize Warhol-esque portraits in the restrooms. An outdoor seating area on a main pedestrian street means it is prime people-watching territory.

At this self-proclaimed gourmet burger bar, Lausannois feast on freshly grilled, juicy burgers while avoiding the town's McDonald's and Burger King. The chain has a refreshing "go-local" philosophy, and most ingredients are produced within a 25-mile radius. Try the Elvis burger with blue cheese and bacon, or the veggie burger with warm goat cheese, arugula, and spicy chutney.

While driving the Route du Vignoble, you can sample the local wine and munch a few rich Malakoffs at L'Union.

If sweets are on your mind, pick up a handcrafted chocolate in the shape of Charlie Chaplin's shoes from Läderach, on a pedestrian walkway near the tourist office. The chocolate showroom features live demonstrations and course offerings for budding chocolatiers.

The lunch-and-tearoom set (ladies with poodles, Brits in tweeds, fashionistas in Gucci) regularly descends on Zurcher, the irresistible confiserie on Montreux's main drag. A green salad, the potage du jour (soup of the day), and a chocolate torte make a great quick meal. The café is closed on Monday.