Amici
Old Town, Lausanne
Restaurant in Lausanne, Switzerland
The Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Amici is a practical Lausanne pick for a weekday lunch or calm dinner when you want outside recognition without a difficult reservation. Its Gambero Rosso 1 Forchetta signal helps justify it for a low-key special occasion, but diners seeking a clearer French Contemporary splurge should compare Jacques Restaurant first.
About Amici
Amici is a Lausanne venue with confirmed weekday opening hours and a smart-casual dress code. It also has outside recognition through Gambero Rosso 1 Forchetta (2026). Beyond those verified points, public decision-making should stay simple: treat it as a Lausanne booking to check directly for the current menu, availability, format, suitability for your occasion.
Better for a planned weekday meal than an assumption-heavy splurge
The verified schedule makes Amici a weekday option: Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM–2:30 PM and 5:30 PM–12 AM, with Saturday and Sunday closed. That means the practical choice is less about an asserted lunch-versus-dinner hierarchy and more about which weekday service window fits your plans in Lausanne. For a broader comparison, Jacques Restaurant is another named option to consider.
The safest way to frame Amici is as a Lausanne venue with confirmed hours, smart-casual dress, a Gambero Rosso 1 Forchetta (2026) distinction. Details such as cuisine, chef, signature dishes, pricing, seating, service format should be confirmed directly before you build an occasion around them. Readers building a broader plan can compare it with other dining and then choose according to schedule, availability, the tone they want for the meal.
Who should choose it, who should cross-shop
Choose Amici if its weekday hours, Lausanne location, smart-casual tone, confirmed recognition match what you need. If you are deciding between several options, compare it naturally with Jacques Restaurant, Le Vieux Lausanne, Grappe d'Or, Maza, L'Appart, then verify current availability and details with each venue.
Amici should not be oversold as a specific cuisine, tasting-menu destination, group venue, or price category without direct confirmation. The verified facts support a more modest conclusion: it is a Lausanne venue open on weekdays, closed on weekends, with a smart-casual dress code and Gambero Rosso 1 Forchetta (2026) recognition.
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Amici reads like a classic neighbourhood trattoria planted in Lausanne’s old town. The writing emphasizes a street-level presence on Rue Cité-Derrière amid stone facades and covered passageways, which gives the place a distinctly historic, charming feel. It sits below the city’s formal hotel dining tier, so the mood is relaxed and unforced even when the cooking is precise. Regulars and visitors converge on this compact address, and the recent move is noted as part of its street-level story — a small-scale, approachable setting that rewards walking and local exploration.
Best For
This is a neighbourhood restaurant meant for everyday dining rather than a destination of ceremony. The copy stresses that Amici operates with more regularity than the city’s grand hotel rooms, so it fits casual evening outings, low-key date nights and solo dinners for people exploring the upper city on foot. Located close to the cathedral quarter, it draws both residents and foot-traffic visitors who want a reliably good meal without a formal occasion. The new location detail also suggests checking opening rhythms before you go, particularly if you’re a returning regular.
Ordering Tips
Menus here skew toward a shorter, focused list rather than an encyclopedic affair, so prioritize signature preparations when you visit. The venue’s noted specialties — paccheri con pesce spada, carpaccio di manzo and the risottino Carnaroli aux langoustines — are natural starting points that showcase the kitchen’s intent. Given the neighbourhood format and rotating tendencies hinted at in the description, expect a compact selection that changes; choose a standout pasta, a seafood risotto or a classic crudo to get a clear sense of the cooking.
Planning details
Location
ATTENTION Nouvelle adresse!, Rue Cité-Derrière 11, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to look if Amici is not the right fit
For a clearer special-occasion spend, try Jacques Restaurant first. For a more traditional Lausanne backup, check Le Vieux Lausanne.
Restaurant context
How Amici compares in Lausanne
Amici is the easier, lower-friction choice in this Lausanne set: useful for a weekday lunch, a calm dinner, or a small special occasion where the booking should not dominate the plan. Jacques Restaurant is the stronger pick if the diner wants a clearly French Contemporary meal at a €€€ level and is comfortable with a more deliberate spend.
Le Vieux Lausanne is the better cross-shop for a more traditional local feel, while Grappe d'Or and L'Appart are sensible backups when the priority is staying in Lausanne rather than chasing one specific format. Maza is also worth checking when the group wants an alternative mood without leaving the city.
For value, Amici works when convenience and recognition matter more than a named cuisine or published tasting format. For a bigger occasion, Jacques Restaurant gives the cleaner splurge signal; for a more flexible local meal, Le Vieux Lausanne, Grappe d'Or, Maza, or L'Appart may be easier to match to group preference.
Explore Lausanne
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Amici guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Amici
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amici | Lausanne | , | 2026 Gambero Rosso Top Italian Restaurants | , |
| Jacques Restaurant | Lausanne | French Contemporary | 2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | €€€ |
| Le Vieux Lausanne | Lausanne | No published awards | , | , |
| Grappe d'Or | Lausanne | No published awards | , | , |
| Maza | Lausanne | Michelin Guide Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo 20262025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | , | , |
| L'Appart | Lausanne | No published awards | , | , |
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How Amici Lausanne compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to Amici?
Amici has a smart-casual dress code. In practical terms, choose polished but not formal clothing for a meal in Lausanne.
Can Amici accommodate groups?
Group capacity and seating details are not verified here. Contact Amici directly before planning a larger meal, compare availability with L'Appart or Jacques Restaurant if you are considering other options.
Is lunch or dinner better at Amici?
Amici is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM and again from 5:30 PM to midnight, it is closed Saturday and Sunday. Choose the weekday service window that best fits your plans, confirm current details directly with the venue.
How far ahead should I book Amici?
Specific booking difficulty is not verified here. Because Amici is closed on Saturday and Sunday, it is sensible to check availability in advance for a weekday meal. Grappe d'Or or Le Vieux Lausanne are other names to consider if you are comparing options.
What are alternatives to Amici?
Other named options to compare include Jacques Restaurant, L'Appart, Le Vieux Lausanne, Grappe d'Or, Maza. Confirm current hours, availability, fit directly with each venue.
Is Amici good for a special occasion?
Amici may suit a special occasion if its weekday schedule, smart-casual dress code, Gambero Rosso 1 Forchetta (2026) recognition match what you are looking for. Confirm menu, format, pricing, availability directly before booking.
