La Calèche

Beat raclette we ever had , very tasty food and welcoming atmosphere. Staff were friendly and welcoming . This restaurant has clearly put care into every detail, from the menu to the overall experience. I’ll definitely be coming back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable meal.

The restaurant is located on the main street, only a few meters from Place Balmat. The building is fully made of wood and very well decorated. At first it looks like a normal-sized restaurant, but it also has a basement floor and an upper floor. The interior is also completely in wood, with many beautiful historical decorations that create a very nice atmosphere. We had traditional raclette, which was good, together with an aperitif and a bottle of wine. The average price was around 80 CHF per person. The staff was quite helpful and friendly. Overall, a nice place to enjoy traditional food in a cozy and authentic setting.

We dined at Caleche in Chamonix and had a mixed but overall enjoyable experience. The fondue portion was extremely generous for the two of us, definitely better suited to a larger group rather than a couple. The restaurant itself is very spacious and filled up quickly, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere which made it hard to get the staff’s attention. We found the starter options to be somewhat limited, and unfortunately I didn’t particularly enjoy the starter I chose. That said, the fondue was excellent and is something we would highly recommend, especially for groups looking for a fun, traditional dining experience.

Really nice environment and we are grateful that the restaurant managed to fit us in as they were super busy! We had the raclette and it was delicious. The server was attentive and we had a lovely evening - thank you

The experience was, regrettably, underwhelming—especially considering the €300 price tag. The cuisine was, at best, mediocre and failed to justify the cost. We opted for the grilled meat platter served over a heated surface; however, the meat was excessively watery and bubbling in an unappetizing manner, which detracted significantly from the overall quality. The only truly commendable dish was the filet mignon, which was prepared to an acceptable standard and stood out amid an otherwise average selection. The service left much to be desired. Our waitress accidentally spilled Coca-Cola on my friend’s phone and demonstrated minimal accountability. She neither assisted in cleaning the device nor offered a sincere apology, effectively leaving us to manage the situation ourselves—though she did replace the spilled drink. Additionally, when I attempted to help her during service, the gesture went unacknowledged, which further contributed to the disappointing impression. On a positive note, the ambiance was undeniably charming. The establishment boasts a warm, intimate atmosphere with an aesthetically pleasing and cozy interior, which was perhaps the most redeeming aspect of the evening. Overall, while the setting shows promise, both the culinary execution and level of service fall short of what one would reasonably expect at this price point.

This restaurant is a bit of a commercial tourist machine. It is very traditionally decorated inside and out, if a bit kitsch, and is large and busy which makes for a good atmosphere on the Saturday night in half term that we were there. Unfortunately we were directed to a table right at the back of a vaulted cellar, despite having booked online days ahead, which put us out on the edge of the atmosphere and subject to variable service. Our main waiter was in a hurry to take our order and had little time for pleasantries or rapport, whilst some of the other severs who brought our food and drink were warm, friendly and attentive. We had Fondue for three. The food quality was fine/good but we definitely had slightly better elsewhere in a smaller more fresh and modern interior restaurant with better service and atmosphere, for a slightly lower price. The portion size was good and we didn't need any of the refills of bread, salad or charcuterie offered free/inclusive. Overall slightly underwhelmed/disappointed for the price, but not enough to complain or recommend others not to eat there.

For my second dinner in Chamonix ( I had fondue the first) I was looking for a restaurant that served a Savoyard speciality: Tartiflette with farmer Reblochon and Guanciale di Colonnata, green salad, and found this restaurant. The interior decoration is something to behold. The glow of warm lighting reflects off copper pots and cowbells, creating a cozy, chalet-like atmosphere where every corner feels steeped in mountain history. The service was friendly and attentive. The food was just perfect - tasty, cheesy and the bacon added a special flavour.

La Calèche was such a treat! 🏔️ The fondue was absolutely excellent—rich, flavorful, and perfect after a big day of adventures in Chamonix. The atmosphere is just as memorable, with the entire space filled floor-to-ceiling with authentic alpine decorations that make it feel cozy and traditional. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to linger, share stories from the trail, and celebrate the mountain spirit. A must-visit for anyone in Chamonix!

