The story
Amici wears its philosophy on its sleeve: the name means "friends," and the restaurant on Rue Cité-Derrière lives up to it. The promise is straightforward — authentic, generous Italian cooking made from fresh ingredients selected with care and prepared to order. No shortcuts, no pretence. Just the kind of meal that makes you forget you are not in Italy.
The room and its terrace (weather permitting) carry the easy warmth that the Italian phrase dolce vita actually describes rather than merely evokes. Whether you stop in for a quick weekday lunch or settle in for a long evening, the atmosphere is the same: unhurried, convivial, genuinely welcoming.
The kitchen's stated secret is simple: quality ingredients treated with passion at the moment of service. That commitment to cooking à la minute is what keeps the Italian cuisine here tasting alive rather than assembled. It is also what earned Amici recognition from Gambero Rosso, Italy's most authoritative food and wine guide — a meaningful nod for a restaurant operating well outside Italian borders.
Beyond the dining room, Amici adapts to how people actually eat. Takeaway is available at preferential prices, and home delivery is offered through Smood for those evenings when going out is not on the cards. Gift vouchers — bons cadeaux — make it easy to share the experience. The restaurant also opens on select Saturday evenings during November and December, extending its typically Monday-to-Friday schedule for the festive season.
For anyone in Lausanne craving honest Italian cuisine, Amici on Rue Cité-Derrière is a reliable, Gambero Rosso-recognised address worth knowing.
Recognition
Ambience
Location