Where to eat in Lucerne: what to order and where
Lucerne eats Swiss: pastry pies, sausages, rösti and lake fish. The old town has traditional guild houses and a brewery, and a market on the river twice a week. Book dinner at the well-known rooms, and keep lunch for the cheaper corners.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The old town, on either bank of the Reuss.
- Order this
- Luzerner Chügelipastete, a puff-pastry pie with a creamy meat stew.
- When to eat
- Lunch from 11:30, dinner from 18:00. Kitchens often close by 22:00.
- Book or walk in
- Book dinner at the guild houses. Cafes and market stalls take walk-ins.
- Tipping
- Service is included. Round up or leave a few francs for good service.
What to eat in Lucerne
- Luzerner ChügelipasteteA puff-pastry shell filled with a creamy stew of veal and mushrooms. The city's best-known dish.
- RöstiFried grated potato, crisp outside and soft within, served beside meat or with an egg.
- Lake fishPerch and whitefish from the lake, fried or pan-cooked and served with potatoes.
- Cheese fondueMelted cheese and wine in a pot, eaten with bread. Best in colder months.
- CervelatA boiled Swiss sausage, often grilled and eaten with bread and mustard.
- Swiss chocolateBuy from a confiserie rather than a supermarket, and choose a small amount of something fresh.
Where to eat in Lucerne, by neighborhood
Old town, north bank
Guild houses, brewery restaurants and cafes around the bridges. The best-known rooms are here, and prices are higher.
Old town, south bank
Along the Reuss and around the station, with cafes and quick lunches. Easier to walk into than the north bank.
Lakefront
Hotel restaurants and terraces with views. Good for coffee, and dear for dinner.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Wirtshaus Taube
CHFCHFTraditional inn · Old town
OrderA traditional Lucerne dish
A traditional inn serving Lucerne and Swiss dishes from old recipes, with a terrace overlooking the weir on the river.
- Book
- Book online or by phone
Confirmed open: taube-luzern.ch
-
Zunftrestaurant Pfistern
CHFCHFCHFGuild house restaurant · Old town
OrderLuzerner Chügelipastete
A guild house dating from 1578, facing the Chapel Bridge. The dining rooms are the reason to come.
- Book
- Book by phone or online
Confirmed open: myswitzerland.com
-
Rathaus Brauerei
CHFCHFBrewery restaurant · Old town
OrderA house beer and a plate of Swiss sausage
A brewery restaurant on the river, brewing its beer in copper kettles in the room.
- Book
- Book by phone
Confirmed open: rathausbrauerei.ch
-
Old Swiss House
CHFCHFCHFHistoric restaurant · Old town
OrderWiener schnitzel, finished at the table
A long-standing restaurant near the Lion Monument, filled with antiques. The schnitzel is the dish people come for.
- Book
- Book online or by phone
- Closed
- Sunday and Monday
Confirmed open: oldswisshouse.ch
Food markets in Lucerne
- Wochenmarkt LuzernFruit, vegetables, cheese, bread and regional produce along both banks of the Reuss.Tuesday and Saturday, from early morning to early afternoonSource: luzern.com
How Lucerne eats
- Meal timesLunch is the main hot meal, and kitchens close early in the evening.
- TippingService is included in the price. Round up or leave a few francs for good service.
- ReservationsBook the guild houses for dinner, especially at weekends and in December.
- WaterTap water is safe and good. Many fountains in the city also run drinking water.
Signs of a place to walk past
Menus with photos of the dishes by the bridge.
Staff on the lakefront calling you in.
Chügelipastete listed as a ready-made frozen dish.
Eating in Lucerne: questions people ask
What food is Lucerne known for?
Luzerner Chügelipastete, a puff-pastry pie with a creamy meat stew, is the local dish. Lake fish, rösti and sausages are common too.
Where is the best place to eat in Lucerne?
For tradition, Wirtshaus Taube or Pfistern. For beer, the Rathaus Brauerei.
Do you need to book restaurants in Lucerne?
For the guild houses and inns at dinner, yes, especially at weekends. Cafes and market stalls take walk-ins.
How much do you tip in Lucerne?
Service is included. Round up or leave a few francs for good service.
Is Lucerne expensive for food?
Yes. Lunch menus and the market are the best value, and tap water is free.
When is the Lucerne market?
The weekly market runs on Tuesday and Saturday along both banks of the Reuss.