Swiss Chalet - Vail

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#1 of 87 Restaurants in VailSwiss, European, $$$$

What is Travelers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Swiss Chalet - Vail

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About

Travelers' Choice

2024

Authentic regional hearty favorites such as Schnitzel and delicious fondues make the Swiss Chalet a delectable dining experience rich in flavor and aroma. Located in the heart of Vail Village at the Sonnenalp Hotel, immerse yourself in a traditionally ornate dining room with unmatched service and attention to detail.

Features

CUISINES

Swiss, European

Meal types

Dinner

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Free Wifi

Full Bar

Highchairs Available

Parking Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

20 Vail Rd, Vail, CO 81657-5010

Parking Available

Is this a pub?

Yes

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Hours

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Closed today

Sunday

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Thursday

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Friday

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Saturday

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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4.7

1,356 reviews

Excellent

1,106

Very good

141

Average

Poor

Terrible

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Yes

Nate N

7 contributions

Great all around!

Feb 2025 • family

I just want to say thank you to our server, Sigi, and the entire Swiss Chalet staff. Yes, fondue in Vail is sort of a goofy novelty, but honestly the food was amazing, the ambiance was fun and comfortable, and Sigi’s recommendations were spot on! We sat and talked and ate for hours. No pressure to leave and seat the next table, just great hospitality and great service and food. Cocktails to start were great, wine to finish was excellent. The cheese fondue was exactly what you it needed to be, all the veggies, meats, fruits, bread/etc….dessert with dark chocolate and fruit and cake. Just go and have fun. You’ll be glad you did!

Written February 28, 2025

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sonnenalp Hotel

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic time at Swiss Chalet and that Sigi and our team made your experience so special. Fondue in Vail may be a novelty, but we're thrilled that you found the food, ambiance, and hospitality to be truly memorable. Taking the time to relax, enjoy great food, and savor the moment is exactly what we hope for our guests. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back for another fun and delicious evening!

Written March 10, 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jorge P

1 contribution

A Beloved Restaurant with a Managerial Issue

Jan 2025 • family

A Beloved Restaurant with a Managerial Issue We’ve been visiting this restaurant every year for many years, and it remains one of our favorite spots. The food and service are consistently excellent, and we plan to return. However, during our most recent visit, we experienced an uncomfortable situation with the manager, Raúl Solís. While the reservation was for 3:30 PM, we were advised to arrive at 3 PM to ensure ample dining time. Unfortunately, even do we disk arrive at 3.00pm, there was a misunderstanding, and when we raised the issue, the manager’s response felt dismissive and unprofessional, escalating the situation unnecessarily. This was the first time we’ve had such an experience here, and it left a bad impression. We hope future interactions will reflect the excellent service we’ve come to expect and love.

Written January 2, 2025

Sonnenalp Hotel

Thanks for taking the time to leave us this feedback. We are happy to hear that Swiss Chalet is a favorite of yours, and we're sorry to hear that you didn't have a great experience last time you were in. We will pass this feedback on to the team, as we are always striving for top-notch service. We hope to see you again for a chance to make it right.

Written January 7, 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Bill & Daphnie

Las Vegas224 contributions

Amazing fondue in a true Swiss chalet experience

Sep 2024 • couples

We had dinner here 2 years ago and honestly this trip was booked just to have dinner here again. I am an absolute fanatic for cheese fondue. This is the best I have had anywhere around the world!! We ordered the Alpler fondue and my wife added the escargot (she says this is the best escargot she has eaten anywhere as well). The fondue is beyond amazing. Secret hack - ask them to give you a few of the soft pretzels from the bread box. These are the best dipped in the fondue. After dinner you have to order two desserts!! The chocolate fondue and the raspberry sauce ice cream Sunday. I also have to compliment the atmosphere, you literally feel like you are in Switzerland. The service is also impeccable!! This is a DO NOT MISS dining experience in Vail!!!

Written August 31, 2024

Sonnenalp Hotel

Thank you for sharing your incredible experience! We're thrilled that your love for our fondue brought you back to Vail! Your "secret hack" with the soft pretzels sounds delicious—great tip! We're also glad the chocolate fondue and raspberry sauce sundae hit the mark. We strive to create an atmosphere that transports guests to Switzerland, so it's wonderful to hear that you felt that way. We look forward to welcoming you again for another unforgettable dining experience in Vail!

Written September 4, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Carrie S

Denver5 contributions

Not worth it

Aug 2024 • family

I have enjoyed this restaurant for years, but haven’t been here in 3-4 years and was shocked by the changes! We were a party of 3 - 2 adults and one child. We ordered the classic cheese fondue for 3 - the price was $78 for 2 + $38 for additional guests ($116) which included bread and vegetables. When we got our order, after a significant wait, the ‘vegetables’ were 3 new red potatoes, 1 small new carrot, 1 piece of broccoli and 2 pieces of broccoli rape. I assumed this was a mistake and we should have had 1 of these dishes per person, but when I asked our server, she said this was all that was included. I mentioned that for $116 we only got 1 new potatoes - this had to be a mistake., but it wasn’t…. She said we could have more bread 😆 Totally not worth it!

