Calabrisella – Authentic Italian in the Breitenrain Quarter

Atmosphere: Authentic in the Breitenrain Quarter

In the middle of Bern’s Breitenrain quarter, the Calabrisella has stood for decades. A real Italian place – run by Italian hosts. And its style radiates exactly that authenticity: plain, almost austere. It may seem almost too plain, but it fits. This is not about staging, but about honest cooking and honest hospitality.

In summer you can sit outside under sunshades, right in the middle of the quarter’s life. On top of that comes something you cannot stage: the hosts radiate that the guest is welcome – no feeling of disturbance as you sometimes sense elsewhere. This respect for the guest is what makes the Calabrisella special.

The Kitchen: Pizza Menu at Lunch

The offer is typical for an Italian place: pizza and pasta, plus meat dishes and seasonal offerings. At midday there are various lunch deals, including pizza menus – one price for salad and pizza together. An uncomplicated, fair deal.

Starter: Small Green Salad

To start, there was a small green salad. It was really fresh – no watery aftertaste, just crisp and clean. Along came tasty pizza bread, which built up a proper appetite for what was still to come.

Main Course: Pizza Napoli

The pizza arrived at the table very hot – exactly as it should be. The dough thickness is right, the amount of cheese is right: hot, melted cheese, salty anchovies and slightly sour capers. For under CHF 20, you get a Pizza Napoli with anchovies and capers here that I can recommend without hesitation. Price-wise, the Calabrisella is among the slightly cheaper Italians in Bern anyway.

Dessert: Affogato

To finish, an affogato: vanilla ice cream with an espresso poured over it. Plain, but perfect – just the right end to an uncomplicated, honest meal.

By the way: drinks like mineral water are served open-poured from the bottle top rather than in bottles – which also keeps the price lower. Everything stays reasonable.

Service: Hosts with Heart

The hosting is what makes the Calabrisella special. Here you feel real respect for the guest – the hosts radiate that you are welcome. Over the years I have come back to the Calabrisella again and again, and the hosts are still the same. One thing that makes me smile are the occasional typos on the menu – but that is exactly what feels authentic and shows that people work here in an uncomplicated, heartfelt way.

For anyone looking for more honest Italian in Bern: the Casa d’Italia in the Länggasse is also a traditional house with authentic, plain cooking.

Details

Address: Weingartstrasse 32, 3014 Bern
Phone: +41 31 991 51 51
Website: calabrisella-bern.ch
Public transit: Tram no. 9 to the «Breitenrain» stop, 5-minute walk; bus no. 20 to Breitfeld/Markuskirche
Parking: A few spaces at the restaurant, alternatively directly across in the quarter
Opening hours: Closed Mondays · Tue–Thu 10:00–23:00 · Fri–Sat 10:00–23:30 · Sun 10:00–22:30 (open all day)