Interlaken is a German-speaking resort town in the Bernese Oberland, set on the narrow strip of land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. It is Switzerland's adventure capital and the main gateway to the Jungfrau region, with views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, lake cruises, paragliding and trains to Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. Prices are high, but the town is compact, walkable and very well connected by rail.
Interlaken eats Bernese Oberland: cheese fondue and raclette from Alpine dairies, crisp Rösti, Älplermagronen and grilled meats. As the main tourist base for the Jungfrau region it also has a large international scene, including Indian, Thai, Korean, Lebanese, Italian and Mexican restaurants, many of them halal- or vegetarian-friendly. Prices are high by European standards: a cheese fondue costs about CHF 25 (~$31)-CHF 32.5 (~$40) per person and a steak CHF 48 (~$59) or more. Menu prices include tax and service.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Interlaken.
Cheese fondue
Melted Alpine cheese in white wine eaten with bread cubes. Interlaken restaurants use Vacherin, Alpkäse, Gruyère and Raclette cheeses, and most offer a non-alcoholic version on request. Served mainly in autumn and winter but available year-round at several venues.
Where to try: Restaurant Taverne, Des Alpes, OX Restaurant & Grill, Hüsi Bierhaus
Price: CHF 25-32.50 (~$31-40) per person
Berner Rösti
Crisp grated-potato cake, the Bernese national side dish, served plain or topped with egg, cheese or bacon.
Where to try: OX Restaurant & Grill
Price: CHF 25 (~$31)
Zürcher Geschnetzeltes
Sliced veal in a creamy mushroom sauce, usually served with Rösti.
Where to try: OX Restaurant & Grill ('Zürcher Art'); traditional Swiss restaurants
Price: CHF 30 (~$37)
Raclette
Melted Alpine cheese scraped over boiled potatoes with pickles and onions. Raclette cheese is one of the cheeses in the Taverne's fondue blend and raclette appears on winter menus at Swiss restaurants.
Where to try: Traditional Swiss restaurants and mountain huts in winter
Älplermagronen
Alpine macaroni baked with potatoes, cheese and onions, served with apple sauce. A classic mountain-farm dish of central Switzerland and the Bernese Oberland.
Where to try: Mountain restaurants such as Panorama-Restaurant Harder Kulm and traditional Swiss inns
Fondue chinoise
Thin slices of meat cooked in hot broth at the table with sauces and side dishes. The Taverne offers a buffet version on Thursday to Saturday evenings from 22 October 2026.
Where to try: Restaurant Taverne
Price: CHF 49.5 (~$61) per adult
Meringue with double cream
Crisp meringue with thick Alpine cream (Gruyère double cream), a regional dessert seen on mountain menus.
Where to try: Traditional Swiss restaurants and cafés
Chocolate
Swiss chocolate made in small batches. Grand Café Restaurant Schuh sells house-made chocolates, and Funky Chocolate Club runs workshops.
Where to try: Grand Café Restaurant Schuh, Höheweg 56
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Brasserie
Indian
Korean
Lebanese
Mediterranean
Food tours & tastings in Interlaken
Eat your way through Interlaken with a guide.
Browse food experiences in InterlakenWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Bakery breakfasts and Nussgipfel
Bäckerei-Konditorei Steininger in Matten is a local bakery-café for pastries, bread and coffee.
Find it at: Metzgergasse 2, 3800 Matten bei Interlaken
Burgers at Asllani's Corner
Casual halal burger takeaway on the Höheweg, a cheap fast meal near the promenade.
Find it at: Höheweg 94, 3800 Interlaken
Pizza and kebab at X-Port Pizzeria
Takeaway pizza and kebab in Matten, popular with hostel guests.
Find it at: Hauptstrasse 21, 3800 Matten bei Interlaken
Supermarket picnics
Coop near Interlaken Ost station and Migros near Interlaken West station sell bread, cheese, cold cuts and ready-made sandwiches for a cheaper lunch by the Aare or on the Höhematte. Shops are mostly closed on Sundays except station outlets, so confirm hours on coop.ch and migros.ch.