Written August 18, 2024

Sonnenalp Hotel

Hi Carrie. Thanks for taking the time to leave us a review. We're sorry the experience didn't live up to your expectations.

Written August 23, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

FuzzyBeesMom

Fort Collins322 contributions

Abysmal. Disappointment is an understatement.

Dec 2024 • couples

There are enough restaurants in Vail to dine and enjoy. First, I urge anyone reading this to go to other restaurants unless you specifically want a fondue experience. Second, I have written many reviews, and this is unfortunately one of the very few where I had to give a 2-star rating. Swiss Chalet failed to meet expectations and left my husband and me not only disappointed but outraged. While the cocktails and wine are commendable and the complimentary pretzel bread and butter were enjoyable (reason for the 2-star), the real food was a disaster. The Käsespätzle appetizer was far too heavy. We split the Zwiebelsuppe (equivalent to French Onion Soup), which cost an additional $5 to split (without being disclosed). The bread in the soup was burnt, there wasn't enough cheese, and it was excessively sweet and salty. I dare say that the frozen French Onion Soup from Costco might be superior. My husband ordered the Wiener Schnitzel Vom Kalb (Veal Schnitzel), and I had the Züricher Geschnetzeltes (Veal dish with mushrooms and round hash browns). Both dishes were absolutely terrible. My husband's veal was exceedingly dry, and my veal in mushroom sauce was unappealing, with the Rosti being worse than hash browns I had at another restaurant for breakfast. We were charged $223 for this subpar meal. The server's attitude shifted dramatically once we expressed our dissatisfaction; no alternative dishes were offered. This lack of service added to our outrage. We felt deceived into ordering unfamiliar dishes with no recourse for our dissatisfaction. We did not try the fondue, so I cannot comment on its quality. However, if you are seeking a fondue experience, this place might still be worth a try. For those looking for quality food, I strongly suggest exploring other dining options in Vail.

Written December 21, 2024

Sonnenalp Hotel

Thanks for taking the time to leave a review and tell us about your experience. We're sorry to hear that your food and experience did not live up to our usual high standards. We hope you give us another chance next time you're in Vail.

Written January 7, 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

josecastroariza

5 contributions

Beware!!!

Jan 2024 • family

Beware! We are a family of 11 people and the waitress Dennitsa from Sofia, Bulgaria, who served us, gave us very bad advice and made us order 6 fondue and 3 raclets!!! We had never been and asked for your advice. When the food arrived we realized that one fondue is enough for 4/5 people! You can imagine all the leftover food; I'm sure Dennitsa gave us bad advice on purpose! The bill was 1,200 dollars and you can imagine that the tip was 180 dollars!! Bad experience! Btw… the food is very normal.

Written January 8, 2024

Durbz911

Amstelveen95 contributions

Average dinner experience in Vail

Dec 2024 • family

Pleasant atmosphere inside the restaurant but that's were it ends. The service was meh. We wanted to share the ARTISAN SAUSAGE SAMPLER but apparently they were already sold-out at lunch time! Coming from Europe the Pork Knuckle and Schnitzel was well below par. The Pepper Steak was tasty and enjoyable. Overall a very average dinner evening in Vail.Always seems to be a hit or miss!

Written January 11, 2025

Sonnenalp Hotel

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We're sorry to hear that your experience was just average as we as always striving for an above-and-beyond experience for our guests. We hope you'll come see us again and give us a chance to make it right.

Written January 16, 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

ellen06804

Danbury182 contributions

Don't bother going if you don't want the fondue

Mar 2024 • couples

It is hard for me to rate the food at this restaurant since my date did not want to order the fondue. I saw a party of 4 people at the next table enjoying the fondue experience and it looked fun and they seemed to think it was great. I had the french onion soup, which was nice and ordered a dumpling thing which was positively awful. It was just this gloppy plate of fatty cheese and I'm not exactly sure where the dumplings were. My date's dishes were all high in fat, butter and cheese too. Despite having a reservation, they wanted to stick us at the end of some table near the front door which we didn't like and we ended up sitting uncomfortably at a "high boy." Did not really enjoy the meal. Waitress was good but I wish she would've warned me about what I was ordering.

Written April 21, 2024

Stephane Ohayon

Hello! We appreciate your feedback and thank you for joining us at the Swiss Chalet Restaurant in Vail. We are glad to hear you enjoyed your soup and the service, but we apologize for any confusion with the menu or ingredients. We would love the opportunity to learn more about your experience and improve our operation, please feel free to reach out to discuss your concerns!

Written April 23, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

KSmick2014

2 contributions

Alpine dinner near to home

Nov 2024 • family

The food was very typical of our trips to Zurich and Grindelwald and the fondues were the best. We particularly appreciated the fact that they had gluten free bread for the cheese fondue. Our server, Sigi, from Bavaria, was a joy to visit with. We highly recommend this restaurant for a winter treat.

