Entertainment in Lausanne
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MAD - Moulin à Danse
With five floors of entertainment, MAD really is a crazy sort of place. Music themes can range from anything to trance to tranquil. Just behind it on Rue de Genève is Zapoff Galleries, a slick designer bar run by the same people. Snappy dressing is required and people under 25 don’t get past the doorman – at least that’s the policy.
reviewed
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D-Club
D-Club is a heaving club where local and guest DJs spin funk to house, especially the latter, in all its latest sub-forms. Friday night is electro night and Saturday the place shakes to humping house. To get here take the stairs down from Rue du Grand Pont and turn right before descending all the way into Place Centrale.
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Le Bleu Lézard
An oldie but a goodie, this corner bar-eatery with wooden tables and a chatty atmosphere remains a popular meeting place throughout the day and evening. If you feel like a dance, pop downstairs to its club-style section, Cave. This is also a good spot for Sunday brunch and they have wi-fi.
reviewed
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D
Pinte Besson
The city's oldest tavern has been serving up local wines to Lausannois punters since 1780. The place oozes the atmosphere of another age and makes no concessions to modern modishness. Squeeze in for a round of fondue and wine or just drop by for a couple of evening ales.
reviewed
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The Great Escape
Beneath the whopping beams that hold up the roof of what could be a country house is a noisy pub with plenty of beers and ales on tap. At times a sports bar (claiming the best burgers in town), it heaves with an eclectic crew of punters on Friday and Saturday nights.
reviewed
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Bar Tabac
Like a spruced corner tavern of old, this is the kind of thing Hemingway probably had in mind when he spoke of a ‘clean, well lighted place’. Squeaky timber floors lend warmth and punters engage in animated chat at tables around the L-shaped bar.
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Amnésia
This place packs them in down on the lake. Apart from the club proper (with four dance floors) you can limber up in one of three attached bars beforehand and, in summer, get a snack in the restaurant on the beach (both open to 2am, May to October).
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Le Bourg
What was once an old cinema is now one of central Lausanne’s happening drink dens and live music stages. Squeeze upstairs past the bar for a good view down to the stage area. Music can be anything from Afro sounds to local jam sessions.
reviewed
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Opéra de Lausanne
Runs a season rich in events from September to May. Classics of opera alternate with classical music concerts and one-off presentations of world music. Tickets can cost from Sfr15 to Sfr130, depending on the performance and seats.
reviewed
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Louis
Wine-lovers flock to this place to quaff fine tipples from around Europe. Attached is a Mediterranean-style bistro for light meals and a swanky restaurant upstairs. Outside is an extensive deck terrace on Voie du Chariot.
reviewed
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Le Romandie
Lausanne’s premier rock club has taken up residence in this postindustrial location within the great stone arches of the Grand Pont. Expect live rock, garage and even punk, followed by DJ sounds in a similar vein.
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Loft Electroclub
Loft, a predominantly red bar and dance space just one level down the stairs of the Tour Bel-Air building, is a popular late-night option. DJs occasionally put on R & B nights, while Saturday is electro night.
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Paparazzi
A dimly lit, classy lounge bar where, to start the evening, you can taste a variety of Italian wines or, if you arrive later, take a stronger drink and throw yourself into a comfy couch till late.
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Café du Pont
This tiny upstairs bar, long a haunt for conspiratorial leftists to engage in long chats about the state of the nation (or the canton), is a curious little hideaway for sipping on Belgian beers.
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Trixx Club
MAD hosts Trixx Club on Sunday night, the big club night for gays and lesbians throughout western Switzerland. Over the five floors is one dedicated to gals and another to guys.
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Café Luna
It’s a spacious, modern bar, with angular dark furniture, huge, saucer-like lights hanging from the ceiling and DJs spinning all sorts of sounds from Thursday to Saturday.
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Le V.O. et L'Ar'Lov Jazz Café
This venue, with red and pink low lighting, pulls in punters from all over town for tipples and occasional live music. It makes a good late night alternative to clubbing.
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L'Atelier Volant
This venue is gaily painted and hard to miss. Salsa is a big theme on the 1st floor, but there are more mainstream hits on the ground floor and reggae on the 2nd floor.
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Giraf Bar
This tiny, smoke-filled bar fills up on a Friday and Saturday night. The giraffe-skin motif is repeated inside on lampshades and the music can reach back to the 1980s.
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Java
This place spreads over two floors. Up on the first, a separate lounge area is perfect for a quiet one. Wall-length mirrors and thick lounge chairs dominate the decor.
reviewed
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Palais de Beaulieu
This venue stages concerts, operas and ballets. Lausanne has its own chamber orchestra and the renowned Rudra Béjart Ballet company (www.bejart -rudra.ch).
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Les Docks
Les Docks is the top spot for concerts of all descriptions. From hip-hop to heavy metal, singer- songwriters to reggae, the program can be quite eclectic.
reviewed
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Chorus
The appropriately dark and sometimes smoky ambience is perfect for local and international stars at Chorus, one of Lausanne’s top jazz venues.
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Lecaféthéâtre
A hip yellow-hued cavern where a mixed crowd gathers for all sorts of live gigs (from jazz to turbo-folk), often free and starting around 22:00.
reviewed
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Cinémathèque Suisse
For classics and film cycles, head for this place, seat of the Swiss film archives and the location of a fine café and restaurant.
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