Luzern (Lucerne) is a lakeside city in central Switzerland, known for the Kapellbrücke, its medieval Old Town and views of Pilatus and Rigi across Lake Lucerne.
Luzern's table is Central Swiss. The signature plate is the Luzerner Chügelipastete, a puff-pastry vol-au-vent filled with veal and mushrooms in cream sauce, and the signature drink is Kafi Luz, coffee with sugar and plum brandy. Lake perch (Egli) fillets, cheese tarts (Chäschüechli), rösti, sausages and cheese fondue complete the local repertoire, and the city has a strong cafe and Konditorei culture. Luzern also has Michelin-listed fine dining, Moroccan, Italian, Mexican and vegan kitchens, and a large number of Reuss-side terraces. A typical main course in a standard restaurant costs CHF 28-45 (~$35-56 USD), and service and tax are always included in the menu price.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Luzern.
Luzerner Chügelipastete
A puff-pastry shell filled with veal and mushrooms in a creamy sauce, the classic Luzern festive dish and a staple of old-school inns. Usually served with rice or vegetables.
Where to try: Wirtshaus Galliker, Wirtshaus Taube
Price: CHF 28-42 (~$35-53 USD)
Kafi Luz
Luzern's coffee-with-schnapps drink: strong coffee with sugar and plum brandy, served in a glass or cup. Order it after a meal.
Where to try: Most old-town inns and cafes, including Rathaus Brauerei and Wirtshaus Taube
Price: CHF 7-11 (~$9-14 USD)
Chäschüechli
A small savoury Swiss cheese tart, a traditional Central Switzerland bakery and tea-room snack.
Where to try: Konditorei and bakery counters in the old town such as Café Heini
Price: CHF 5-9 (~$6-11 USD)
Egli (lake perch) fillets
Pan-fried perch fillets, the typical lake-fish dish of Central Switzerland, served with potatoes or fries and lemon.
Where to try: Lakeside and Reuss-side restaurants such as Restaurant Schiff and Restaurant Des Alpes; fresh fish also at the Fischmarkt
Price: CHF 34-48 (~$43-60 USD)
Cheese fondue
Melted Swiss cheeses with wine and kirsch, eaten with bread cubes. Traditionally an autumn and winter dish.
Where to try: Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern, Hofbeiz Hinter Musegg (groups), lake fondue cruises
Price: CHF 30-45 (~$38-56 USD)
Wiener Schnitzel from the table
Veal escalope cooked and finished at the table; the signature dish of the Old Swiss House.
Where to try: Old Swiss House
Price: CHF 48-70 (~$60-88 USD)
Luzerner Lebkuchen
Spiced gingerbread associated with Luzern, sold at confectioners and often served with Kafi Luz.
Where to try: Confiserie and bakery counters; Lebkuchen workshop at Café Amrein in Willisau (45 min by train)
Price: CHF 5-18 (~$6-23 USD)
Rathaus Bier
Lager brewed on site in copper kettles in the old town, with a closed pipeline circuit under the streets.
Where to try: Rathaus Brauerei, Stadtkeller
Price: CHF 5-8 (~$6-10 USD)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Italian
Swiss
Vegan
French
Cafe
Pub Food
Food tours & tastings in Luzern
Eat your way through Luzern with a guide.
Browse food experiences in LuzernWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Take-away at Markthalle Luzern
A daily market hall on the lower level of the railway station selling Swiss-sourced fresh food, with take-away breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
Find it at: Luzern railway station, lower level
Market-day bread, cheese and picnic supplies
The Tuesday and Saturday Wochenmarkt sells bread, alpine cheese, flowers and vegetables; good for picnic food before a lake walk.
Find it at: Rathausquai, Unter der Egg and Bahnhofstrasse, Tue and Sat 6:00 AM-12:00 PM
Pastry and cake counters
Konditorei counters sell slices of Luzerner Festtagstorte, Zuger Kirschtorte and sandwiches to take away.
