Our Story
Nestled in the heart of the Saint-Pierre district, a stone's throw from the cathedral and Place de la Palud, L'Étoile Blanche occupies one of Lausanne's most historic locations.
1767
Birth Benjamin Constant
Born in Lausanne on 25 October 1767, Benjamin Constant de Rebecque would become one of the great European liberal thinkers and one of the most significant intellectual figures of the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. The square that now bears his name pays tribute to him.
19th century
The Saint-Pierre district is taking shape
The Saint-Pierre district, one of Lausanne's oldest, develops around the Cité hill and its cobbled lanes. A crossroads of Lausanne's commercial and social life, it attracts bistros, artisans and shops that make it a centre of popular conviviality.
1939
Building construction
The building that today houses L'Étoile Blanche was erected in Place Benjamin-Constant.
Its construction marked a strong anchor in the urban fabric of Lausanne's Saint-Pierre district. From that time on, the ground floor was dedicated to catering and bistro life, a vocation that has never wavered.
1939 - 1970
Major Davel
It all began in 1939, when a café opened here under the name Major Davel, in homage to the hero of Vaudois independence. On this square, formerly called Place du Faucon, the café quickly became a neighbourhood landmark, just a stone's throw from Saint-François.
1970 - 1990
Le Mao and Major Davel
This is the most rock'n'roll era of the house. Intellectuals, artists, students, and activists make it their headquarters and affectionately rename the café «Le Mao», a nod to its Chinese owner. The place is alive and kicking, perhaps too much so: in October 1976, the police order its closure. No matter, Le Major Davel reopens in the spring of 1977, and life goes on.
1990 - 2020
Of Portland, Quai des Brunes and The White Star
In the 90s, the venue reinvented itself and became "le Portland". Then came "le Quai des Brunes", an iconic bar-restaurant of Lausanne's nights in the early 2000s: a festive place, open to everyone, where people would gather for aperitifs and where evenings lasted until 2am. Ask around, many Lausanners still have memorable memories of it.
2021
Historic Pub Lausanne"
The City of Lausanne awards the "Historic Café of Lausanne" label to L'Étoile Blanche,
among 44 establishments selected for their age and authenticity. This label, initiated
by the Municipality in partnership with GastroLausanne and Lausanne Tourisme, distinguishes
places that are part of the city's living heritage and soul.
2025
A new direction, the same spirit
The White Star is writing the current chapter of this long story. Coffee in the morning, generous brasserie fare at lunch and in the evening, with our cordon bleus acclaimed by Gault&Millau, our lively terrace and lingering evenings: we cultivate exactly what has brought this establishment to life since 1939. Official recognition has come to confirm this: the City of Lausanne has awarded us its «Historic Café of Lausanne» label, created in 2021 to distinguish emblematic establishments of its heritage.