Lehrerzimmer Bern

I well remember the shivers running down my spine each time I walked by the teacher’s room back in my schooldays - that room behind that heavy door where the adults secretly forged their conspiracies against us helpless schoolkids. Well, the times have changed: nowadays, when I think of the word Lehrerzimmer (teacher’s room) I rather think about coffee, breakfast, a laid-back atmosphere and intriguing literature.

Lehrerzimmer is located in a high school turned into a culture center. The old break space is turned into a giant open-air bar with cool drinks in summer, mulled wine in winter and kebab from Pittaria all year round. The building is stuffed with all kinds of art. The upper floors are non-public and home to dozens of artists, performers, musicians etc. The ground floor hosts a sublime concert bar (Turnhalle, the old gym hall), a DJing school, a bookstore, several galleries and - of course - Lehrerzimmer.

Lehrerzimmer is my favourite corner of the building partly because of all the local specialities – the meat, cheese & bread are from the local market; they serve syrup from the local sirupier and a local ginger booze called Ingwerer. For the other part, I love their Breakfast Puzzle on Sundays: you get a list with tasty items to pick from. But relax: unlike in other schools there is no right or wrong here.

I recommend ordering the Café Surprise: for three bucks you will be served nothing -- but later on, a homeless person can come get a coffee for free.