It almost seems a distant memory, but we remember when finding a truly good coffee in Lausanne felt like a treasure hunt all its own. These days we are spoiled for choice with coffee purveyors that bring finesse, creativity and passion to their work. Here are some of our favorite places to sit back, relax, and enjoy the perfect cup.
Ça Passe Crème
You can’t think coffee in Lausanne without thinking about Steeve and Davide from Ça Passe Crème. What started as a “closet” like space in sous-gare has now transformed into a specialty coffee haven (right next door to their old space) with gorgeous interior design, friendly baristas, and delicious coffee.
Sleepy Bear
Diana and her team’s knowledge and passion about coffee permeate each cup – and you can taste the difference. Now with two locations, one sous-gare and the other centrally located in Riponne, there's more options for you to enjoy this incredible coffee sur place or on the go.
Coffee Page
Coffee Page is part coffee shop, part bookstore. Owner Jean Kehlhofer wants you to come and linger over the things he loves the most – a carefully crafted cup of coffee, homemade cakes, and artistic coffee table books. The reading materials are available for purchase but also for enjoying sur place. Carefully selected titles cover topics like digital journalism, architecture, outdoor living, and fly fishing.
Bel-Air Coffee
It’s tucked away and hidden, but aren’t some of the best places the hardest to find? This stylish coffee shop has a Scandi feel to it, perfect for a quiet morning with a book, or to meet up with friends for a cozy and intimate catch-up. TLG Tip: Snag a cardamom roll baked fresh on-site and provided by the bakers of White Rabbit Bakery in Zurich.
The Coffee Project
Home to self-proclaimed coffee geeks, The Coffee Project uses single-origin specialty coffee beans, aiming to create the best cup in town. This intimate café gives you a choice of coffee beans from around the world to taste your way through, all from individual farms. If you get hungry, stick around and order a souvlaki as it’s also the Greek Project.
Seasonal: Casse-Croûte de Vidy (Take-away)
There’s something about grabbing a takeaway coffee to-go and strolling the lakeside, and before Casse-Croûte, your shot at getting specialty coffee in Vidy/Ouchy was nonexistent. Connected to the folks who run Bel-Air Coffee, it’s a wonderful feeling to sip on an exceptionally-made Flat White while admiring the view.
Le Pointu
Bigger than some of the establishments on this list, Le Pointu loses none of the charm and atmosphere of a great café. Just round the corner from Place de la Riponne, if you haven’t been yet it will fast become one of your regular haunts. The owners emphasize creating a warm, friendly environment where everyone feels at home, and we’d recommend trying their brunch one weekend. Just plan in a few hours as you won’t want to leave.
Culture Café
A hidden gem for coffee lovers, Culture Café offers incredible coffee in a relaxed setting – nestled within the satisfying surroundings of FNAC. Children are welcome, and there’s a fantastic kids corner to keep them occupied, but it also lends itself perfectly to a few hours of work or quiet study.
Vaga Bon Café
Cool as a cucumber, Vaga Bon has style and flair, having started life as a coffee truck in Riponne. They curate their coffee selections carefully, taking pride in their craft – and it shows. We wrote about our love for Vaga Bon back in 2020 and were struck by the fact that despite the trendy setting it retains the sense of peace and tranquility that you look for when you sit down for that moment to enjoy a cup of coffee, away from the frantic midst of the day.
Green Gorilla Café
Alongside an array of fresh, healthy food to enjoy, Green Gorilla do a mean coffee (either a single-origin or Gorilla blend) – the perfect accompaniment to a morning of work in their light, airy surroundings. This no-fuss café keeps things simple, and is a great place for healthy options while you’re on the go.
Madeleine
A charming café in the old town, Madeleine only seats 9 and you’ll be surrounded by books as you sip, being the ideal spot for a quiet moment. Nibble on one of their perfect sponge madeleines and browse their thoughtful reading selection while you’re at it.
Brew Society
There’s something about coffee and bookstores that just feel right, and at Brew Society it’s a winning combination. Situated on Place Pépinet in the Librairie Payot, you’ll be treated to coffee with real flavor, surrounded by bookshelves. For some of us, it really doesn’t get much better than that.
Deli Social
Deli Social refuses to be defined, offering both a residency space for culinary creatives and a hive for food enthusiasts to come together and explore. For now, however, we’re here to tell you that you could visit just for the coffee alone. The café section fronts Deli Social, with an array of delectable sandwiches and lunchtime bites. Enjoy a cup in their beautiful set-up, and if you find yourself intrigued then delve into their fascinating story!
Kooka Coffee
Walter Pocetti’s passion for coffee was born after a long stay in Australia and as soon as he returned to Switzerland in 2016, he created Kooka-Coffee: a coffee truck that normally graces Place de la Riponne (for now, you can find them at the Morges market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and starting in April 2023 they’re hoping to return to Lausanne Tuesday and Thursday).
Arctic Juice & Café
Though they’re known for their smoothies and healthy food offerings, Arctic Juice & Café has become one of our go-to spots conveniently located in St. Francois. Their organic coffee beans are picked almost exclusively for Arctic and roasted in Lyon, and they use 100% Organic Arabica specialty beans produced by small-scale farmers in Guatemala. While their entire business model focuses on healthy lifestyles, it also focuses on sustainability, which you’ll find in their zero virgin plastic objectives and use of plant-based packaging.
Ordinary Man Coffee
New to the Lausanne coffee scene, this café slash art gallery located right on Petit Chene is a lovely spot to sit, sip, and watch the world go by with their open façade. Though coffee is a bit on the pricey side here, when you realize it’s because it’s carefully curated and roasted on-site you don’t mind paying a slightly higher fare. The pastries are also baked on the premises, but go early as they tend to sell out fast.
Fooby
We know. It’s a bit strange to include a supermarket on this list, but have you tried their Flat Whites or cappuccinos? Next time you’re running errands and need a little lift, try their coffee – it’s a great value and taste.
