6 Cafe’s in Lausanne To Work From
Remote working — the act of working somewhere other than in an office is picking up pace in Switzerland. Looking at the 2015–2016 Deloitte study of Switzerland’s workforce it’s evident that more people are choosing to work for themselves, take freelance positions and work from outside of an office.
Many of these individuals turn to coworking spaces, which are popping up like wildfire across Switzerland as their office away from the office. In Lausanne, we have no shortage of greats coworking spaces to choose from, like the well know Work’n’nShare, or the newly opened La Serre.
But what if you want the freedom to work from a different place every day of the week?
That’s where cafe’s come into play. Cafe’s can be a fantastic place to work from. They have everything you need, great coffee, free wifi, power sockets, and comfortable seating. At OneRoof, we have a 100% remote working team which means we’ve become regulars of working at cafes, and we absolutely love it. We’ve even written our own remote working cafe guides for London and Penang.
To make the life of you, the remote workers of Lausanne easier and to ensure you don’t have to deal with crappy wifi or sub-par coffee we’ve teamed up with Yan Luong, digital nomad, foodie, freelance digital communications consultant and Deputy Director at Foraus to put together this guide of Lausanne’s 6 best places to work from.
Le Pointu
Appropriately named Le Pointu for its triangular floor-plan, this recently opened cafe/bar has quickly become a popular hot spot. Le Pointu’s central location and hip interior ensures that the place is always bustling come day or night. Get here early in the morning to grab a comfortable seat by the window with your coffee and croissant, and stay till late as the place fills with people out for a drink.
Details
Facebook
Address: Rue Neuve 2, Lausanne 1003
Vibe:
Chic, Modern, Bustling
3 reasons why we love Le Pointu:
- Just look down. Their floor is beautiful
- Their instagram and Facebook game is top
- Their Sunday brunch is incredible 🙌 😍
What to order:
“As mentioned, Sofia’s brunches are amongst the best in Lausanne. Just give their eggs Benedict a try. Otherwise, at anytime of the day, you can get slices of bread and, well, a tremendous choice of toppings that evolve according to the seasons. Their soups and salads are also to die for.” — Yan
Sleepy Bear
New to the block, Sleepy Bear is an absolute haven for coffee lovers. The speciality coffee shop as they proudly call themselves, serves fantastic coffee whilst explaining the science behind the perfect cup. Offering an alternative spot from the nearby Cafe Grancy, Sleepy Bear is a (very) small, cosy and dimly lit place to come in and work for a few hours.
Details
Facebook
Address: Rue du Simplon 3A, Lausanne 1006
Vibe:
Relaxed, Cosy, Young
3 reasons why we love Sleepy Bear:
- They released a beautiful video series about their coffee
- Their space has a romantic and cozy feel to it
- They have some of the best coffee in Lausanne that we’ve tried
What to order:
“Let’s make it clear, if you’re at Sleepy Bear, don’t get a coffee, get a couple of them. There are specialties that you won’t find elsewhere, such as the Nitro Coffee, a cold brew infused with… well, nitrogen (that gives it a creamy texture) or the more classic Cortado, a double expresso topped with milk microfoam.” — Yan
L’Atelier
Located just of the Chauderon Square, at the Avenue de France, this little gem is more than just a coffee shop. This cafe also functions as an art gallery showcasing work from local Lausanne artists. The creative vibe, cozy interior and warm food makes L’Atelier the perfect place if you’re lacking inspiration and need a bit of creativity in your work.
Details
Facebook
Address: Avenue de France 39–41, Lausanne 1004
Vibe:
Artistic, Vintage, Comfy
3 reasons why we love L’Atelier:
- The creative surrounding is sure to inspire your own work
- Come here on a sunny day to enjoy their garden and outdoors seats ☀️
- All of their furniture is for sale. See something you like? Buy it there and then.
