Living in a small capital city comes with a couple of advantages: the combination of urban density and short distances is just one example. Another is that Bern is slow enough to skip some of the short-lived global hypes that pop up quickly and disappear as fast as they came in other cities all over the world. Only the lasting trends that actually improve urban life will eventually make it to Bern.
One of them just appeared a couple of years ago: co-working spaces. While in some parts of town the trend is controversial because some see it as spearheading gentrification of cheap neighborhoods, Effinger has found a place very close to the city center where for some reason most shops along the street have been empty for years. In this wasteland, the cozy café bar has become a little oasis. Though I am not an "Effian" who comes here to work on one of the desks on the mezzanine floor or in one of the rentable rooms, I often come here to have meetings over lunchtime. I love the creative atmosphere that lays in the air. And with a cappuccino in hand and a quiche on the table, working seems not so bad after all.
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The owner (from California) wanted to bring yummy, healthy Californian-Mexican soul food from back home to Switzerland. And let me tell you, he did!
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Nature is claiming back the city - a powerful image. The mural was painted by Paul Stämpfli in 1987, way before the world was discussing climate change.
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"Kopflos" ('headless') at Casinoplatz in Bern is my favourite piece of art in the city's public space. I love its four fingers!
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Hop on "Tram Nr. 8" at the main station for a 25min ride through the post-war urban planning history of Bern. It gets interesting around Europaplatz...
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"Chindlifresser" in Bern is a gruesome 500-year-old statue of a 'child-eater', but it's also one of my favorite cold-water providers in the whole city!
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"Zytglogge-Pissoir" in Bern is a place for gents to pee around the clock on the medieval watchtower. Where else can you pee on a 500-y.o UNESCO site?
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"La Chouette" Bern is a small, cozy, woody restaurant that makes the best crepes around! Make sure to try both sweet & salty! Open until late on weekends.
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Bern’s Alpine Museum has become one of the most interesting and interactive cultural slash educational spots around the city.
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Discover Bern through its flavors! Visit Küchenladen in the old town for charming kitchen tools to recreate Swiss dishes like Rösti and fondue at home
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Who doesn't love brunch? At Ô Capitaine in Bern you'll find everything your heart desires and more! I really like the variety of the food here...
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