Da Carlo

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Fifty Years of Italian Hospitality in the Swiss Capital

Da Carlo has been a fixture on Bern's Effingerstrasse since 1973, and the address carries real weight: this is one of the rare Italian restaurants in Switzerland to earn recognition from Gambero Rosso, the authoritative Italian food guide. That kind of credibility is not built on novelty – it is built on consistency, honest ingredients and a room that feels like it belongs to the neighbourhood.

A New Chapter, the Same Soul

In May 2025, Danijel Djakovic took over the restaurant, bringing with him a story that fits Da Carlo perfectly. He grew up in Bern surrounded by Italian families from Lecce and Calabria, where pasta, pizza and homemade tiramisù were daily rituals. After more than two decades organising events in the city, he returned to what he knew mattered: a place that feeds both body and spirit. His intention was clear from the start – preserve the classic Italian kitchen and the warmth that has defined Da Carlo for half a century, while adding fresh energy through live music and seasonal cooking.

What Arrives at the Table

The kitchen produces handmade pasta, wood-fired sourdough pizza and carefully composed meat and fish dishes. Starters include a Carpaccio Da Carlo of Swiss grass-fed beef with olive oil, rocket, Parmesan and lemon, and a generous Antipasti all'Italiana with Parma ham, spicy salami, dried tomatoes, mozzarella and olives. Among the Italian classics, Spaghetti alla Carbonara and Risotto ai Frutti di Mare hold their place alongside seasonal specials – spring brings asparagus ravioli with seared scallops and fresh asparagus with prosciutto crudo and hollandaise. Desserts stay true to form: tiramisù, panna cotta with warm forest berries, and the Torta della Nonna with vanilla cream and pine nuts.

The lunch menu offers a lighter, affordable range – grilled chicken on rocket, rosemary-marinated beef with roasted potatoes, and a vegan pasta with house-made sun-dried tomato pesto.

Atmosphere and the Live Music Dimension

Cosy wooden tables, candlelight, framed photographs and mementos on the walls set the tone. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the restaurant becomes a stage: Da Carlo works with the KULT music agency of the Hochschule der Künste Bern, bringing rotating classical musicians – cellists, guitarists – into the dining room. The After Work Apéro on Tuesday through Thursday from 5 pm offers a relaxed entry point: one drink per person and a small antipasti plate, with vegan options available.

The room also accommodates private parties, corporate events and group bookings, making it one of the more versatile Italian restaurants in central Bern.