Are you planning a trip to Neuchâtel and want to discover where to shop for the best local foods? If yes, I have a walking route for you of just over 1 km, where you can find everything you could possibly need for a snack, a picnic by the lake or souvenirs from your visit. My 12 top picks are by no means a comprehensive list, but these shops and markets offer a wide selection of Neuchâtel’s produits du terroir (local products)—beer, cheese, chocolate, pastries, wine and more—all within its historic and picturesque city center.

1 – WINE: Caves de la Ville de Neuchâtel

Behind the impressive Hôtel DuPeyrou is the home of Neuchâtel’s Caves de la Ville. Local wines available here include Neuchâtel Blanc, Neuchâtel Non-Filtre, Perdrix Blanche, Pinot Noir and more. The wine cave is open for a visit and aperitif by appointment. Or, you can stop in and pick up some wine during their open hours.

Caves de la Ville de Neuchatel, Avenue DuPeyrou 5, 2000 Neuchâtel, +41 32 717 76 95, caves.villeneuchatel@ne.ch

2 – BAKERY: Boulangerie de l’Orangerie

Boulangerie de l’Orangerie is on the corner of Faubourg de L’Hopital and Rue de l’Orangerie. This small bakery is one of the few in the center of Neuchâtel where they still make their baked goods on site. There are sweet and savory petits pains, biscuits, flûtes au beurre and more. In the window, they sometimes have small bags of homemade caramels. I find this bakery particularly useful for when I need to pick up a snack for my children or to grab a small gift on the way to visit friends.

Boulangerie de l’Orangerie, Rue de l’Orangerie 2, 2000 Neuchâtel, +41 (0)32 725 23 44

3 – MARKET: Aux Paniers Gourmands

A relatively new market that opened in the last few years, Aux Paniers Gourmands offers a wide variety of products at their shop near the fountain at Place Coquillon. You’ll find local beer, wine and other spirits, like absinthe. They have dry goods, such as pasta, risotto, bricelets and meringues. If you’re looking for a gift, they are also happy to put together a basket of food products for you. I like to support Aux Paniers Gourmands because it’s a program of Ateliers Phénix, which provides employment opportunities for people looking for work.

Aux Paniers Gourmands, Place Coquillon 2, 2000 Neuchâtel, +41 (0)32 717 78 98, auxpaniersgourmands@ne.ch

4 – CHOCOLATE & PASTRIES: Confisserie Schmid

Confisserie Schmid started in 1962 at another location and has occupied the location at Place Pury since 1989. It recently underwent a major renovation, and I love the new, lighter and more modern space. You can find freshly baked bread, beautiful pastries, chocolate, sandwiches and more.

Confiserrie Schmid, Place Pury, Rue de la Treille 9, 2000 Neuchâtel, +41 (0)32 725 14 44, info@confiserie-schmid.ch

5 – FARMERS’ MARKET: Marché de Neuchâtel

On Tuesdays and Saturdays—and also on Thursdays between April and October 31—you can visit the farmers’ market at the Place du Marché from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturdays are the busiest market days with the most vendors, offering fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, cheese, fish, and more.

Marché de Neuchâtel, place du Marché-Halles, Neuchâtel

6 – MARKET: Aux Gourmets

This popular Neuchâtel market, Aux Gourmets, originally opened in 1964. It offers fresh bread at the little bakery section at the entrance off Rue du Seyon and a good selection of wine, beer and local spirits in the back by the entrance at Rue du Trésor. It also has a meat counter that includes fresh pasta, a small cheese counter and fruits and vegetables, where the clerk will help you select and weigh out your order.

Aux Gourmets, Rue du Trésor 9 / Rue du Seyon, 2000 Neuchâtel, +41 (0)32 725 12 34

7 – CHEESE: Sterchi – La Maison du Fromage

As you step into Sterchi’s Maison du Fromage you will be greeted with a friendly “Bonjour” and a strong aroma of cheese. In the corner, you will see huge wheels of Gruyére stacked to the ceiling. The cheese counter is filled with all kinds of local cheeses, like Bleuchâtel, a blue cheese named after the canton, and local fondue mixes, all ready for you to make at home. The Sterchi family has a long history of cheese-making in La Chaux-de-Fonds, with the store in Neuchâtel a relatively recent addition, opening in 2011.

Sterchi – La Maison du Fromage, Rue du Trésor 2bis, 2000 Neuchâtel, +41 (0)32 725 26 36,

8 – CHOCOLATE: Jacot Chocolatier

Based in the village of Noirague, where it opened in 1949, Jacot Chocolatier opened this small shop in Neuchâtel a few years ago. You’ll find batons of rich chocolate filled with absinthe, beautiful truffles and plaques of chocolate in many flavors. Jacot also makes an irresistible chocolate spread, crème à tartiner, without palm oil.

Jacot Chocolatier Boutique, Rue du Trésor 2, 2000 Neuchâtel; +41 (0)32 721 20 17, info@jacotchocolatier.ch

9 – CHOCOLATE & PASTRIES: Wodey-Suchard

Philippe Suchard opened this chocolate shop in the center of Neuchâtel in 1825, prior to opening his factory nearby in Neuchâtel-Serrières. According to its website, this chocolate shop is one the oldest in Switzerland. Today, in addition to handmade chocolates, the front window is always lined with exceptional and colorful pastries and cakes.

Wodey-Suchard, rue du Seyon 5, 2000 Neuchâtel, +41 (0)32.725.10.92, contact@wodey-suchard.ch

10 – BEER: Au Grain d’Orge

As you walk along Rue de Moulins, there is a small beer shop with a wide variety of Swiss beers from Suisse Romande. Au Grain d’Orge has five locations, and the manager of the Neuchâtel shop, Bernard Schneider, is ready to answer your beer questions. In addition to beer, the shop also has local spirits, like absinthe and eau-de-vie. If you or someone you know is a beer enthusiast, you must visit this shop during your time in Neuchâtel.

Au Grain d’Orge, Rue des Moulins 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, +41 32 725 32 52, info@augraindorgeneuchatel.ch

11 – BAKERY: Mäder

Mäder is one of my favorite boulangeries in Neuchâtel—fresh bread, croissants, pain aux chocolat and more. I love stepping in the door and being overwhelmed by the smell of fresh bread. This bakery carries local specialties like Taillaule neuchâteloise, Pain neuchâtelois and Sèches. Located at the corner of Rue du Seyon and Rue des Chavannes, the butterfly is the symbol of this bakery, and you will find several of them adorning the façade of the building.

Mäder Boulangerie-Pâtisserie, Rue du Seyon 22, 2000 Neuchâtel, +41 (0)32 725 29 92, info@maedersa.ch

12 – CHOCOLATE & PASTRIES: Walder

Located very close to Wodey-Suchard, is another lovely chocolate shop that opened in 1919. Walder’s specialties include pavé du château—cubed truffles of milk or dark chocolate, a tradition since 1959—that resemble the cobblestones in the street leading up the Rue du Château to Neuchâtel’s castle. You will also find amazingly thin and delicate éclats de chocolat, which are quite popular. I also love the pâte de fruit and caramels with fleur de sel. This shop is very well known in Neuchâtel, and a special place that you won’t want to miss.

Walder Confiseur-Chocolatier, Angle Rue Seyon-Hôpital, 2000 Neuchâtel, +41 (0)32 725 20 49,

What are you favorite shops for produits du terroir in Neuchâtel? Do you agree with my top picks? Please leave a comment below or send me an email. Many thanks!