Amazing food. Each dish was perfection and a good amount to share amongst a family of 4. Uniquely decorated interior with ample seating, no wait time on a Saturday early evening. We were given a complimentary basket of bread and butter to start off with, simple as it sounds, it was still really good. We ordered the Swiss onion soup which was so good that my kids were slurping the remaining soup even, best onion soup I've had (better than other French onion soups I've had before). We also got the schnitzel and fish and chips, both of which tasted great. Finished the meal with creme brûlée which definitely did not disappoint. Not sure if this place would be considered kid friendly, there were no kid utensils given. Maybe it was also because there were no other kids at the quiet restaurant but it felt awkward with our loud kids in there. Despite this, would love to come back for the food. read more

Lugano Swiss Bistro - Schnitzel , Fish and Chips - Fondue Near Me - Carmel, California

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Carmel Fondue Institution is a Must Eat Visiting Carmel and want something a bit off the beaten path of the typical tourist? Lugano has been serving fondue for 30 years, and they should be on your list of restos to try while visiting the area. Decked out in Swiss chalet kitsch from floor to ceiling in marvelous wood with everything from bells to beer steins and mechanical clocks, the atmosphere is as warm and inviting as the service and the food. So what did we try? We went for the fondue sampler, and the jaegerschnitzel and pork bratwurst: 1. Fondue Sampler. Overall okay value. But we could skip the broth course. a. Salad. Ranch dressing. Nothing special but a good start! b. Swiss Original. Mixed with 3 cheeses, this has the required gruyer but also emmentaler, making this a delicious trio of slightly salty creamy flavors with a mild and savory bitter finish. Must get. Comes with bread and fruits. Best part of this. Unlike other places, they don't add oil, which makes this super delicious. c. Broth. Chicken and beef. Sadly, not our favorite. It's kind of like hot pot, but the broth is lackluster. And the meats are not good choices because: the beef is too thickly cut; and the chicken gets hard when boiled so not recommended for this. d. Chocolate. Only one choice with no additions possible. Very good chocolate though. 2. Jaegerschnitzel. Dark mushroom sauce with plenty of flavor. Schnitzel was properly breaded and juicy. Buttery spaetzel with nice al dentez Recommend. 3. Bratwurst. Pork was delicious: plump and juicy, full of tasty flavor. Excellent with the sauerkraut and well made mustard. Definite recommend. I thought the German potato hash too salty by itself but perfect paired with sauerkraut or pickled onions. Overall, a delightful experience. We will come again and focus on the cheese and chocolate next time. And the bratwurst! read more

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We discovered Lugano Swiss Bistro while on vacation in Carmel last week. The food was outstanding and the interior design/decorative elements inside the restaurant were so wonderful...it reminded me of my childhood and the yearlong trip we took through this part of Europe We were well taken of by the staff...kind and generous We will definitely return for another fabulous meal! read more

This place is so authentic. If you close your eyes, you would think that you were actually in the Swiss Alps. We have friends that are Swiss and live in the Swiss Alps, and they said that the fondue was exactly how their grandmother made it we also had the Swiss onion soup, which is fantastic. The waiter was very attentive and brought us extra broccoli when we asked for it the decor is super cute with authentic Swiss touch keys like you would find in your grandma's house. It's absolutely adorable. Didn't try any of the desserts, but one of them was brought out to the table next to us and it looked absolutely phenomenal. Will definitely try that next time. read more

The BEST schnitzel with traditional red cabbage, sour kraut and fingerling potatoes! My husband and I went to Switzerland for the first time last year and very much enjoyed the food and culture. We came home to seek more of it and found this gem of a restaurant that we so enjoy right here In Carmel. Visit Switzerland, right here at the mouth of CarmelValley! The original owners' craftsmanship will blow your mind in terms of the beautiful environment & woodwork that they and their friends poured their Swiss -grown talents into. What a delight to find & taste! Yum!!! read more

Delicious cheese fondue, a nice and spacious outdoor booth on a dog-friendly patio, excellent service, and a doggie menu for our pup! This place had it all. We were the only customers in the outdoor patio just after 6pm on a Tuesday. Our server was friendly and helpful, and was so kind to our dog. I started with the goulash soup (4/5) which was very savory and hearty. For my entree I got the Swiss cheese fondue (5/5) with a side of sausage - for dipping, it came with a big basket of bread and a plate with broccoli, cauliflower, and apples. This was definitely more than enough for one person, so my partner had some fondue as well. He also got the chicken schnitzel (5/5), which was excellent. Our dog got the chicken and carrots bowl off the doggie menu and loved every bite of it! They also gave him a fresh bowl of water. A wonderful dinner for all of us. We'll definitely be back when we're in Carmel again! read more

