Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl — Restaurant in Basel

If I had to pick one word to describe Cheval Blanc, it would be impeccable. From the greeting as we arrived a bit early to the flawless dining experience and finally, the unexpected, super enjoyable after dinner drinks and cigar bar, this dining experience was unrivaled. Our group of 4 came to Basel for one night and were fortunate enough to score a lunch reservation Friday, May 9th. From the moment we stepped into the stunning hotel and absolutely beautiful restaurant we knew our experience would be memorable. As we arrived early, we were greeted immediately and escorted to the bar area right outside the main restaurant. It was almost as if they expected us early. We drank some champagne before entering the main restaurant experience right on time. The dining room was tastefully decorated and the subtle touches (i.e. candles) made the experience special. The setting along the Rhine River was just one more Iconic element. The dining room was full and at the same time entirely intimate. We knew there were other guests in the room with us, but never really felt or heard their presence. To say the food was amazing is to sell it short. When you dine at an establishment like Cheval Blanc, you expect the food to be exceptional. The food on this day was more than up to the task. Two of us were grateful that the chef allowed us to substitute for our main protein course. The presentation was amazing with each course seemingly looking and tasting better than the previous one. I will post a few pictures and hope you will accept our apologies for the one course/picture that has a spoon in it. That course looked (and was) so delicious that we all started eating before we took a picture. The cheese course was a welcome and unique experience for us. Note: the picture I posted was AI adjusted as we removed the photobombers (coworkers and other patrons) from the picture. No cheese was altered by AI. The wine list was extensive and impressive and our selections matched up well to our menu. The Cheval Banc team was a perfect accompaniment to the food and drink. The entire team worked with precision, knowing just when to serve the next course with compelling descriptions. The team was personal and engaging, yet never intrusive. Flawless in execution while at the same time graceful in delivery. Our chef came out at the end of our meal and engaged our table for a few minutes. He was authentically interested in learning about our experience and outwardly pleased we enjoyed our time.

To finish off the day, our group was escorted to the Cigar Bar for drinks and a smoke. It could not have been a better setting for our nightcap (err, day cap). The setting was reminiscent of a scene from a James Bod movie. Yet again, we felt refreshingly alone in a room with multiple groups present and our experience only enhanced by the people serving us.

Our only regret was cutting or trip to Basel short by a day. Hopefully we will have a chance to return to the wonderful city on a future trip and be lucky enough to dine at Cheval Blanc again. Maybe we will...

Located within the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, Cheval Blanc offers a refined dining experience in an elegant, traditional setting with festive décor that sets a luxurious tone. The cuisine is truly the highlight: creative, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavour. The langoustine with morel sauce was absolutely delicious—perfectly cooked and rich with depth—while the lobster with caviar was equally impressive, showcasing both freshness and precision.

The wine pairings recommended to us were well chosen and complemented the dishes nicely, even if they didn’t quite reach the exceptional standard of the food.

Unfortunately, the service did not live up to the setting or the Michelin-starred reputation. While the staff were friendly, the experience was marred by long and unexplained delays, especially at the beginning. After finishing our apéritifs from the bar, we had to wait a considerable amount of time before being served our wines. Similarly, our food took far too long to arrive—we sat for more than half an hour with only bread and water.

To us, the pacing and level of attention of the service seemed noticeably different for the guests who chose the tasting menu. In fact, compared to other fine dining restaurants we’ve visited, we feel that Cheval Blanc would be better off offering just one or two tasting menus (a long and a short one) with some flexible choices, rather than maintaining the à la carte option.

Overall, Cheval Blanc delivers exquisite cuisine in a stunning setting, but the uneven service and pacing detract somewhat from a seamless fine dining experience. With some structural changes to the menu and improved coordination in service, it could live up to its...

Cheval Blanc is the ultimate classic French fine dining experience in Switzerland. We came here to celebrate my birthday while in Switzerland looking for a 3 Michelin stars experience. Located in the historical Grand Hotel Les Trois Rios. The riverside setting is charming and romantic. You start by a welcome drink at the terrace looking at the Rhine greeted by suited , polite and professional staff. The head chef Peter Knogl came to say hi before we moved to the main dining room and service started. The decor and interior is classy retro French with high ceilings, arches, classic chandeliers, large windows and round tables with candles. Ambience is warm and intimate. Service was top notch and impeccable. Staff were all knowledgeable with refreshing attention to details. Cuisine was modern french with Mediterranean influences, flavors were complex and dynamic. Ingredients were chosen carefully and courses were presented beautifully. I liked all of my courses, highlights of the menu were the Sardine Macaron, Langoustine curry, Red Mullet filet and the French saddle of lamb with mediterranean flavors. Wine pairing was excellent and enhanced every course taste and flavor. Sommelier was very professional and knowledgeable yet intimidating a bit. The French Cheese selections from Maître Antony in Ferrette was aromatic, rich and satisfying, Maître Antony is one of the best in the world that many Michelin starred Chefs get their fine cheeses selection from. The night ended well with a couple of delightful desserts courses, few delectable bites and some velvety chocolate. Overall, we had an elevated fine dining experience that will bring me back if in...