For more than a decade, Atelier Classic Bar has been shaping the bar scene in Thun. Nestled deep in the vault of a 250-year-old cellar, it has evolved from an insider tip to the epitome of consistency, authenticity, and artisanal bar culture. With warm lighting, brick walls, and flickering candles, it welcomes its guests like a second home. Before you descend the narrow entrance staircase, the atmosphere already captivates you, as if it were inviting you to continue.
Anyone who goes downstairs immediately senses the special rhythm of this place. Ivan Urech, the bar's owner, describes it as a "circus ring where we play an orchestra with our liquid instruments." He is a storyteller, speaks in images, thinks in metaphors, and leaves nothing to chance, neither his performances at competitions nor the details of his bar. Above the bar, the steel beams are densely covered with inscribed banknotes from all over the world.
There is an old tradition behind this, one that sailors once practiced, but we won't reveal any more at this point. If you want to know more, you should ask Urech himself when you visit his studio. Every banknote, every currency, every note carries a story within it. Traces of past journeys, memories of extraordinary encounters, relics of adventures lived. Today, they are more than just decoration: they are little time capsules that evoke images, feelings, and thoughts in guests and send them on their own journey of the mind.
"Every drink," says Urech, "takes guests on a little journey for a moment." "No one comes to a bar because they're thirsty. They want atmosphere, they want the whole experience," explains the passionate host. This attitude permeates everything, from the decor to the music to the bar menu.
Poetry instead of lists
The Atelier Classic bar menu has long since become legendary. In 2021, it was named the best bar menu in Switzerland. More than just a menu, it is a thick, bound bar book, a collection of stories, quotes, song lyrics, and poems that puts drinks into words and translates them into emotions.
Our bar is a circus ring where we use our liquid instruments to create an orchestra.
Ivan Urech, Managing Director, Atelier Classic Bar
It features film quotes, such as the legendary line "Slow down, Jaqueline, or you'll throw up again!" from Der Schuh des Manitu (Manitou's Shoe) and the iconic quote from Sex and the City: "Men may have discovered fire, but women know how to play with it." Across almost 80 pages, a poetic circus unfolds in 23 chapters, from sours to non-alcoholic creations, embellished with illustrations by local artists.
Each of these cards is handmade, unique, with a leather cover from the tannery around the corner, screwed together and embossed with the metal "Atelier" emblem. The work is so popular that it can now also be purchased: around twice a week, a copy leaves the bar.
Between tradition and change
Thun is not a city of fast-moving trends, and that is precisely what makes the Atelier Bar so strong. Authenticity is what counts here. Urech calls it "innovative conservatism": daring to try new things without losing sight of the tried and tested. There is deliberately no milk coffee on offer, but instead honest cocktails and signature drinks with a history.
Each one bears the hallmarks of the team, often inspired by travel or competitions. Ten employees form a well-coordinated ensemble. Urech is Barkeeper, teacher, and mentor all at once, teaching at the culinary arts school and promoting young talent. "I don't want to just fill them with knowledge, I want to ignite a fire in them," he says. This attitude creates trust, continuity, and a palpable passion behind the bar.
In the fast-paced nightlife scene, the Atelier remains a constant. For over ten years, Urech has run the bar with passion, a clear vision, and a flair for genuine hospitality. The Best Longseller Bar 2025 award is more than just a title; it stands for a love of craftsmanship, loyalty to people, and the knowledge that time brings maturity.
