Food and drink
Switzerland has a rich culinary heritage. You can enjoy traditional Swiss cuisine and genuine hospitality at our Ballenberg Inns in the museum grounds. Lunch in a cosy restaurant or lively beer garden, a picnic in the museum grounds or an exclusive evening event at the Swiss Open-Air Museum: Judith Scherrer, Jörg Gehri and their team look forward to welcoming you.
Alter Bären Restaurant
Take a welcome break in the Alter Bären Restaurant. Both in the cosy dining room and on the large outside terrace, the Ballenberg Inns team serve wholesome cuisine at the Alter Bären, including delicious specialities from the canton of Bern. A top tip: allow time for a coffee break at the ‘Bären’ and treat yourself to a delicious slice of home-made fruit flan with a dollop of whipped cream.
The Alter Bären Restaurant is open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm during the season. For changes to its opening hours, please refer to the current daily schedule.
Degen Restaurant
The Degen Restaurant is located at the heart of the open-air museum, immediately adjacent to the large adventure playground and petting zoo on the Balm. Surrounded by buildings from central Switzerland, it goes without saying that you can enjoy delicious cuisine from the heart of Switzerland here, such as wholesome Luzerner Chügelipastetli (puff pastry filled with meat or mushrooms in a creamy sauce).
The Degen Restaurant is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm during the season. For changes to its opening hours, please refer to the current daily schedule.
Wilerhorn Restaurant
The Ballenberg Inns team look forward to welcoming you to the Wilerhorn Restaurant at the east entrance (Brienzwiler) gate of the open-air museum. The Wilerhorn Restaurant can accommodate events and groups of up to 200 people and is just a few metres from the Brünig Pass. It is well worth stopping off here, even if you are not visiting the museum.
Brunches and other events take place at the Wilerhorn Restaurant during the museum season. The current schedule is available in our events overview.
Enjoy the sun – Osteria Novazzano
This venue exudes a holiday feel: on sunny days, the osteria operates in the large courtyard of ‘La Pobbia’ farmstead from Novazzano, Ticino. Polenta, risotto or luganighe sausages: enjoy some Ticino joie de vivre and delicious alfresco cuisine from the sunniest part of Switzerland.
Circus trailer snack bar
The circus trailer from the famous Knie Swiss National Circus has been rejuvenated at the Swiss Open-Air Museum: directly opposite the large adventure playground and petting zoo, the Ballenberg Inns team serve all kinds of snacks, hot and cold drinks and light bites for adults and children. There is sufficient seating around the circus trailer snack bar for diners to relax and enjoy a small culinary treat.
The circus trailer snack bar is open daily during the season. Opening hours depend on the weather and visitor numbers.
Picnic areas and fireplaces
The Swiss Open-Air Museum also caters for visitors who bring their own food: from secluded shady spots in the forest and sun-drenched picnic areas surrounded by historic buildings, to charming benches spread throughout the museum grounds – we recommend planning a couple of breaks during your museum visit.
Your hosts
Judith Scherrer, Jörg Gehri and the entire Ballenberg Inns team look forward to welcoming you to the Swiss Open-Air Museum. The Ballenberg Inns concept, operated by Gehri-Food GmbH, is based on quality, hospitality and freshness: ‘High-quality dishes, regional and seasonal ingredients and friendly, attentive service are our priority,’ say our two catering professionals.
Gasthäuser Ballenberg
Judith Scherrer und Jörg Gehri
Ballenberg Eingang Ost
3856 Brienzwiler
Gasthof «Wilerhorn» +41 33 952 10 20
Wirtshaus «Alter Bären» +41 33 952 10 21
gasthaeuser@ballenberg.ch
Ballenberg
Swiss Open-Air Museum
Museumsstrasse 100
CH-3858 Hofstetten bei Brienz
Opening hours
10 April to 2 November 2025
10 am to 5 pm daily
