Swiss Chalet Restaurant Profile Photo - Restaurants in Vail CO
Swiss Chalet Restaurant

Restaurants
 Vail, 81657

Send Message
Show Phone Number
Do you own or operate Swiss Chalet Restaurant? Claim this listing now. Claim this listing

About

Swiss Chalet is the fondue and raclette room inside the Sonnenalp Vail hotel on Vail Road, built to look like the mountain chalets of Switzerland. Cheese fondue, meat fondue and raclette are cooked at the table with cheese imported from Switzerland, and schnitzel and other alpine dishes fill out the menu.

It suits families, friends and couples who want dinner to be the evening's plan rather than a stop on the way somewhere else: fondue and raclette are ordered for at least two and eaten slowly. The room is intimate and the schedule seasonal, so book ahead.

Fondue and raclette

Cheese fondues include an Älpler blend of Swiss cheeses, a raclette fondue with crispy prosciutto, a roasted garlic and herb version and a truffle Champagne pot, all with potatoes, vegetables and baguette. Meat fondue comes two ways, in hot oil (bourguignonne) or in a Burgundy beef broth (chinoise). Raclette is served plain with potatoes and mushrooms, or as the Matterhorn with beef tenderloin and sausages; vegan cheese can be substituted.

Beyond the pot

For diners who would rather not share, the menu has Wiener schnitzel of veal, Zürcher Geschnetzeltes with rösti, a pepper steak, Käsespätzle and a bratwurst trio, and a vegetarian Züricher with wild mushrooms. The menu changes by season.

The wine list

The wine list holds more than 1,000 selections and carries a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, and servers are expected to make recommendations.

Before you go

The restaurant opens only in the evening, closes entirely for about five weeks in late autumn, and opens earlier and daily once ski season arrives; the FAQ has the dates. Groups of six or more should expect a service charge.

Inside the Sonnenalp

Sonnenalp Vail is the family-owned hotel at 20 Vail Road, beside Gore Creek in Vail Village, that runs Swiss Chalet. It has suites, a spa with indoor and outdoor pools, and several restaurants and bars, all open to visitors as well as hotel guests.

Bully Ranch is the casual one, with burgers, brick-oven pizzas, American and Southwestern plates and a patio, open from lunch through dinner. Walk-ins are welcome.

Ludwig's serves the daily breakfast buffet on its glass-walled, creekside Terrace, and in winter turns into a reservation-only dinner room, Ludwig's Elevated Dining.

Treff Café is the hotel's European-style café and bar for espresso, pastries, sandwiches and paninis, with patio seating.

King's Club (hotel page) is the fireside bar, with cocktails, wine, German beer and live music on set nights. Seating is first come, first served. It has no VailVacay listing.

Sonnenalp Spa offers massages and treatments and the hotel's indoor and outdoor pools along Gore Creek.

Sources: Swiss Chalet, summer 2026 menu, Sonnenalp dining. Checked September 23, 2026.

Get Directions View Larger Map

Contact Information

Company Name
Swiss Chalet Restaurant
Phone Number
Show Phone Number
Location
20 Vail Rd
Vail, 81657

Swiss Chalet Restaurant Photo Albums

Posted by Swiss Chalet Restaurant
Swiss Chalet Restaurant Photos
Swiss Chalet Restaurant Photos

Photos of Swiss Chalet Restaurant.... View More

We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no cost to you. Disclosure

Visit Website View Menu

About Swiss Chalet Restaurant

Quick answer: Swiss Chalet Restaurant is a restaurant at 20 Vail Rd, Vail, CO 81657. Tableside fondue, raclette and schnitzel in a chalet-style room inside the Sonnenalp in Vail Village, with a 1,000-label wine list. As of October 2026 it is closed October 12 to November 17, 2026, and reopens Wednesday, November 18, per the Sonnenalp.

Last updated

Swiss Chalet is the fondue and raclette room inside the Sonnenalp Vail hotel on Vail Road, built to look like the mountain chalets of Switzerland. Cheese fondue, meat fondue and raclette are cooked at the table with cheese imported from Switzerland, and schnitzel and other alpine dishes fill out the menu.

It suits families, friends and couples who want dinner to be the evening's plan rather than a stop on the way somewhere else: fondue and raclette are ordered for at least two and eaten slowly. The room is intimate and the schedule seasonal, so book ahead.

