Few other cities in Switzerland manage to remain as cosmopolitan but relentlessly conservative as Lausanne. Consequently, you'll find lots to do, often with a Gallic insouciance, after dark. You may begin your evening hanging out in any of the cafes and bars ringing the Espace Flon, a cluster of restaurants and shops at place Flon. Lots of hideaways, frequented by strollers of all ages, will be here to tempt you, but one of the most appealing is Le Grand Café, allée Ernest-Ansermet 3 (tel. 021/320-40-30). Here, in an American-inspired space that contains some of the glitter and razzmatazz of a Planet Hollywood (though it's not connected), you can meet a cross section of virtually every night owl in town. The cafe lies inside the Casino of Lausanne.
Attractive and popular discos include Le Mad, rue de Genève 23 (tel. 021/340-69-69), where the fads and preoccupations of nocturnal Paris filter quickly in from the west via an under-30 crowd. You'll recognize this place instantly, since its exterior is covered with an artist's rosy rendition of street graffiti as it might have been applied by a supremely talented French-speaking artist.
Ouchy White Horse Pub, 66, av. d'Ouchy (tel. 021/616-75-75), draws the crowds at night, who in summer enjoy the terrace with views of the water. Beer is on tap, and a range of tapas and burgers is sold. It's the most authentic pub atmosphere in town.
Lausanne is also a city of culture. It shares the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande with Geneva and also occasionally hosts the legendary ballet company of Maurice Béjart. The local tourist office will advise on what's available at the time of your visit. Most performances of major cultural impact take place at the Théâtre-Municipal Lausanne, avenue du Theatre (tel. 021/310-16-00). Le Théâtre de Beaulieu, at 10, av. des Bergières (tel. 021/643-21-11), is also a venue for dance concerts, operas, and orchestral music presentations. Tickets can be purchased at Ticket Corner (www.ticketcorner.ch), which has various locations throughout Lausanne, including one that's prominently positioned within Lausanne's railway station. Tickets can also be bought at one of Lausanne's large department stores, la "FNAC," rue de Genève 6 (www.fnac.ch). For more information, contact the Théâtre-Municipal Lausanne.
