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Updated on Aug 18, 2025
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Best Specialty Coffee Shops in Western Switzerland (Romandy)
Bulle, Estavannes, Fribourg, Montreux, Nyon and Vevey
Montreux has Freddie Mercury, Vevey has Charly Chaplin. Fribourg has medieval bridges… But what do they all have in common? People redefining what it means to drink coffee in a land where bankers quietly turn baristas. The relatively young coffee scene is extending well beyond urban dwellings like Geneva. Before you know it, you might be sipping on a single origin filter coffee in the middle of your hike or bike ride. In this guide, you’ll meet the trail blazers, micro-roasters, and milk foam artists changing the narrative one sip at a time in Western Switzerland.
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Montreux
The Sleepy Bear in Montreux is actually one of three cafes in Switzerland managed by Diana Ambrus. Diana is a coffee force to be reckoned with. You can find out more about her coffee ventures in our interview. This latest chapter in her journey is located close to the railway station.
The space radiates potential with its three distinct areas: seats in the front, an atelier for coffee courses in the back, and space for their upcoming roastery. There is also a small garden that was turned into a charming terrace for relaxing coffee breaks. Currently working with Zurich based MAME for sourcing roasted beans, Diana and her team are currently awaiting approval for their own Loring roaster.
Vevey
Tucked away just off Vevey’s lakeside, Céleste represents a new breed of hospitality venue that refuses to be confined to a single identity. When the founder Philippe Heim discovered this charming space in May 2022, he immediately knew something special could happen here. Céleste opened its doors that autumn, following months of careful preparation and decoration. The venue operates on a philosophy rather than a rigid concept, blending specialty coffee, natural wines, and homemade cuisine in a way that reflects Philippe’s diverse hospitality background.
The space transforms throughout the day, operating from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. In the morning, locals stop by for specialty coffee and pastries, while lunchtime brings a homemade canteen-style menu. As afternoon fades into evening, Céleste evolves into a wine and cocktail bar, serving carefully crafted snacks alongside Philippe’s personal selection of natural wines. Coffee at Céleste began with Good Life Coffee Roasters from Lausanne, the pioneers who helped establish the city’s specialty coffee scene over a decade ago. Philippe has since switched to working primarily with expe coffee from Lausanne, currently serving a Brazilian and a Ethiopian bean. You can read the full interview with Philippe here.
With Thailand being my home base most of the year, there are some things I miss when back in Europe. Never have I thought I would find them dipicted on a blackboard menu at a coffee shop in Vevey (out of all places!). It just so happens that the owner of Eleven Coffee is Thai. Gip, who was already a cafe owner in Bangkok, brought with her staples like Dirty coffee and, for tea fans, ceremonial grade matcha. She works with the Switzerland based roastery Sweet Bean Coffee both for espresso based drinks and filter coffee. Although the chic Origami dripper doesn’t get a lot of love from regular customers, it is there for pour over enthusiasts to enjoy.
Fribourg
Located at the corner of Rue Romont and Rue du Temple in Fribourg, Mi Amorcito isn’t your typical coffee shop. It’s an espresso bar on a bike. Gustavo, from Mexico and now based in Bern, has been running this mobile coffee operation since 2024 with infectious energy. Wherever he parks his bike he serves up specialty coffee to passersby on the go. The setup is simple but the coffee is seriously pretty good. The Brazil beans roasted by one of his friends create smooth, nutty espresso that works beautifully in lattes and cappuccinos.
Bulle
Surf junkie Jérôme Duc opened the first Mahalo coffee shop in June 2021, starting in his home town Fribourg. The expansion with a second location brought Mahalo to the unassuming city of Bulle. The well-traveled gastronome spent years enjoying coffee in cafes around the world, particularly after hitting the waves. When he returned to Fribourg, the absence of a coffee shop culture inspired him to open his own.
The Bulle location sits directly at the train station, just steps away from the platforms. It boasts a spacious terrace with ample outdoor seating, while inside, the space makes for an interesting dynamic – Mahalo shares its interior with a ramen restaurant. Whether grabbing a quick espresso before catching a train or settling in on the terrace for a longer break, visitors will find the coffee culture that Jérôme missed so dearly and decided to bring home.
Estavannens
The village of Estavannens, with its traditional houses and creative atmosphere, might seem an unlikely location for a specialty coffee destination. Yet Etape, opened by Christelle and her husband in 2022, proves that exceptional coffee can thrive even in the most unexpected places. Open on Fridays and Saturdays, the cafe sources its beans exclusively from Horizonte, the roastery founded by cross-country mountain biker Christopf Sauser – a connection that makes perfect sense given the owners’ passion for biking.
Etape serves two distinct roasts that cater to different palates. The medium-dark roast, described as “adapting to everybody,” acknowledges the local preference for traditional coffee flavours and forms the base for straight espressos and regular coffees. The second offering, a floral roast with pronounced acidity, is reserved exclusively for milk-based drinks. The choice is deliberate. When paired with milk, the floral roast’s acidity cuts through the sweetness, allowing the coffee’s character to shine through rather than fading into the background. The cycling community has fully embraced Etape as their own, with a challenging 175-kilometre route starting and ending at the cafe’s doorstep. Read more about this and other details from my conversation with Christelle.
Marly
Located next to a garage along Marly’s main road, Etape’s second location offers a distinctly different coffee experience from its original outpost. The shop, which started as a winter pop-up to test the concept, has found its rhythm serving commuters and locals who stop by the nearby gas station. The coffee menu remains focused, complemented by baked goodies sourced from a local bakery. The combination has proven popular, with customers often pairing their Colombian or Ethiopian espresso with fresh-baked bread before continuing their journey.
Nyon
When Rui Narciso walked away from thirty years in finance, he knew exactly where he was headed. The London School of Coffee taught him to roast, and in 2017 he brought that knowledge back to Nyon, opening a small family enterprise that locals had been waiting for. Before Ex Machina arrived, coffee lovers in the region had to make the trip to Geneva, a good 20 kilometers away. The café sits in Nyon’s old town on Esplanade Jules César, right where the ancient Roman Forum and the old market used to be. The space itself has an industrial feel but somehow manages to be cozy at the same time.
For espresso drinks, Rui crafted his own house blend. He spent months getting it just right, tweaking the profile until it matched what his customers were after. Additionally, the filter menu is extensive with V60, Chemex, AeroPress, and even Turkish coffee on offer. And Ex Machina doesn’t just use its own roasts. Rui’s constantly bringing in beans from roaster friends across Europe, which keeps things exciting for regulars who want to try something new.
This article is part of a series of coffee stories from Switzerland. Schweiz Tourismus have been amazing in supporting this project with a Swiss Travel Pass. You can find more information about tourism in Switzerland here: www.myswitzerland.com