Find it at: Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West stations
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Saturday organic farmers market
A small organic market with seasonal produce, eggs, yogurt, jams and cheese in a small square in central Interlaken, about five minutes' walk from Interlaken West station. It runs on Saturday mornings year-round, with fewer stalls in winter; the Interlaken Tourism office (Marktgasse 1) can confirm the current location.
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch is typically served 11:30 AM-2 PM and dinner from 6 PM; many kitchens pause between 2 PM and 5:30 PM, so a late lunch is easiest at cafés or at venues with continuous service such as OX (10 AM-2 PM, 4-10 PM) or Des Alpes (kitchen 11:30 AM-9 PM).
Book fondue tables for weekend evenings in July-August and December-February; Taverne takes bookings online and by phone +41 33 826 68 68.
Tax and service are included in menu prices in Switzerland; rounding up the bill by a franc or two is customary but not required.
Say 'Grüezi' when entering and 'Merci, uf Wiederluege' on leaving; tables are often shared in busy beer halls.
Tap water is free to drink; ask for 'Hahnenwasser'.
Several Interlaken restaurants close one or two weekdays (for example Pizzeria Horn on Wednesday, Little Thai on Monday and Tuesday, Luegibrüggli on Tuesday and Wednesday) and many take a closing break in autumn or January, so phone before travelling out.
The Harderbahn funicular to Panorama-Restaurant Harder Kulm runs 3 April-29 November 2026 only; a late-season package from 1-29 November 2026 combines the return ride with a CHF 25 restaurant voucher for CHF 44 (CHF 34 with Halbtax, GA or Swiss Travel Pass).
Card payments are accepted almost everywhere, and Twint is widespread; a few small bakeries and farm shops are cash-only, so keep CHF 20-30 in notes.
- Vegetarian
- Cheese fondue, Rösti and Älplermagronen are vegetarian staples, and India Village, Little Thai and Layaly Beirut have broad vegetarian menus.
- Vegan
- India Village lists vegan dishes; Aarmühle Restaurant & Bar at Höheweg 95 lists vegan options. Traditional Swiss kitchens offer few vegan mains, so ask for 'vegan' and check sauces and butter.
- Gluten free
- Say 'glutenfrei' when ordering. Fondue is naturally gluten-free apart from the bread, and the Taverne serves potatoes (CHF 3 extra, ~$4) as an alternative to bread.
- Halal
- Layaly Beirut (Centralstrasse 26), India Village (Brienzstrasse 38), Asllani's Corner (Höheweg 94) and Taste of India (Centralstrasse 6) are listed as halal.
- Kosher
- No kosher restaurants were found in Interlaken; the nearest kosher infrastructure is in Bern and Zürich, so self-catering from supermarkets is the practical option.
- Allergies
- Swiss law requires restaurants to declare the 14 major allergens on request. Say 'Ich habe eine Allergie gegen ...' and ask staff to check; Taverne offers non-alcoholic fondue on request.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | CHF 15-25 (~$18-31) per meal | Supermarket sandwiches from Coop or Migros, a bakery lunch, a burger or kebab takeaway, or a main at an Indian restaurant (India Village mains are CHF 21 (~$26)-CHF 23 (~$28)). |
| Mid-range | CHF 30-50 (~$37-62) per meal | Cheese fondue (CHF 25 (~$31)-CHF 32.5 (~$40) per person at Taverne, Des Alpes or OX), Berner Rösti (CHF 25 (~$31)) or a pasta main (CHF 23 (~$28)-CHF 31 (~$38) at OX) with a drink. |
| Upscale | CHF 60-100+ (~$74-123) per meal | Steaks at OX Restaurant & Grill (CHF 48 (~$59) rib eye, CHF 79 (~$97) dry-aged T-bone) or a dinner at a Höheweg grand-hotel restaurant. |