One of my favourite places to hang out! The 3 Eidgenossen is a bar in the old town, conveniently located very close to the Zytglogge tower in a street called Rathausgasse. Drei Eidgenossen is named after the protagonists in the founding myth of Switzerland. The term “Eidgenosse” is often abused by right extremists to define themselves as “real Swiss” unlike people who migrated here after 1291. But don’t worry, you won’t find any of those foolish guys here. The only reason for the name, one of the guys working here told me once, is that the owner of the building (who probably lives far away) wants it like that.

On the contrary, in 3 Eidgenossen you will always meet an eclectic mix of young and old, of people that are well off and people who live on the margin of society.

Some tables are outside, especially in summer those places are great to wrap up a long day. Inside, there are only big tables for around six people, so you will most probably end up making friends with other guests joining you, one of the reasons, why I like 3 Eidgenossen.

And, my tip for smokers: upstairs there is a smoking room with a pool table, one of the few places in Bern where you can smoke inside!