Giger Bar

Das Café befindet sich gleich gegenüber des Museums. Die Einrichtung und das gesamte Café ist ein Kunstwerk. Ich habe mich eher auf das Gesamtkunstwerk konzentriert als auf die Auswahl beim Essen und Trinken.
Wir haben uns nach dem Museum einen Tee und eine heiße Schokolade (sehr lecker!) gegönnt. Die Bedienung war sehr freundlich (Sprachen: Englisch oder Französisch) und die Getränke waren schnell auf dem Tisch, es war aber auch nicht viel los.

I had just left the Hr Giger museum and felt like I needed to remind myself about sweet and nice things in life! So I went ahead and got myself a yummy cup of hot cocoa! The Giger Bar is really cool looking if you, like I do, enjoy that sort of ambiance. Only had the hot cocoa and my husband order the meringues, which happened to be fantastic! I’m sure there’s better places to Coffee and desserts in Gruyère, but the decoration is super cool. If you like Giger, you must stop there for a drink!

Cool stylish place! The design of the interior is a must see for any Alien fan (so everybody!). Probably given the names behind it I had higher expectation for the bar itself, but besides few cocktails (that I could not get because lack of one of the ingredient) the menu is standard… while some fantasy or extravagance would have been appreciated in such a place. To be seen but nothing to come back for.

A la sortie du musée, forcément, un détour par le bar complètement customisé façon vaisseau Alien.
Un bar classique, mais des sièges comme dans le film, avec une préférence pour les grands autour du bar. Un plafond splendide.
Les toilettes se trouvent en face, à droite de l’entrée du musée, mais ils sont classiques. La plupart des gens s’y rendant, après avoir pu constater la saturation de la mise en scèné du musée et du bar, s’attende à un espace tout aussi imprégné… peine perdu, ce sont des toilettes normaux.

I’d seen pictures of the Giger Bar beforehand, and I wish I hadn’t. The biggest impact of this café/​bar is its first impression when you walk in, so a lot of the effect was probably lost on me. The bar was designed by H.R. Giger, the artist that designed the Alien in the movie. This guy has a morbid, but what I found to be single-​tracked, sense of design and imagination. The walls and ceilings are wrapped with rows of spinal chords, the seats place you in the embrace of an alien, one of the ceiling lamps looks like a multi-​valve heart, and there is a wall that looks like it’s stacked with dead babies. Once you’ve seen these things, though, the designs basically repeat themselves. So if you’re not up for eating/​drinking something, a quick look around should suffice.
That being said, YOU SHOULD GET THE MERINGUES. Now, this was my first meringue and double-​cream experience so I don’t know how it stacks up to others, but OMG was it good. CHF9.50 will get you four light and crispy meringues that melt in your mouth, two little cups of thick cream, and a coffee/​hot chocolate/​tea. Specifically ask for the «Alien coffee» platter to get the entire presentation on a fun wooden tray – otherwise, they’ll bring the meringues out in a boring white plate.
As delicate as the meringues look and sound, I found there is no graceful way to eat a meringue and cream. Spooning the cream onto the meringue will send the cream running down the grooves of the meringue. Dipping the meringue into the cream will leave a trail of cream from the cup to your mouth. A travel mate resorted to crushing his meringues into the cup of cream and spooning it into his mouth. However you decide to eat it, the meringues and cream comprise this perfect combination between the light cookie and the heavy cream, and it’s absolutely heaven. A MUST try!

Bienvenue dans un décors d’entrailles d’alien.
Complètement flippant, mais original.

OK, if you are an Alien fan then DEFINITELY take a quick sip or bite of something in the Giger bar. You will not go away disappointed. However, if you are an Alien fan, please see my review regarding the Giger museum, before paying the ticket price. When you enter the bar you immediately feel as if you have been teleported to the world of Aliens. Almost, as if you were just recently cast as an extra in the next Alien movie, and you were on set. This place is ALWAYS crowded. We had to stand around and wait for a seat to open up. You are definitely not going for a comfy, quiet atmosphere here. Remember, this is an Alien bar. I don’t remember any Alien bars from the movies looking comfortable OR quiet. They offer a selection of drinks and bites to eat on the menu. There are many people in the small space, yet only a few people working. You need to be patient, and soak in the surroundings. The service wasn’t rude, like I would imagine most Alien bars from the movies would be, but, surprisingly once you do get served, they were nice.

I didn’t get to step inside, but apparently Alien is big here in Gruyère. Right across the Café is the Museum for H.R. Giger. The café is interesting. All Alien themed and the seats are very… um.themed. If you’re an Alien fan, then Gruyère is definitely the must see stop for you. While you’re at it get some cheese and double cream!