What to order:
“Try the delicious tartines & weekend brunch. And indulge yourself with a carrot cake. This baked beauty comes with an unforgettable citrusy cream. The kind of treat that makes you wake up at night.” — Yan
La Couronne d’Or
This little place can be reached easily from Riponne square. A popular spot no matter the day or time, La Couronne d’Or has a cult like following of young and old alike. It’s easy to see why this place has been around for so long, with friendly service, fresh baked goods and a cozy interior, it’s the perfect little spot to plug in and work for the day.
Details
Facebook
Address: Rue des Deux-Marchés 13, Lausanne 1005
Vibe:
Cozy, Warm, Rustic
3 reasons why we love La Couronne d’Or:
- Remote work friendly: great wifi, non-judgemental staff
- The location makes it feel like a hidden gem
- Daily basket of fresh baked sweet and salty goods
What to order:
“You cannot miss La Couronne d’Or’s “planchettes”: a combination of dried meats (garlic or chilli “saucisson”, country ham) and cheeses (the infamously creamy tomme vaudoise and the internationally known Gruyère) served on a wooden plate (hence the name planchettes)” — Yan
Le Cafés des Avenues
Walking into Cafes des Avenues makes you feel like you’ve jumped back a few years and landed in a vintage style cafe in Paris. This spot is popular during lunch hours which is no surprise as they serve tasty food at an affordable price. Things quiet down during non-peak hours which provides the perfect setting to work from.
Details
Facebook
Address: Avenue de Jurigoz 20, Lausanne 1006
Vibe:
Vintage, Warm, Friendly
3 reasons why we love Cafés des Avenues:
- Quality food at an affordable price
- Relaxed and familiar atmosphere
- They have a living room inside the sapce. Yan says: You have to try it.
What to order:
“Only available on Sundays from September to April (and to die for, really), the 100% goat cheese fondue is one of Lausanne hidden gems.” — Yan
Cafe Simplon
Located just behind Lausanne central station, in Simplon alley, this cafe/restaurant offers one the most friendly terraces of Lausanne, small tables and a good quality wifi. Yan say’s: “If the public wifi does not work properly, just ask the owner and you’ll get the office one.”
Details
Facebook
Address: Rue du simplon 17 Lausanne 1006
Vibe:
Multigenerational, Non Judgemental, Authentic
3 Reason why we love Cafe Simplon:
- Central location near Lausanne Gare makes it the best place for meetings
- They regularly organize events such as second hand markets or live concerts
- In the summer time, the terrace just reminds you of the South of France
What to order:
The breakfast formula makes it perfect for early morning meetings: a croissant, an orange juice and a coffee for less than ten francs (cheap for Switzerland’s standards). — Yan
That completes our list of Lausanne’s 6 best cafes to work from. Think we missed one? Comment below and let us know so we can add it in to the next edition!
Don’t forget…cafe etiquette!
If you’re planning on staying at any of these cafes for several hours, here are a few things to keep in mind to avoid annoying customers and staff in your office away from the office. Tips taken from WHA’s Guide to Cafe Etiquette:
- Buy something from the shop every 2–3 hours that you’re there all day
Most shops don’t mind that you stick around all day, in return, compensate them for their space. It can be a meal, a pastry, or another cup of coffee. Do consider that they’re businesses and not non-profits. - Take calls outside or keep it on down low.
People don’t shove their headphones in your ears, so please don’t force others into hearing your convo. - Don’t download giant files and clog the wifi
Torrent from home, please. - Don’t bring outside food
Grab a bite from the cafe if they offer meals. Otherwise, take a break and dine elsewhere. If you have your own food, take a break anyway and turn the table a bit. - Clean up after yourself
Obvious, but people often forget.
Co-written by Yan Luong
Founder at La cantine du 56, Deputy Director at foraus, the Swiss think tank on foreign policy, Digital Comms Consultant. Follow his pop up restaurant on Facebook and connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Arman Anaturk
Co-Founder at OneRoof.Agency, Vice-president at FoodHack, organiser of Product Tank Geneva/Lausanne. Find me eating food and travelling on Instagram, debating on Twitter and not sure what exactly on Linkedin