Written November 26, 2024

Sonnenalp Hotel

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so happy to hear that the fondue and the gluten-free bread were a hit, and that Sigi made your experience even more enjoyable. It’s fantastic to know the flavors reminded your travels! We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back for another delightful winter treat.

Written December 2, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Adam P

2 contributions

Authentic Swiss experience

Sep 2024 • couples

My wife and I were keen to try an authentic Swiss dinner after a long day around Vail. We did make a reservation which I would recommend. As soon as we were seated our server Sigi introduced herself and said "how can I spoil you?" We started with some schnapps drinks and went for the fondue and we added a sausage sampler. The meal came with a sharing salad and Prosecco which I traded in for a Pilsner beer. It was all delicious. Sigi came back many times to check we were ok and we finished with a melted Nutella and fruit platter for dessert. We never felt rushed, in fact it's best to take your time as this is a heavy meal. We had a nice stroll down the village after and would come back without hesitation when we are in Vail again.

Written September 21, 2024

Sonnenalp Hotel

Thank you for sharing your lovely dining experience with us, Adam! We're delighted that you and your wife enjoyed an authentic Swiss dinner at the Swiss Chalet. It sounds like Sigi took great care of you, making sure your meal was both delicious and memorable. We're glad you took the time to savor the experience and enjoyed a relaxing stroll afterward. We look forward to welcoming you back next time you're in Vail!

Written September 26, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jennifer S

1 contribution

An all around wonderful dining experience.

Jan 2024 • friends

We had a group of 7 and our waitress, Sigi, handled our orders expertly. Everything we ordered was excellent and timed perfectly. She recommended the Christmas punch and espresso chai martini, which were creative and delicious. She explained the menu well and all the recommendations were spot On. I was excited to find out they offered a half portion of fondue and the best gluten free bread I have ever had. We were all impressed by the excellent wine selection. They were out of Amarone and the Sommelier brought out a wonderful 2018 Barolo for the same price. We all agreed this was our favorite dining experience since being in Vail for a week.

Written January 11, 2024

MissFlatlander

Dallas62 contributions

Authentic Bavarian family menu for multi-ages

Aug 2024 • family

Warm welcome for our multi-age party of 10. Our amazing server Sigi did a great job of explaining the menu and making suggestions for how to best feed our large party with kid options and timing to keep everyone fed and happy. We had an array of cheese fondues and steak fondue with broth and sausage platter to satisfy everyone. Schnitzel and Mac and cheese made our little ones happy. Highly recommend for apres ski dining or summer dining with a large group. Ask for Sigi’s table when you book; you won’t be disappointed.

Written August 5, 2024

Sonnenalp Hotel

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're delighted that Sigi could make your party feel warmly welcomed and well taken care of. It’s great to hear that everyone enjoyed the food. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to serving you again.

Written August 9, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

jose s

1 contribution

Very good service and food

Dec 2024 • family

The service provided by Sigi was simply impeccable: attentive, friendly and always attentive to the details to ensure the visit was perfect. In addition, the quality of the food was outstanding, noted for its authentic flavors and careful presentation. From traditional dishes to restaurant specialties, every bite was a delight.

Automatically translated

Written December 18, 2024

Sonnenalp Hotel

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us such a kind review. We hope to see you again next time you're in Vail!

Written January 7, 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

David T

San Diego22 contributions

Time has passed this restaurant by

Aug 2023 • family

Another legend busted. We always loved this Alpine-inspired restaurant and made sure to visit it every time we came to Vail for the dance festival. We arrived one hour earlier than our reservation. The restaurant was fairly empty, but the hostess refused to seat us, claiming that they were saving tables for other reservations. We came back an hour later for our scheduled reservation, and the restaurant was still half full. This was not a good start. I ordered a Veal cutlet and Rosti. My husband ordered breaded chicken cutlet which came with pasta. Our faces dropped when the food was brought to the table. Both the veal cutlet and the chicken cutlet looked over-fried and they were both tough and chewy. The rosti was not cooked through and the center was raw. We complained about our dinners. We also heard the table next to ours complaining that their veal cutlet was tough. We will never dine here again.

Written August 5, 2023

efustok

Houston1310 contributions

A little bit of Switzerland on Vail

Mar 2024 • family

Dear foodies, we have come to Vail for a long time, and finally got to eat here…I felt we stepped into Switzerland…the place has so much charm, the staff are dressed in traditional clothes, and are actually from there. Our server was fantastic, she made us feel we were visiting her home. She was so excited to explain the menu, and had fantastic recommendations…we started with the delicious hibiscus mocktails (expensive, but delicious) and had the wedge salad…it was enough to share with my main man…the complimentary bread was pretzel mixed, which was so good we asked for another basket…then we got the meat that you cook yourself…the quality was perfect, and it comes with so many veggies. We finished it off with the chocolate fondue…was so good we wanted to drink the chocolate.

Written April 6, 2024

Stephane Ohayon

Thank you so much for the kind words! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the food and the ambiance at the Swiss Chalet in Vail.

Written June 3, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.