Fondue and raclette

Cheese fondues include an Älpler blend of Swiss cheeses, a raclette fondue with crispy prosciutto, a roasted garlic and herb version and a truffle Champagne pot, all with potatoes, vegetables and baguette. Meat fondue comes two ways, in hot oil (bourguignonne) or in a Burgundy beef broth (chinoise). Raclette is served plain with potatoes and mushrooms, or as the Matterhorn with beef tenderloin and sausages; vegan cheese can be substituted.

Beyond the pot

For diners who would rather not share, the menu has Wiener schnitzel of veal, Zürcher Geschnetzeltes with rösti, a pepper steak, Käsespätzle and a bratwurst trio, and a vegetarian Züricher with wild mushrooms. The menu changes by season.

The wine list

The wine list holds more than 1,000 selections and carries a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, and servers are expected to make recommendations.

Before you go

The restaurant opens only in the evening, closes entirely for about five weeks in late autumn, and opens earlier and daily once ski season arrives; the FAQ has the dates. Groups of six or more should expect a service charge.

Inside the Sonnenalp

Sonnenalp Vail is the family-owned hotel at 20 Vail Road, beside Gore Creek in Vail Village, that runs Swiss Chalet. It has suites, a spa with indoor and outdoor pools, and several restaurants and bars, all open to visitors as well as hotel guests.

Bully Ranch is the casual one, with burgers, brick-oven pizzas, American and Southwestern plates and a patio, open from lunch through dinner. Walk-ins are welcome.

Ludwig's serves the daily breakfast buffet on its glass-walled, creekside Terrace, and in winter turns into a reservation-only dinner room, Ludwig's Elevated Dining.

Treff Café is the hotel's European-style café and bar for espresso, pastries, sandwiches and paninis, with patio seating.

King's Club (hotel page) is the fireside bar, with cocktails, wine, German beer and live music on set nights. Seating is first come, first served. It has no VailVacay listing.

Sonnenalp Spa offers massages and treatments and the hotel's indoor and outdoor pools along Gore Creek.

Sources: Swiss Chalet, summer 2026 menu, Sonnenalp dining. Checked September 23, 2026.

German Fondue

Quick Snapshot

Neighborhood: Vail Village
Cuisine: German/Swiss
Service: Dinner
Show Phone Number

Business Hours

Closed for the season · Reopens Nov 18

Show all hours
Mon–TueClosed
Closed
Wed–Sun
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Amenities at Swiss Chalet Restaurant

  • Full bar
  • Wine Spectator wine list (1,000+ selections)
  • Tableside fondue and raclette
  • Vegan cheese substitution
  • Gluten-free and vegan upon request
  • Private events to 90

