Best Gluten-Free Restaurants and Cafes in Interlaken
Words by
Jonas Muller
Best Gluten-Free Restaurants in Interlaken: A Local's Honest Guide
I have lived in Interlaken for over a decade, and I can tell you that finding the best gluten free restaurants in Interlaken used to feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. A decade ago, coeliac travelers passing through the Bernese Oberland had almost nothing dedicated to them beyond plain salads and hope. That has changed dramatically. Today, the village between the lakes supports a growing number of kitchens that take wheat free dining Interlaken seriously, whether through dedicated gluten-free menus, separate fryers, or staff who actually understand cross-contamination. This guide is the result of years of personal visits, conversations with chefs, and more than a few disappointing meals that taught me where not to go. If you are coeliac, gluten-sensitive, or simply eating gluten-free by choice, these are the places I would send a friend to without hesitation.
1. Restaurant Taverne: The Old Town Staple That Gets It Right
The Restaurant Taverne sits on the corner of Hauptstrasse and Höheweg, in the heart of Interlaken's old town center, a building that has served food to travelers since the days when Interlaken was primarily a coaching stop between Bern and the high Alps. I stopped in on a rainy Tuesday evening last autumn, and the warm glow from the wood-paneled dining room felt like stepping into a different century. The menu here is traditional Bernese Swiss cuisine at its core, but the kitchen has quietly built a reputation for handling gluten-free requests with genuine care rather than reluctant accommodation.
What makes this place stand out for coeliac friendly Interlaken dining is the depth of the gluten-free options. You are not limited to one sad protein on a bed of lettuce. The rösti, a dish that is practically sacred in this part of Switzerland, can be prepared without any flour binder if you ask, and the kitchen uses a dedicated section of the grill for gluten-free orders. I ordered the veal Zürcher Schnitzel (made with a rice flour crust on request) with a side of rösti and seasonal vegetables, and it arrived looking and tasting like the real thing. The sauce was rich, properly reduced, and clearly made from scratch rather than poured from a jar.
The best time to visit is on a weekday evening, ideally before 7 PM, because the Taverne fills up quickly with tour groups once the buses roll in from the Jungfrau day trips. If you sit near the window facing Hauptstrasse, you can watch the evening light fade over the mountains while you eat. One detail most tourists would not know is that the kitchen sources its potatoes for the rösti from a farm in the Simmental valley, about 40 kilometers south, which is why the texture has that particular earthy sweetness that generic rösti elsewhere lacks.
Local Insider Tip: Ask your server to have the kitchen prepare your rösti in the back section of the pan, away from where they cook the regular breaded items. The staff here are accommodating but busy, so being specific about cross-contamination when you order makes a real difference in how carefully they handle your plate.
I would recommend the Taverne to anyone who wants a proper Swiss meal without worrying about gluten. It is not the cheapest option in town, expect to pay between 28 and 42 CHF for a main course, but the portions are generous and the quality of ingredients justifies the price.
2. Café de Paris: Gluten-Free Pastries That Actually Taste Good
Café de Paris occupies a small but prominent storefront on Höheweg, the main commercial street that runs through the center of Interlaken West. I have walked past this café probably a thousand times in my life, and for years I ignored it because the name sounded like a tourist trap. I was wrong. About three years ago, a new owner took over and revamped the pastry program to include a dedicated gluten-free baking setup, which is almost unheard of in a small Swiss café. Now it is one of the best gluten free cafes Interlaken has for anyone with a sweet tooth.
The display case at the front counter always has at least four or five gluten-free items on any given day. I visited on a Saturday morning last month and found a flourless chocolate torte, two types of almond macarons, a fruit tart with a polenta-based crust, and a small selection of gluten-free croissants that were flaky and buttery in a way that made me double-check with the staff that they were actually safe. They are baked in a separate oven in the back, and the owner confirmed that all gluten-free items are prepared on dedicated surfaces with separate utensils.
The café itself is small, maybe a dozen tables, with a Parisian-inspired aesthetic that feels slightly out of place in the Alpine setting but works nonetheless. The coffee is solid, a medium-roast blend sourced from a roaster in Thun, and it pairs well with the pastries. The best time to go is mid-morning on a weekday, between 10 and 11 AM, when the pastries are fresh from the oven and the after-ski or post-hiking crowds have not yet arrived.
Local Insider Tip: The gluten-free croissants sell out fast, usually by 10:30 AM on weekends. If you want one, call the café the day before and ask them to set aside a couple. They will do this without any fuss, and it saves you the disappointment of arriving to an empty pastry case.