3.5 stars. Came with reservations on a weeknight which is recommended. The restaurant gets full without a reservation. Service was timely and ok. There is an old rustic cabin-homey feel to the restaurant. 1. Escargot - Tasty, flavorful, oily. Good! 2. Wagyu beef - On the pricier side. Good clean meat but not very special with the cook-it-yourself. Overall, this is a good place to try but not overly impressed.

Overall the food was good. We sat down for a fun nice. We over ordered. Got the raclette with cheese and meats, this was delicious and overall a fun experience. After that is where it gets weird. When we started we ordered raclette, a fondue and steak. After 90 min we had someone come as for desert. We said we wanted the fondue and steak. They said no, it's too much food. We said we did t care and wanted to try everything. They then brought out the fondue and then stopped serving us. 45 more min went by. Wife walked out and left me there. 20 min later they came. I asked about steak and they said it was too much food. I said I wanted it. Someone else came by (assuming that the translation from French to English didn't go through) they said too much food. They would take my order. I asked for bill, skipped desert. Was $170 for that. 4+ stars for food 1 star for service 3 out of 5 stars overall

Our stroller was stolen while dining at La Calèche. This review is for the unacceptable attitude and behavior of restaurant manager when we brought the issue to his attention. We had a reservation at 18:30 when the restaurant first opened. We arrived on time when few others were there. The hostess at the front told us to park our stroller at the entryway of the restaurant (inside the main door where it should have been in sight of the hostess). When we were leaving, the stroller was no longer there. We notified the restaurant staff right away and when they didn't know what was happening we asked for the manager. The manager arrived and instead of speaking to us he seemed more concerned about greeting people who were coming in to the restaurant. After several minutes, I finally went to him and told him about the situation. He got defensive right away, and dismissively told us that there was nothing the restaurant can do, that they can't be responsible for strollers left in that area, that they can't monitor who grabs strollers etc. He also informed us that the restaurant does not have security cameras that cover that area. Here's my beef: had the restaurant staff warned us that they don't take responsibility for strollers left in the area that THEY DIRECTED US TO, we would have easily folded our stroller and taken it within our sight. The manager's main objective was not helping us but rather making us leave the hostess desk quickly. I challenged him a few times that he's doing nothing that would be expected in terms of decent customer service, yet he kept dismissing me and saying he won't accept any responsibility. In French, he was saying to the hostess "just take his contact information and send him off" without realizing I could understand it - extremely rude. I asked for his business card but his highness handed me the restaurant's business card instead. The food was very good (we had the raclette) and the service was decent as well. However the restaurant manager did horribly in terms of decency, customer service, and treating foreigners who just encountered a huge shock while in his place of business.

Boom, Boom, Boom, I had the La Caleche meal, started with the Savory Pie with cheese and Savoy ham...Pow, followed by the hearty beef stew...Bang, and the Tiramisu. Best Meal I Have Had in Two Weeks in France. Service not bad but not outstanding. The wine was Wonderful posted a pic. Bonjour

We never actually got a chance to eat here, and now you couldn't pay me to. The unprofessional, unfriendly and truly rude experience in trying to book a table was an insult. On December 7, I completed the online contact section of their website, requesting a table for January 2nd for 5 people (almost a month in advance). All the details were added and sent, and a note popped up saying the request had been received. Almost a month later I turn up at the restaurant to be told my booking was not confirmed, and there was no availability. To make a reservation I should please use the online booking system!!??!? The next day I walked by, thought I'd pop in to make a reservation. The man at the door blocked the entrance, and told me to email if I wanted a booking, as the online system wasn't working. He then smiled at me in the most f-u, patronising way and couldn't care less when I explained that I had now used the online system, and called and visited in person to get a table. Typical French service, which we have experienced on repeat throughout Chamonix.

