This men’s clothing and accessories boutique store carries brands from all over the world, though it shows a slight favoritism for those from France, Sweden, and Japan. The store is small, but packed with elegant clothing that adheres to its governing philosophy of “sober originality,” which refers to the style of a city gentleman. If you ask the owner, Mr. Alain himself, he will carefully describe each item in his store, and why he has chosen to sell it. An inspired collection of rucksacks and backpacks from local designers make a visit to Mr. Alain worthwhile.
This lovely small street runs through part of central Lausanne, with Rue de La Paix on the east and Place Saint-François on the west. One of the city’s premier high-end shopping locations, the street is bustling with cafes, shops, alleyways, charming buildings, and cobblestones. It’s a pleasure to walk through and a nice place to rub elbows with locals. Many stores on this street, which is one of the oldest in the city, sell goods from international luxury brands.
Walking into Chocolatier Blondel is a bit like walking into chocolate heaven. The modest store on the bustling Rue de Bourg is flanked by bigger, noisier stores, yet it may be one of the hidden gems in the neighborhood. The shelves of the store are lined with trays upon trays of chocolate treats of various shapes and sizes. These include dark, milk, and white chocolate mixed with nuts, teas, herbs, and dried fruits. The chocolate may be purchased in gift boxes, slabs, or by the pound.
Launched in 1987, Maniak is a cavernous clothing store that carries mostly trendy workwear and costumes and costume accessories. There’s an alternative rock hipster vibe to the place, and it’s just as likely to stock work wear as it is to carry band t–shirts and leather jackets. Think Carhartt and Schott jackets, Dickie’s jeans and shirts, and Freitag shoulder bags. Several rooms are dedicated to costumes, where visitors can find masks, feather boas, faux leather, angels wings, and pretty much anything one would want to create any kind of costume.
Métropole is a shopping center in downtown Lausanne and the largest of its kind in the city and the surrounding region. White-walled, air-conditioned passageways here run past 50 shops on five storeys, including a supermarket, health and manicure salons, pet shops, and dozens of others. The facility is vast and contemporary, and it occasionally coordinates promotions with parallel community activities like circuses, sporting events, and concerts. The retail mall hosts Recyclub, a series of free courses for families on reducing domestic trash.
Le Flon is a district in central Lausanne that was transformed from a post-war warehouse district into a shopping and entertainment hotspot. The district, which is named after a river that once flowed through the valley that Lausanne sits on, was rehabilitated beginning in the late 1990s after decades of economic downturns. During the rehabilitation, many old buildings were renovated, and a few iconic structures were built. These include some administrative buildings, a seven-screen multiplex movie theater, and new pubs and restaurants. Le Flon has the unusual distinction of having an award-winning parking lot, which won a design prize given by the European Parking Association. The Voie du Chariot, along which many of the districts shop lie, is also home to a fountain that recalls the Flon.
This men’s clothing and accessories boutique store carries brands from all over the world, though it shows a slight favoritism for those from France, Sweden, and Japan. The store is small, but packed with elegant clothing that adheres to its governing philosophy of “sober originality,” which refers to the style of a city gentleman. If you ask the owner, Mr. Alain himself, he will carefully describe each item in his store, and why he has chosen to sell it. An inspired collection of rucksacks and backpacks from local designers make a visit to Mr. Alain worthwhile.
This local outpost of the high-end, Danish electronics brand offers a full-range of Bang & Olufsen's televisions, loudspeakers and sound systems. Renown the world over for its innovative design, state-of-the art tech-specs and uncompromising quality, Bang & Olufsen has everything you need to take home entertainment to the next level. Sleek, minimalist and modern, the brand's products are both stylish and technologically advanced for crystal-clear sound and visuals. Visit the store for advice on how to enhance your home entertainment experience or to shop for the latest Bang & Olufsen gadgets. Private demonstrations can be arranged as well.
Launched in 1987, Maniak is a cavernous clothing store that carries mostly trendy workwear and costumes and costume accessories. There’s an alternative rock hipster vibe to the place, and it’s just as likely to stock work wear as it is to carry band t–shirts and leather jackets. Think Carhartt and Schott jackets, Dickie’s jeans and shirts, and Freitag shoulder bags. Several rooms are dedicated to costumes, where visitors can find masks, feather boas, faux leather, angels wings, and pretty much anything one would want to create any kind of costume.
This lovely small street runs through part of central Lausanne, with Rue de La Paix on the east and Place Saint-François on the west. One of the city’s premier high-end shopping locations, the street is bustling with cafes, shops, alleyways, charming buildings, and cobblestones. It’s a pleasure to walk through and a nice place to rub elbows with locals. Many stores on this street, which is one of the oldest in the city, sell goods from international luxury brands.
Walking into Chocolatier Blondel is a bit like walking into chocolate heaven. The modest store on the bustling Rue de Bourg is flanked by bigger, noisier stores, yet it may be one of the hidden gems in the neighborhood. The shelves of the store are lined with trays upon trays of chocolate treats of various shapes and sizes. These include dark, milk, and white chocolate mixed with nuts, teas, herbs, and dried fruits. The chocolate may be purchased in gift boxes, slabs, or by the pound.