Parking near Café de Paris is essentially nonexistent on weekends, so walk or take the bus to the Höheweg stop. The outdoor seating along the street gets uncomfortably warm in July and August when the sun reflects off the glass storefronts across the road, so choose an indoor table if you are visiting in peak summer.
3. The 3 Tells: Pub Food With Gluten-Free Options and Mountain Views
The 3 Tells is on the ground floor of a building at the western end of Marktgasse, the narrow market street that connects Interlaken's train stations to the main shopping district. This is a British-style pub that has been part of the local nightlife scene for years, and it might seem like an odd inclusion in a guide about gluten-free dining. But the kitchen here deserves serious credit. They have a separate gluten-free fryer, which means their fish and chips can be made safely, and they stock gluten-free burger buns that do not fall apart the moment you pick them up.
I went on a Friday night with a group, half of whom were eating gluten-free, and nobody felt like they were settling. The gluten-free fish and chips came with a proper beer batter made from rice flour, and the chips were double-fried to a golden crisp. The burger buns, sourced from a bakery in Lucerne, held together through the entire meal, which is a test that most gluten-free buns fail immediately. The pub also does a solid gluten-free sticky toffee pudding for dessert, which I have not seen on many menus in this part of Switzerland.
The atmosphere here is lively, sometimes loud, and it attracts a mix of locals, seasonal workers, and tourists. The connection to Interlaken's character is real, this is the kind of place where the village's long history as an international crossroads shows up in the clientele. You might hear four languages spoken at neighboring tables on any given night. The best time to visit for a calmer experience is a weekday evening before 8 PM, when you can actually get a table without a wait.
Local Insider Tip: The kitchen at The 3 Tells closes at 10 PM, but the bar stays open later. If you arrive after 9:30, you can still order gluten-free chips and a cheese plate, which the bar staff will prepare even though the full kitchen is technically off. This is not advertised anywhere, but the staff are happy to do it if you ask politely.
The prices here are moderate for Interlaken, with mains ranging from 18 to 28 CHF. The portions are large, and the gluten-free options are priced the same as their regular counterparts, which is not always the case in this town.
4. Restaurant Bären: A Historic Building With Modern Dietary Awareness
The Restaurant Bären is housed in one of the older buildings on Kramstrasse, a street that has been part of Interlaken's commercial life since the 18th century. The building itself has a history as a guesthouse and tavern, and the current restaurant maintains some of that traditional character with dark wood ceilings and ceramic stoves in the dining room. I visited for the first time about five years ago, skeptical that a place this traditional would handle gluten-free dining well. I have been going back ever since.
The menu changes seasonally, which is important to know because the gluten-free options shift with it. In winter, the kitchen does a venison stew thickened with potato starch instead of flour, served with spätzle made from a gluten-free buckwheat blend. In summer, the focus moves to grilled fish and salads, with a particular highlight being the lake trout with herb butter and roasted vegetables. The chef here trained in Bern before moving to Interlaken, and that training shows in the precision of the kitchen's approach to dietary restrictions. They do not treat gluten-free as an afterthought.
What I appreciate most about the Bären is the honesty of the staff. On my second visit, I mentioned I was coeliac, and the server went back to the kitchen to check whether the herb butter had any flour-based thickeners. She came back five minutes later to confirm it was safe. That level of care is not something you can fake, and it is why I trust this place more than flashier restaurants that slap a "GF" symbol on the menu without changing their prep routines.
Local Insider Tip: The Bären has a small back garden that is only open in summer, and it is one of the quietest spots in central Interlaken. It seats maybe 15 people, and it is not listed on any online menu or review site as a separate dining area. If you are visiting between June and September, ask your server if you can eat outside in the garden. The view of the surrounding buildings and the sound of the fountain make it worth the request.
The restaurant is closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly. Mains run from 25 to 38 CHF, and the seasonal menu means you should check what is available before you go if you have your heart set on a specific dish.
5. Glorious: Dedicated Gluten-Free Baking on the Outskirts
Glorious is a small café and bakery located on the road toward Bönigen, just south of Interlaken's center, in a neighborhood that most tourists never reach. This place is entirely gluten-free, which means you can order anything on the menu without asking a single question about cross-contamination. I discovered it two years ago when a friend who is coeliac insisted I try the sourdough bread, and I have been a regular ever since.
The bakery produces its own breads, pastries, and cakes using a blend of rice flour, buckwheat, and psyllium husk. The sourdough has a proper crust and a tangy, open crumb that rivals any wheat-based bread I have eaten in Switzerland. They also make a rotating selection of quiches, tarts, and sandwiches, all of which are safe for coeliacs. On my most recent visit, I had a smoked salmon quiche with a buckwheat crust that was rich, flaky, and deeply satisfying. The coffee is from a small roaster in Interlaken Ost, and it is excellent.