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hours of Swiss Chalet in Vail, and is it open in the off-season?
Dinner only, on a seasonal calendar that changes four times a year. Summer (June 10 to October 11): Wednesday to Sunday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The restaurant then closes entirely for the fall off-season, in 2026 from October 12 to November 17, reopening Wednesday, November 18. November 18 to December 15 it is again Wednesday to Sunday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; from December 16 it opens daily at 4 p.m., and from December 19 daily at 3 p.m., always to 10 p.m. No spring closure is published on the hotel's calendar, so check the seasonal schedule before a spring trip, and never rely on a single "hours" line for this restaurant: most listings flatten the calendar and showed it open throughout the fall closure.
How do I make a reservation at Swiss Chalet?
Reservations are recommended. Call (970) 479-5462 or book on OpenTable. Book ahead in ski season and on holiday weekends: the room is intimate, fondue is ordered for at least two and eaten slowly, and tables turn gently. You do not need to be a Sonnenalp guest; the hotel's restaurants welcome visitors as well as guests. Note that OpenTable's own hours line for this restaurant (daily 5 to 9 p.m.) does not match the hotel's seasonal calendar, so use it to book, not to learn which days exist, and check the closure dates in the hours answer before booking a shoulder-season table.
What should I order at Swiss Chalet?
Order the shared pots first: that is the restaurant. Cheese fondues (per person, minimum two orders, with potatoes, vegetables, and baguette) come as the Älpler blend of imported Swiss cheeses, a raclette fondue with crispy prosciutto, a roasted garlic and herb pot, and a truffle Champagne pot (a $25 supplement). Meat fondue comes bourguignonne (hot oil) or chinoise (Burgundy beef broth), with 5 oz beef tenderloin. Raclette is melted at the table, plain or as the Matterhorn with beef tenderloin and sausages. If you would rather not share, the menu has veal Wiener schnitzel ($46), Züricher Geschnetzeltes with rösti ($49), a pepper steak ($68), Käsespätzle ($23), and a bratwurst trio ($27). The wine list holds more than 1,000 selections with a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, and the servers are expected to recommend from it; ask. The full summer 2026 menu is linked from the hotel's Swiss Chalet page.
What do reviews say about Swiss Chalet?
Reviews are excellent, and consistent across platforms. As of October 2026, Google rates Swiss Chalet 4.6 out of 5 from 889 reviews; OpenTable rates it 4.7 from 1,521 verified diner reviews (food 4.7, service 4.7, ambience 4.7, value 4.2); TripAdvisor rates it 4.7 from 1,465 reviews and ranks it #1 of 89 restaurants in Vail, with a Travelers' Choice award in 2025. Diners praise the traditional cheese fondue above all, the authentic chalet room, and the service (two servers, Sigi and Manu, are named again and again). The recurring criticisms are value for money, which is the lowest sub-score on every platform, and a room that can feel crowded and loud with children at peak.
How do fondue and raclette work at Swiss Chalet?
Both are shared, tableside, and ordered per person with a minimum of two orders. Cheese fondue arrives as a pot of melted imported Swiss cheese for the table, with potatoes, vegetables, and baguette for dipping. Meat fondue gives you 5 oz of beef tenderloin to cook yourself, in hot oil (bourguignonne) or in a Burgundy beef broth (chinoise), with potatoes, vegetables, and dipping sauces. Raclette is the semi-hard Swiss cheese melted and served over potatoes and mushrooms with sauces; the Matterhorn version adds beef tenderloin, bacon, and sausages. You can add cooked items to a cheese fondue (beef medallions $18, lamb chops $21, shrimp $16, extra raclette cheese $16, vegetables or potatoes $9). Plan on a slow meal: the format is the evening, not a course in it.
How much does a meal cost at Swiss Chalet?
On the summer 2026 menu, starters run $20 to $27, salads and soup $16 to $20, and mains $33 to $68: the vegetarian Züricher is $33, chicken piccata $41, veal Wiener schnitzel and Norwegian salmon $46, Züricher Geschnetzeltes $49, and the pepper steak $68. Fondue and raclette are priced per person with a minimum of two orders; check the current menu on the hotel's site for those figures before you go. That gap is why the web's labels disagree: OpenTable's "$31 to $50" describes a main course, and TripAdvisor's "$$$$" describes a fondue evening for two with wine from a 1,000-selection list. Two charges apply to every plan: parties of six or more pay a 20% service charge, and a 2% culinary appreciation surcharge, paid to the kitchen team, is added to every bill.
Does Swiss Chalet have vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options?
Yes, with one nuance. The hotel lists vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, and the menu's own footer puts it precisely: gluten-free upon request, vegan upon request, and tell your server about allergies. The built-in choices are real: a vegetarian Züricher with wild mushrooms and rösti ($33), Käsespätzle and the salads to start, and, distinctively, vegan cheese can be substituted in the raclette, so a vegan diner can share the table's centrepiece rather than watch it. No dish is labeled gluten-free as served, so anyone with celiac disease should call (970) 479-5462 ahead rather than rely on a platform's "gluten-free options" tag.
Is Swiss Chalet kid friendly?
Yes for families, with no children's menu to promise. The hotel itself frames Swiss Chalet as a place to gather with family after a day on the slopes, families are a core part of the review record, and the shared fondue format suits children who are old enough to enjoy cooking at the table. But the official menu publishes no kids menu and no children's prices, whatever a booking platform's summary says, and the room is small, dinner-only, and can be loud at peak; an early seating in the 5 p.m. hour is the comfortable way to do it with younger children.
Can Swiss Chalet host a large group or a private event?
Yes, through the hotel. The Sonnenalp's private dining program books Swiss Chalet for groups of up to 90 guests in its classic Swiss-style room, and the hotel markets it in particular for farewell brunches and casual luncheons, which can feature the Sonnenalp breakfast buffet or a customized menu. Those daytime events are booked occasions, not public service: the restaurant's regular opening is dinner only, on the seasonal calendar. Parties of six or more should also know a 20% service charge applies. Enquire through the hotel's events team via sonnenalp.com's private dining page.
Where is Swiss Chalet, and where do I park?
Inside the Sonnenalp Hotel at 20 Vail Road in Vail Village, beside Gore Creek, steps from the village shops and a short walk from Gondola One. You do not need to be staying at the hotel. OpenTable's parking details for the restaurant offer complimentary valet parking at the hotel for dining guests for up to 2 hours, availability permitting; the public alternative is the Vail Village parking structure and transportation center, a few minutes' walk away, and the free in-town bus stops in front of the hotel entrance.

Winter in Vail

Book a Vail winter extra

See all Vail tours

More restaurants on VailVacay