5ème Etage is one of those places you don’t bump into accidentally. It is a cultural center located in the 5th floor of a tall building in the Matte quarter in Bern.  If you are into live music and on a budget, this venue is for you!

Every Tuesday night a Jazz jam session takes place here. In the beginning, there is a band playing and spontaneous acts jam afterwards (often music students). At the same time, they serve tasty risotto for only CHF 5. Entry is free, but they pass a hat collecting the money, so you can decide how much you want to pay.

There’s always a great vibe to which the passionate musicians, the atmosphere of the wooden room and the good acoustics, contribute.

Besides the Tuesday jazz jam session, there are other events regularly taking place, which sound worth going to. Up to now, I haven’t experienced them personally, but I am planning to do so. Every Monday night is salsa dancing, once a month world music is played (it is usually on Thursdays in the months from October to May – check their agenda for more information) and there’s also an adult disco with hits of the last decades on the 3rd and 4th every Friday.