The space itself is modest, a handful of tables in a bright, modern room with large windows facing the street. It is the kind of place where you can sit for an hour without being rushed, reading a book or working on a laptop. The best time to visit is mid-morning, when the bread is freshest and the selection is widest. By mid-afternoon, many items are sold out, particularly the sourdough loaves and the more popular pastries.
Local Insider Tip: Glorious bakes a special fruit bread on Fridays that is only available that day. It is made with dried apricots, walnuts, and a hint of cardamom, and it sells out before noon almost every week. If you want a loaf, arrive by 10:30 AM or message them on social media to reserve one.
The prices are reasonable, with pastries between 4 and 7 CHF and full meals between 12 and 18 CHF. The walk from Interlaken West takes about 15 minutes, or you can take the local bus to the Bönigen stop.
6. Restaurant Schuh: Family-Run and Gluten-Free Friendly
Restaurant Schuh is on the corner of Schuhstrasse and Lindenstrasse, in a residential part of Interlaken that sits on the gentle slope above the main tourist area. This is a family-run establishment that has been operating for over 30 years, and the current generation of owners has made a genuine effort to accommodate gluten-free diners without compromising the quality of their traditional Swiss cooking. I have eaten here more times than I can count, and I have never had a bad experience.
The menu is classic Bernese, rösti, cordon bleu, geschnetzeltes, and the kitchen can modify most dishes to be gluten-free. The cordon bleu is a standout, made with a gluten-free breading that stays crispy and does not separate from the meat. The geschnetzeltes (sliced veal in cream sauce) is prepared without flour in the sauce when you request it, and the flavor is indistinguishable from the regular version. The portions are enormous, I have never finished a main course here without feeling uncomfortably full, and the prices are among the most reasonable in Interlaken.
The dining room is warm and unpretentious, with checkered tablecloths and a handful of framed photographs of Interlaken from the 1960s on the walls. This is a place where locals eat, and the atmosphere reflects that. You will not find English-language menus or Instagram-worthy plating here, but you will find honest, well-prepared food made by people who care about what they serve.
Local Insider Tip: The Schuh does not take reservations for lunch, and the small dining room fills up fast between noon and 1 PM with workers from nearby offices. Arrive at 11:45 or after 1:15 to avoid the rush. Also, the kitchen is happy to pack up leftovers in a container if you cannot finish your meal, which is useful if you are heading to a hike afterward and want a portable snack.
Mains are between 20 and 32 CHF, and the gluten-free modifications are included in the price. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.
7. Hotel Restaurant Goldener Anker: Upscale Wheat Free Dining Interlaken
The Goldener Anker is on Höheweg, in one of the older hotel buildings that line Interlaken's main street. The restaurant serves the hotel's guests but is also open to the public, and it offers one of the more refined wheat free dining Interlaken experiences available. I visited for the first time during a local food festival two summers ago, and the kitchen's approach to gluten-free cooking impressed me enough to return multiple times since.
The menu is modern Swiss with French influences, and the kitchen uses a dedicated prep area for gluten-free dishes. On my last visit, I had a duck breast with a cherry reduction and roasted root vegetables, all of which were naturally gluten-free and prepared with a level of finesse that you do not always find in this village. The dessert menu includes a dark chocolate mousse made without any flour-based thickeners, and it is one of the best desserts I have had in Interlaken, full stop, not just for a gluten-free option.
The dining room is elegant without being stuffy, with white tablecloths, soft lighting, and a view of the street through tall windows. The service is professional and knowledgeable about dietary restrictions, and the staff will walk you through the menu to identify safe options without making you feel like a burden.
Local Insider Tip: The Goldener Anker does a Sunday brunch buffet during the summer months, and it includes a dedicated gluten-free section with bread, pastries, and a separate toaster. This is not widely advertised, and most of the hotel guests who attend the buffet do not even notice the gluten-free section because it is integrated so seamlessly into the spread. If you are in Interlaken on a summer Sunday, this is worth the splurge.
Mains range from 32 to 48 CHF, making this one of the pricier options on this list. The Sunday brunch is 45 CHF per person. Reservations are recommended for dinner, especially on weekends.
8. Backpackers' Restaurant Budget Gluten-Free in Interlaken
The Backpackers' Restaurant is on the ground floor of the Balmers Herberge building on Aarmühlestrasse, in the eastern part of Interlaken near the train station. This is not a dedicated gluten-free facility, and the kitchen is small, so cross-contamination is a real concern that you should discuss with the staff before ordering. However, it deserves a place on this list because it is one of the few places in Interlaken where a gluten-free traveler on a budget can eat a full, satisfying meal for under 15 CHF.
