Working remotely in Lausanne can be tricky. What’s cafe culture like here? Will there be wifi? Will they mind if I sit at a table for hours? How expensive are the coffees? For a few months, I worked almost exclusively in my apartment, which can drive a person a little bananas after a while. I realized that I really missed grabbing my computer, ordering a cozy drink, and posting up at a cafe for a few hours. I finally began to venture out to cafes around the city, and these are the ones that checked my boxes.
1. Bel-Air Coffee
This little cafe is a delight. It’s bright, airy, and welcoming, from it’s high-top seats at the window counter to the low coffee table surrounded by loveseats. Situated just off of a major road, it’s a little tricky to find, but I was glad that I did! The design of Bel-Air Coffee is inspired by Copenhagen, which I absolutely love, and features weird little pieces of art and a wall of beautifully packaged coffee beans for purchase. I ordered an iced oat milk latte and was surprised to find that they three different types of alternative milks. I stayed for about three hours, during which a handful of people filtered through. As a remote worker, I had no problem getting on their wifi on multiple devices or staying on it for a few hours. During a lull, the barista and I struck up a conversation and she offered me an iced vanilla matcha latte on the house. I don’t love matcha, but enjoy trying things more than once, and found the latte to be expertly made. She told me she used vanilla extract, rather than a syrup, giving me a light, fresh, and intriguing experience. I’ll be back, and when I do, I’m going to crush one of the Danish cardamom buns.
✔️Strong wifi
✔️Alternative milks available
✔️Good value for the price
✔️Tasty
2. Madeleine
Two words: Tiny madeleine! And for that, they have my business. (I’m a simple woman with simple needs, and one of them is to eat tiny versions of adorable food.) Madeleine opened in the spring of 2022, much to my excitement. It’s located in the center of the old city and has all the charm this cafe-loving millennial loves — bookshelves, a minimalist menu, jewel-toned interior, and baristas who will graciously speak to me as I limp along in French. I think this would be the perfect place for other remote workers to meet up, as the interior reminded me a bit of The Wing. In my opinion, the best, best, best part about this cafe is when you order a drink, you get the cutest, tiniest madeleine that I’ve ever seen on the side. I would learn French and become a barista just so I could work here and see the surprise and delight on people’s faces every time I handed one to them.
✔️TINY LITTLE SURPRISE COOKIE
✔️Easy for an anglophone to order
✔️Beautiful interior with a comforting bookstore vibe
3. Osio
When I moved to Switzerland, I didn’t anticipate my neighborhood bakery being Japanese, but nevertheless, I’m delighted by the creations at Osio. The bakery has lots of seating and has a large bakery case, featuring summery flavors like mango, strawberry, black sesame, and more. I once tried their wasabi-egg sandwich, with a creamy omelette nestled between two pieces of white bread. Sounds pretty basic, right? Wrong. I felt as if I had never truly had eggs OR wasabi before in my life. The eggs were velvety, the wasabi was bright but not burn-y, and the white bread tasted as if it didn’t know what preservatives even were. I can’t wait to try their grapefruit-ade, and not just because pamplemousse is my favorite French word.
✔️Fun flavors for anyone who wants to try something new
✔️Bright and beautiful setting
✔️Outdoor seating and plenty of space inside to spread out with your laptop
4. The Hideaway
The Hideaway is a cafe with big coffees, vintage-y decor, and plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. I’ve studied French there a few times and eaten brunch there too. You’ll find varying sizes of tables, so you can feel totally comfortable sitting alone and returning with a larger group for breakfast. The Hideaway also has a large cold case filled with cakes, loaves, and other treats for a sweet snack break. Averse to straws? When you order an iced coffee to go, it comes in a little milk bottle.
✔️Big coffees
✔️A+ wifi
✔️Central location
5. Sleepy Bear Coffee
Sleepy Bear, located south of the Lausanne train station, is a cute little independent shop that was started in 2019. There’s something about this location, besides that it’s a nice place to perch while you wait for a train: sitting in the window for a few hours, you’ll hear plenty of English-speaking accents, including American, Australian, and perhaps Canadian. If you need a break from French, this seems to be the place (you can order in English too). The coffee is nice, the baked goods look delicious, and they play a nice mix of jazzy versions of pop hits. First-time remote workers like me will be pleased to see others set up with their laptops too, signaling that it’s a good atmosphere and the management doesn’t mind if you hang around to get some work done. There is wifi, too, which is password protected and a bit slow, though I think it’s more about the number of tabs I have open than their actual wifi speed.
✔️International customers who order in English
✔️Relaxed atmosphere
✔️Family business
American Girl in Switzerland 