Lake to table · Lake Thun

The Fisherman's Table

You board at an old fisherman's house. It seemed a waste not to finish the thought.

Smoked and cured fish from Lake Thun, collected fresh that morning from a lakeside kitchen on the far shore, laid out on a proper board and eaten at anchor — with the water it came from directly underneath you, and the Niesen going gold above.

3 hoursUp to 8 guestsApril to OctoberDeparts Merligen

What you eat

Lake Thun still has its own fish, and the villages around it still know what to do with them. Everything on the board is chosen because it is best eaten cold and unhurried — which, as it turns out, is exactly how you want to eat on a boat.

  • Smoked lake fish — trout and char, cold-smoked, the way the lake villages have always preserved them.
  • A cured or marinated preparation, depending on what came in that week.
  • Dark bread, Swiss butter, horseradish, pickles and lemon — what the fish asks for and nothing more.
  • A crisp Swiss white, from one of the small terraced vineyards you can see from the boat.
  • Water and soft drinks, and proper glasses and plates. Nothing disposable.

Why it is cold, and why that is the point

There is no kitchen on board and we will not pretend otherwise — nothing is cooked or reheated on the water. So rather than serve you something hot that arrived twenty minutes ago, the board is built entirely from preparations that are meant to be eaten cold. Smoked fish on a boat in the middle of a lake is not a compromise. It is the older, better version of the idea.

How the afternoon runs

1
Cross to the south shoreOut of Merligen and across open water towards Faulensee and Spiez, past the castle and under the Niesen. The widest part of the lake, and the best view back towards the peaks.About 25 minutes
2
Anchor, and eatEngine off, in a quiet bay away from the beaches and the scheduled boats. The board comes out. This is the part that takes as long as it takes.An hour, unhurried
3
Swim, if the water allowsFrom July to early September the ladder goes down after the meal, never before. Optional, and always the captain's call.Conditions permitting
4
Home along the north shoreBack the slow way, along the vineyards and the castles, timed so the light is at its best behind you.About 45 minutes

Book it late in the afternoon and the run home lands in golden hour. That is how we would do it.

Price

Per boat, never per person. Three hours, the food and the wine included — nothing is charged on board.

CHF 3,400

1 to 4 guests, everything included

  • 5 to 6 guestsCHF 4,200
  • 7 to 8 guestsCHF 5,000
  • 9 to 12 guestsOn request
  • Order two days ahead. The board is put together for your date, so this one cannot be arranged the night before.
  • Tell us about allergies and anyone who does not eat fish when you book — a vegetarian board is arranged on the same notice.
  • A two-hour version is possible if you would rather eat and come straight back. Ask and we will quote it.

Can I catch it myself?

Not with us, and not yet. Fishing from a boat on Lake Thun needs a cantonal permit for every person aboard, and we are still working out whether we can offer a proper guided fishing outing at all. If that is what you are really after, we have written down everything you need — permits, the rules, and the local specialists who do take visitors out.

Read the fishing guide →

Reserve the table.

Send your date, the number of guests and anything we should know about what you eat. Two days' notice, and the rest is arranged.

Request the Fisherman's Table Ask on WhatsApp

Departs Merligen, about 20 minutes from Interlaken · how to find us · conditions on the lake
Food and wine are included in the price and are not refundable once ordered. Full terms in our booking policy.
Licensed Swiss commercial vessel · fully insured · established 2020