The moment my party entered the door we knew we were in for a rough night. Now I am not squimish around cheese but the smell was overpowering. Seriously, it was the sort of smell that stuck in your hair and clothes - and it didn't help that the restraunt was hot and stuffy - and I'm not even mentioning how after being slapped in the face by this smell we were greeted by the strangest animatronic polar bears waving their paws at us. Under different circumstances I may have found this endearing but in the moment it felt like their furry little smiles were jeering at my party's entrapment. The service was effecient but disinterested and unremarkable at best - making multiple mistakes and even arguing with one of our party members after bringing him a drink he didn't order. All of this (besides the smell) however could have been overlooked if the food was decent - unfortunately it was not. The duck and escargot were subpar, the escargot was tasteless and rubbery and the duck was bland and greasy. But above all, the fish. The fish was rancid. I would have thought it was as old as the cheese but stored at a warmer temperature. This is the restraunt that inspired me to make a yelp account - and the fish was the dish that motivated me to write a review. I have felt sickly since this experience. All in all 1 star for food 1 star for ambiance (because of the cheese smell) 2 stars for service

We went here with a group and preset menu this week. Quiche was excellent. But we had a meat ( possibly pork)and potatoes (AGAIN) and no one thought it was very good. Dessert was a very dry sponge cake with some raspberries. Hopefully the rest of menu is better. I walked by the next day and it was crowded like every place since it was marathon weekend. Service was very good!

Cheese as it should be experienced. Pure, melted, cheesy cheese. We went here two nights in a row, first night we got the 3-cheese fondue which was amazing and so satisfying. Night two we did the the raclette (half a wheel of cheese with a heater on top which, once fully heated, you scrape off the melted cheese onto some boiled potatoes) which finished me off right. We topped the piles of perfectly melted cheesy potatoes with some cornishons and prosciutto and voila! *-- Don't forget to drink lots of red wine with these meals, it helps break down the cheese in your stomach so you aren't left with a clog of solid cheese the next morning, if you catch my drift.--* The service was super friendly and an efficient. The decor in the place is way over the top... Like bordering on hoarder status. However it is an experience that you'll never have anywhere else so just enjoy it. After eating here, I could leave the French alps with honor.

Really cool antique collection ...if you love cheese, this is the place ... wish they had apples and pears for the raclette , but great place and wine selection

This a very charming restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. The decor and the melted cheese aroma is responsible for a romantic and vintage experience. We had fondue, steak tartare and Black Forest cake. All were very tasty. The waiter was also very friendly.

Great food and fantastic services. The restaurant decorations are interesting and unique. We tried the fondue, raclette and several dishes and all were delicious! Location is fantastic

French Alps dining at its best! This spot has a very traditional menu, charcuterie- fondue - potatoes... it is exactly what one should enjoy while in Chamonix - wonderful experience!

Very attentive service and interesting cabinesque decor. Our favorites were the beef stew and potatoes dauphinoise.

While the decor is a bit eccentric, which may be a bit of an understatement, everything else was perfect. After dining out for several days in a row now, this felt like an authentically French atmosphere. And the wait staff ~ rarely does a person witness such efficiency at such speed. Our waitress' English was broken, but adequate and we're in France! I'd prefer it that way. Finally ~ the food ~ it was the best meal we've enjoyed thus far!

Mickael our server from Cannes France wins Server of Chamonix hands down! What a fantastic experience! He not only gave us but the other guests he served a wonderful culinary journey. He is truly interested in having guests have the best experience of local cuisine. The food and the ambience is fabulous and unique. I will remember this dining experience forever. Très romantique

Great service, great food, inside and out. Ordered fondue on the street side, and it was delicious!! The best yet on our Swiss trip. Service was fantastic. So much so, that we came back on the second night, and sat in the charming, cozy, very eclectic inside. Ordered raclette and it was so good!! Ask for pickles. Highly recommend.

Food: The main attraction here, the raclette was amazing. The whole restaurant smells heavily of this cheese though and may overpower some. The ribs were not slow cooked, as they should be, and seemed to be more of a roast or tri-tip cut. The veggies also appeared to be of the frozen variety and not very flavorful. Ambiance: Amazing ambiance. Copper pots line the walls and the whole restaurant has a definite chalet vibe to it. There is underground seating as well which imparts a very cozy vibe in winter. Service: our waiter was attentive, patient, and friendly. The raclette device comes with no instruction though so if you aren't familiar with it make sure and watch the other patrons to see how it's done.