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I love Lugano and have been going for years through it's successive incarnations. The waiters are charming, the food is consistently good. My favorites are the French onion soup, the Gorgonzola mushroom fondu -- the original is great too -- with bread and broccoli and green apples -- delicious! Then we always have the bratwurst and refreshing beer too! read more

I love this restaurant so much! I try to get here every visit I make to Carmel by the sea! Everything is delicious and they are very accommodating to my big dog! Jaeger schnitzel is divine! The goulash soup tastes like I remember from my Austrian trips. The fondue is awesome for special occasions! I think I'm going to go there tonight in fact! Bravo read more

Hot fondue a cool winters day in Carmel backed up with an icy cold beer hard to beat it. The service is friendly, not especially speedy nor should it be as it's a nice place to visit. Old school charm don't forget the chocolate fondue for dessert you will absolutely love it. Cheers. read more

Great food, great ambiance, friendly staffs, reasonable price. Can't ask for more! The ambiance brought me right back to Alps villages.

I've lived in this area for years and never knew this place existed! It's so charming inside, with beautiful European wood work and decorations. The food was all excellent. Seasoned very well and as good if not better schnitzel as I have had in Germany. Great service as well. Please please don't ever paint all the cozy charming woodwork WHITE! like they did to the rest of the barnyard:( read more

Lugano Swiss Bistro - So adorable! - Fondue Near Me - Carmel, California

Very romantic, very mindful, very cutesy, very demure. Walked in pretty close to the end of their dinner service hours, but were still able to be seated outside on the table with the fireplace--there were plenty of empty tables inside as well, but the weather was nice and so outside dining was the move. I ordered the fondue for 1, and my partner got the pork schnitzel with spatzli--we shared both so that we could enjoy more! I wasn't a fan of the cabbage that came with it, but we cleared out the rest of our food quite easily. Melty cheese is very delicious. read more

Lugano Swiss Bistro - fondue for 1 - Fondue Near Me - Carmel, California

Great spot I come when I am in the area. Great service and ambiance. Good food. Nice plaza and interior has amazing Swiss feeling. Feels like you are away in Swissland. I specially love their onion soup and sausages. Can't find this anywhere else. I truly love this place. Feels welcoming. This place took care of my new child and asked to come again. While I was there I can see the regulars and just mention my usual to the server. This is how ideal a restaurant should be with class. The rest rooms are clean as well.... Man I think the Swiss culture and its legend is preserved here. Come check it out and the prices are great as well with good portion size. The creator of this place Andre has passed but we can appreciate his careful crafting of this spot. May it last into the generations. Wish you well Andre L!!! You definitely made a hit of this Jem of a place...... make many patrons happy with you food my man... cheers to you for your hardworking. And glad to say I am enjoying it even after you have left the place. Very satisfied with this spot read more

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excellent schnitzel and sides! Very friendly staff. Reasonably priced. walking distance from mission inn hotel in barnyard shopping area

While visiting Carmel we were staying close to The Barnyard which is where this restaurant is located. We love fondue and enjoy the experience, so we decided to come here for dinner. The restaurant wasn't very busy but we went kind of early as we had been traveling all day and were pretty exhausted. The restaurant is very cute, located on the lower level. The service was excellent. The food was very good too. Not the best fondue I've ever had (Mona Lisa Fondue in Manitou Springs, Colorado has been my favorite), but this was very good. We had fun and I would recommend read more

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Absolutely wonderful atmosphere! I came with a large group and they were very accommodating and the other patrons joined in on the fun as well. Fondue and appetizers were delicious. I would definitely recommend this place read more

the ambience the food, what is not to like?! everything was made very well, i wished my stomach was bigger! read more

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Great fondue sampler. Cheese, Broth, and chocolate fondue for the table. Friendly service in a setting that is a very traditional alpine lodge style. Family friendly with pasta for the little ones. read more