The kitchen can prepare gluten-free pasta with a choice of sauces, and the pesto is made fresh daily without any flour-based additives. They also do a rice and vegetable bowl that is naturally gluten-free and surprisingly flavorful for the price point. I have eaten here after late hikes when I was too tired to care about anything other than a hot meal and a cold beer, and it has never let me down. The portions are large, the staff are friendly, and the atmosphere is the kind of easygoing, international backpacker vibe that has defined Interlaken's hostel culture for decades.
The connection to Interlaken's identity is direct. This village has been a waypoint for young travelers exploring the Alps since the 19th century, and places like the Backpackers' Restaurant carry that tradition forward. The walls are covered with photographs, notes, and stickers from travelers around the world, and the communal tables encourage conversation between strangers.
Local Insider Tip: The Backpackers' Restaurant has a "free shelf" near the entrance where guests leave behind food, books, and other items. It is not related to the kitchen, but if you are traveling on a budget, you can sometimes find gluten-free snack bars, instant noodles, and other useful items left by previous travelers. Check it when you walk in.
The restaurant is open daily from 11 AM to 11 PM. It gets very busy between 6 and 8 PM, so arrive early or late if you want a table without a wait.
When to Go and What to Know
Interlaken's tourist season runs roughly from May through September, with a secondary peak in winter for ski visitors. Gluten-free options are available year-round, but the selection tends to be wider in summer when more restaurants are open and menus are at their most extensive. July and August are the busiest months, and popular spots like the Taverne and the Goldener Anker can be fully booked for dinner. Make reservations whenever possible during this period.
The village is compact and walkable. Most of the restaurants on this list are within 15 minutes on foot from either Interlaken West or Interlaken Ost train station. Public buses run frequently and are free within the town center if you pick up a guest card from your accommodation. Taxis are available but expensive, expect 10 to 15 CHF for a short ride within town.
Swiss restaurants are generally good about dietary restrictions, but language can be a barrier. The German term for coeliac disease is "Zöliakie," and "glutenfrei" means gluten-free. If you are serious about avoiding cross-contamination, it helps to carry a card in German explaining your condition. You can find printable coeliac dining cards online from several celiac organizations, and I recommend bringing one even though most kitchen staff in Interlaken speak enough English to understand your needs.
Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants listed here, but the Backpackers' Restaurant and Glorious are cash-friendly spots where having some francs on hand is useful. Tipping is not obligatory in Switzerland, as service is included in the price, but rounding up the bill or leaving 5 to 10 percent is standard practice and appreciated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Interlaken is famous for?
Rösti is the dish you should not leave Interlaken without trying, and several restaurants on this list can prepare it gluten-free. The Bernese-style rösti at the Restaurant Taverne and the Restaurant Schuh are both excellent, made with grated potatoes fried until golden and crispy on the outside. For a drink, try the local Röteli, a warm red wine and grape juice blend that is popular in the Bernese Oberland and naturally gluten-free.
Is the tap water in Interlaken safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?
The tap water in Interlaken is perfectly safe to drink and comes from pristine Alpine springs. It is some of the cleanest municipal water in Europe, and you can refill your bottle at any tap or public fountain without concern. There is no need to buy bottled water or seek out filtered options unless you simply prefer the taste.
Is Interlaken expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier daily budget for Interlaken is approximately 150 to 200 CHF per person, covering accommodation in a three-star hotel or guesthouse (80 to 120 CHF), meals (40 to 60 CHF if you eat one sit-down meal and one lighter meal per day), and local transport (free within town center with a guest card, or 5 to 15 CHF for bus rides to nearby attractions). Budget travelers staying in hostels can manage on 80 to 100 CHF per day.
Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Interlaken?
There is no strict dress code at any restaurant in Interlaken, but locals tend to dress neatly even in casual settings. Avoid wearing hiking boots or very sporty attire at upscale places like the Goldener Anker. It is customary to greet your server with a polite "Grüezi" when entering a restaurant and to say "En Guete" (bon appétit) before eating. Tipping is appreciated but not expected in the way it is in North America.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Interlaken?
Vegetarian options are widely available at most restaurants in Interlaken, including several on this list. Vegan options are more limited but growing, with places like Glorious offering plant-based pastries and the Backpackers' Restaurant having a rice and vegetable bowl that is vegan by default. Dedicated vegan restaurants are still rare in the village, so calling ahead to confirm options is advisable if you have strict dietary requirements.
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