4 Best Restaurants in Neuchatel, Fribourg and Neuchâtel

This simply furnished creperie-cum-tearoom opposite the Jardin Anglais is an ideal spot to grab a cheap but tasty meal. Its location close to the university ensures a young crowd, many of whom head here to enjoy a choice from more than 120 types of crepes: sweet or savory, meat or vegetarian. Gluten-free, wheat, and buckwheat varieties cater to many diets. A selection of more than 30 teas also can be enjoyed while playing video games or perusing the comic books on offer.

Despite its proximity to the lake, there's neither a terrace nor a view at Le Bocca, and charming owner-chef Claude Frôté wants it that way: customers should come to this spot for his innovative food. Just north of Neuchâtel, the restaurant has an array of menus in its brasserie and main dining room. If you're a fan of organ meats such as tripe—long popular in Neuchâtel—you can eat for a lot less: Le Bocca's contemporary takes on these traditional dishes run you only SF32 to SF47. Hand in hand with the fine food (past delights have included foie gras with passion fruit, and beef fillet with olives and pistachios) is a great wine list with 25,000 bottles in stock.

This smartly styled restaurant with a calm interior serves surprising gourmet creations, finding the balance between fine dining and trendy fare. Le Bureau—literally "The Office"—promotes a hybrid experience that goes beyond food; you can easily converse with other guests, some of whom are there for coworking over a coffee or meal. 

Enjoy a perfect café crème or a whole meal along with the Neuchâtelois at one of the most authentic cafés in the Old Town. This place models itself on a traditional Parisian brasserie, and the striking art nouveau interior certainly helps: the molded ceiling, etched windows, and blue-and-green decorative tiles all date from 1905. Fish is a specialty, and large platters of fruits de mer (shellfish) in season are a delicious treat. A menu-of-the-day special is always reasonably priced.