Alte Feuerwehr Viktoria Bern
Dec 21, 2024

Alte Feuerwehr Viktoria Bern

Still burning bright

""Alte Feuerwehr Viktoria" Bern used to be the city's firetruck garage; now it's a cultural centre complete w/ restaurant, library of things & bicycle shop!"

“Alte Feuerwehr Viktoria” is part bar slash restaurant, part community center, part idea factory. I often come here just to have a well-prepared drink, a local beer or a decent meal at Löscher. The restaurant is located in a former garage for firefighters. When they moved away from the city centre a couple of years ago, the building was turned into a diverse spot with all sorts of pop-ups and start-ups.

But before the boxing school, the bicycle shop and the restaurant moved in, before Radio Blind Power built a studio on-site, before Adriano’s started roasting its coffee in the micro roasting establishment before artistes moved into the hose-drying-tower and a library of things was inaugurated - before all that, the place was a cramped refugee camp.

In the midst of the “refugee crisis” in 2015 the top floor was inhabited by Syrians and Afghans, Sri Lankis and Eritreans. But other than in some rural communities where refugees have been “welcomed” with fear and anger, at Alte Feuerwehr Viktoria they were soon part of an urban testing field for new ideas of cooperation and cultural exchange.

The refugees are not there anymore since the migration problem has been successfully shifted (not solved) elsewhere by European politics. What has remained is an open-minded, local laboratory for all kinds of arts, handcrafts and new forms of sustainability. Still, if you want to have a taste of the multi-cultural past: go visit the delicious Gastwerk just next door.

002-building
Art & culture
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

About this spot

Viktoriastrasse 70

CHF

no-price

786521100

Explore Bern like a local with Spotted by Locals - discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Bern guide.

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in Bern

Fähre Bodenacker

Switch sides

Fähre Bodenacker is a ferry upstream the river Aare just outside Bern, where there's also a nice family restaurant, right in some beautiful nature...

017-plant-1
Relaxing

By

Sebastian

Meier

Feb 15, 2025
Pusterum Bern

Pusterum

Relaxed place with Scandi vibes

It is like home beyond home: perfectly suitable for burying yourself in a book, a good cup of tea or a relaxing evening beyond your four walls.

028-beach-bar-1
Bars
020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
024-burger-1
Snacks

By

Nathalie

Röllin

Feb 9, 2025

Veielihubel

Take a time out and breathe

The Veielihubel is a great place to have a quick recharge on a busy day and relish the quiet, the sun or the view – whatever you need at the time.

017-plant-1
Relaxing

By

Nathalie

Röllin

Feb 9, 2025
The New New Bern Bern

The New New Bern

Why thrifting is cool

And unlike other vintage stores, everything is curated by the team of The New New Bern themselves. Their handpicked selection is hip, urban and always in style. There will definitely be no holes in the clothes.

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

By

Nathalie

Röllin

Feb 9, 2025
Hammamn & Spa Oktogon Bern

Hammamn & Spa Oktogon

A wellness oasis

If you think the octagonal building – the first gas tank in the city – is already spectacular from the outside, wait till you see what is inside.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
017-plant-1
Relaxing
024-burger-1
Snacks

By

Nathalie

Röllin

Feb 9, 2025
Blumengärtnerei Fuhrimann Bern

Blumengärtnerei Fuhrimann

Bern's secret garden

This is not your casual flower shop. You could easily miss the stairs that lead to the cellar, where they create the most beautiful bouquets of Bern...

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

By

Nathalie

Röllin

Feb 9, 2025

feines

It's a paper world we live in

This shop has just the cutest stationery articles in unique and cheerful designs. Another plus is that the prices at feines are very reasonable!

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

By

Nathalie

Röllin

Feb 9, 2025

Apfelgold

An apple a day... only in pie shape

They have finger-licking-good desserts and great coffee. I order an apple pie – oh, but let me tell you, it is no ordinary apple pie, it is apple heaven.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
024-burger-1
Snacks

By

Nathalie

Röllin

Feb 9, 2025

Kellerkino

Cinematic underground

"Kellerkino" Bern is a basement cinema with a familial atmosphere. Founded in 1970, it was first independent cinema in the country. Talk about underground!

008-ticket
Cinema

By

Sebastian

Meier

Feb 5, 2025
Monbijoupark Bern

Monbijoupark

Green oasis

"Monbijoupark" is a green oasis in the middle of the city of Bern - you can come here very easily by public transport or on foot!

017-plant-1
Relaxing

By

Sarah

Dennler

Feb 4, 2025
Zweiblatt Concept Store Bern

Zweiblatt Concept Store

In sustainibility heaven

In the Zweiblatt Concept Store, you will find many different things. From colorful socks and trendy clothing to jewelry, mugs and drinking bottles.

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

By

Nathalie

Röllin

Feb 3, 2025

Falafel Mimo

A heavenly lunch

In addition to falafel, there is a flatbread with halloumi, makali (grilled vegetables) or shawarma (chicken), as well as tabbouleh and hummus.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

By

Nathalie

Röllin

Feb 3, 2025

Heading to Bern?

70 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the crowd & travel slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

Heading to Bern?

70 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

Our team loves Bern

Get to know our other Spotters from Bern