Find it at: Café Heini, Falkenplatz and Löwenplatz
Hot chocolate and pralines from a chocolatier
Max Chocolatier makes pralines, nut-chocolate and drinking chocolate in its boutique.
Find it at: Max Chocolatier, Hertensteinstrasse 7
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Wochenmarkt (weekly market)
Bread, alpine cheese, flowers and vegetables along both sides of the Reuss; a Saturday-only section is at the Helvetigärtli.
Hours: Tue and Sat 6:00 AM-12:00 PM; Rathausquai, Unter der Egg, Bahnhofstrasse and (Sat only) Helvetigärtli
Fischmarkt
Fresh lake fish from Vierwaldstättersee, sea fish and smoked fillets under the Egg arcades.
Hours: Tue, Fri and Sat 6:00 AM-12:00 PM; Unter der Egg
Handwerksmarkt
Craft market with jewellery, ceramics and leather goods on the Weinmarkt.
Hours: First Saturday of the month, April-December, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM; Weinmarkt
Markthalle Luzern
Daily market hall in the railway station with Swiss-grown produce and take-away meals.
Hours: Daily, 365 days a year; railway station, lower level (check posted hours)
Christmas markets 2026
Rudolfs Weihnacht in the Inseli-Park runs 20 November-23 December 2026, and the Lozärner Wiehnachtsmärt takes place on the Franziskanerplatz from 3 to 20 December 2026.
Hours: Seasonal, 20 Nov-23 Dec 2026; see luzern.com for daily hours
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch is usually served 11:30 AM-2:00 PM and dinner from 6:00 PM; many traditional restaurants close their kitchens between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM, and several close on Sunday and Monday.
Look for the Mittagsmenü (weekday lunch set menu), typically CHF 20-30 (~$25-38 USD) with soup or salad, to eat well on a budget.
Tap water is safe to drink; restaurants usually charge for bottled water, so ask whether tap water is served.
Service and tax are included in the menu price; rounding up or leaving CHF 2-5 (~$3-6 USD) for good service is customary but not required.
Fondue is an autumn and winter dish; book at least two days ahead on weekends and a week ahead in December.
Many old-town restaurants have terraces on the Reuss; ask for a table outside from April to September.
Most shops and many restaurants close on Sunday; Tibits at the railway station and the cafes around the station are the easy Sunday options.
- Vegetarian
- Easy: Tibits (railway station), Karls Kraut, BACiO della Mamma, Majorelle and most Swiss restaurants offer vegetarian dishes; cheese fondue and rösti are vegetarian.
- Vegan
- Good and growing: fully vegan Karls Kraut, BAYTS Bistro & Bar and Tibits, plus vegan options at Maihöfli, Mill'Feuille and Fritschi.
- Gluten free
- Widely understood; say 'glutenfrei'. Wirtshaus Taube, Mill'Feuille, BACiO della Mamma and Fritschi list gluten-free options.
- Halal
- Few halal-certified restaurants in the old town; check the menu for pork and ask staff before ordering, and look for Oriental kitchens such as Majorelle.
- Kosher
- No kosher restaurants are listed in tourism sources; kosher travellers should bring packaged food and contact the Jewish community of Luzern before the trip.
- Allergies
- Swiss restaurants must declare the main allergens on request; say 'Ich bin allergisch auf' followed by the allergen before ordering.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | CHF 15-25 (~$19-31 USD) per meal | Take-away from the Markthalle, a bakery sandwich, market-day bread and cheese, or a weekday lunch plate at a neighbourhood restaurant. |
| Mid-range | CHF 35-60 (~$44-75 USD) per meal | A main course at Wirtshaus Galliker, Wirtshaus Taube or Rathaus Brauerei with a drink, or a lunch menu at a Reuss-side restaurant. |
| Upscale | CHF 100-250 (~$125-313 USD) per meal | Old Swiss House, Brasserie Bodu with wine, or a tasting menu at Maihöfli or Jasper at the Palace Luzern; check each restaurant's current menu for exact prices. |