Love this place! I come here every year I visit Chamonix. Great food. I love the fried cheese in particular! Great warm ambiance.

Great place! Much better than Monchu. Fondue is excellent. Staff is nice. I Highly recommend.

This restaurant was recommended to us to enjoy some original French food including raclette and fondue. We were very excited being on our ski Vacation to try this restaurant. Our waitress Analise gave us a less than enjoyable experience. She offered no guidance to the menu, forgetting to bring us water after requesting multiple times and forgot to bring us one of our entrees, with only an oops- sorry as a response. She was clearly uninterested in her job with a sour look to her face. I can see where this restaurant has a lot to offer however our waitress didn't give us the opportunity to enjoy. Maybe request a table far from Analise- upstairs.

La Caleche was recommended by the front desk attendant at the Mercure hotel...and she was spot on. The Caesar salad was nicely prepared and the three-cheese fondue was absolutely amazing. I usually don't do fondue, however it was to die for. After a few days in Nice and Bordeaux, I decided to do wine by the glass and the whites were quite good and reasonably priced. The service was also very good! I would definitely go back!!

The food was fine, but our waiter had the absolute worst and disgusting body odor you could smell across the room. Nothing ruins your meal more than every time he walks by or reaches into your table to get flooded with the nauseating cloud of his body odor... and the bug that crawled onto our table mid meal didn't help either.

Recommended as the most iconic restaurant in Chamonix. The decor is really cute, all kinds of fun items hanging on the ceiling and walls. The fondue was delicious! Very authentic. We did not try the raclette but that looked very authentic as well. Reservations are recommended. This place is a must visit!

One of the restaurants that came highly recommended by several sources and it did not disappoint. Sounds like it's an absolute must in Chamonix for a classical Savoyard meal. Highly recommend making reservations as this place does get quite busy. They have a huge selection but it worked out well since we were a party of 4 and ordered the set menu with the fondue and grilled meat to share. They easily accommodated us by ordering a couple of selections from the slightly cheaper menu. Everything was delicious and finished off with a good variety of desserts. My favorite was the pineapple carpaccio.

We went there to eat fondue and we were not disappointed. First of all, their fondue (to be shared by 2 persons), is excellent, they use great ingredients. They also have menus, which are good deals and offer a variety of local specialities. Ingredients are crazy good and preparation is great. Keep some room for desert, they are awesome as well. Besides the food, we loved the ambience and traditional decoration and service is perfect. Waiter was pleasant and patient, the whole staff was extremely nice and genuinely cared about us. I don't give 5 stars easily but they totally deserve it.

Nice atmosphere, we had fondue for 3, service took a while, on account of wait staff forgetting our order.

Went here during half term with our children. Definitely make a reservation. It's in the heart of the town and feels very authentic. It was a mix of locals and tourists. Great atmosphere and excellent traditional food. Loved the fondue and raclette.

we were able to get in on a saturday night without a reservation at 630p! what! we did not go in for the (popular) fondue, but our starters and salmon and scallops entrees were wonderful! decor is fantastic as well.

The waitress and manager refused to compensate the mistake that they made ordering two of the same entrees (fondue) - extremely condescending. Double charged us! Service was also shitty.

Cozy restaurant, but overpriced and got food poisoning!! Came here on our first night in Chamonix, and spent the next two days in bed from the food poisoning. Ruined our ski trip! Do not get the tartiflette or veal!

We were a party of ten and we got a variety of dishes. I had a pre fixe dinner that included french onion soup and a chicken that was really delightful. We did have three vegan eaters in our group and this was a totally foreign concept to the servers. Understandable, but there was a long debate about whether or not Risotto should have cheese or not, and our diners ended up getting plates of salad.

Great meal here on our first night in Chamonix. Fondue was delicious and staff very friendly.

Cheesy? YES, Touristy? YES.... Worth it? YES! If you want to fall into a tourist trap kinda place, but want good food? Here you go! Have never been dissappointed, and still love the decor! Yes it's completly "little house on the prairie" and totally "kitch"....some of the clutter could be dusted better.... but I love this place! Just go for the Savoyard classics and you can't fail!