Our 9yo was craving for fondue, we found this place and it instantly transported us to a swiss bistro. Goulash was a hearty starter soup, can be more balanced. The fondue was a hit with our daughter, who finished all the broccolis, so thats a win. Geschnetzeltes stole the show. Creamy, mushroomy veal with risotto and vegetable was brilliant. Worth stopping for. Pair that with a draft, you have got a winner. The atmosphere was homey and an escape to Switzerland. read more

The interior gives European vibes. The cheese fondue is great. Never knew you can cheese this way. It is opening a whole new whole world to me. The schnitzel is good too. read more

Wow! My friend and I had had epic classic German/Swiss lunch. We got the combo which included a salad, cheese, fondue with bread and vegetables, broth, fondue with meat, and chocolate fondue with fruit. Everything was as delicious as I had hoped. read more

I went on June 25, 2025. The server Luis was exceptional, excellent, knowledgeable and very helpful. I would go back there just to have him as my server again. The food presentation was wonderful and it was delicious. read more

Lugano Swiss Bistro - Swiss Bistro - Fondue Near Me - Carmel, California

Another great lunch at Lugano Swiss Bistro. Their lunch menu is wonderful - reasonable prices on delicious dishes. We ordered the Sausage Platter, The Schnitzel plate, Grilled Salmon and Fish & Chips. Everything was delicious (and the bread they start the meal with is wonderful - I could have just eaten the whole basket of bread and a side salad...). Service is prompt and friendly. Portions were generous but we ate nearly every bite and only had a little of one dish of leftovers to take home. We go there about once every other month and need to go more often... read more

Atmosphere...so adorable. You feel like you're in another country. All of the attention to detail with the murals, steins, and cuckoo clocks add to the charm. Accessible for handicapped as well. Haven't tried it yet, but another table got the fondue and it looked and smelled delicious. I got the pizokle, which was in a lasagna type flat bowl and baked. it contained ham, bacon, spatzel noodle, cheese and Swiss chard. All blended together perfectly. My mom was like enjoying hers so much, I felt like she was doing a reenactment of the restaurant scene from "When Harry Met Sally'...lol. My husband and dad ordered the schnitzel and subbed out the salad for more red cabbage. Plate licked clean. So yummy. Wait staff was great. Will return yet again....hope the Barnyard figures out what a gem they have there and keeps this staple of a restaurant. read more

We still love coming to Lugano. It's a special gem you have to try. It's a very charming place read more

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Really enjoyed our first visit to this restaurant! Had their wurst plate at Oktoberfest at Asilomar and it was excellent! So our family decided to give the restaurant a try. Loved our table on the nice outdoor patio- it had a beautiful gas fire pit in the table. That set the tone for great conversation and a fun dinner! Each meal ordered was a big hit - especially loved the soups and the fondue! The food all came out piping hot!! Server was extremely attentive and friendly even though the inside was bustling . Cozy atmosphere inside but be sure to make a reservation for a booth (or the fire pit table outside) as there are only a few available. read more

My absolute favorite restaurant. I love the swiss sampler fondue. The authentic swiss vibes and decor are amazing. The service is always good. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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The food and the service was wonderful. We enjoyed the cheese fondue and the jager schnitzel and the sand dabs and the veal and mushroom dish, which I can't pronounce! All in all, I can't wait to go back. read more

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So cute! This business has been around for decades and still carries its original charms. Though the business has passed from original owner to a new (family friend) owner, it still seems to hold strong with great service and a family-oriented vibe. I got to sit out in the patio area and fortunately had the fire pit to myself. I got the Swiss cheese fondue and it is just a little more than enough for one person. Perhaps two. It comes with chunks of bread, cauliflower, broccoli, and green apples. Green apples pair nicely with the cheese fondue since it brings a sweet and sour twist. You can request meat as an extra (bratwurst) which is a nice addition. Food is hot and fresh. Loved my time here! And so did my (fur) boys :) read more

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Their chicken schnitzel is so good! I ordered to go. The restaurant is adorable. I had never been before but I want to go back and dine in. The noodles along with the chicken are also really really good!! read more

It has actually been years since we've been to this restaurant, but I wanted to write a review because we just watched a movie on Netflix (based on a true story about a restaurant on Stanton Island) and it was so much fun, that at the end, my husband said "this reminds me of the restaurant where we went to eat that had the fondue and (our daughter) was asked to sing with them"... the warm atmosphere we encountered on our visit to Lugano Swiss Bistro, was an experience we will never forget. We visited long ago, when they were remembering chef Andre (pretty sure he had passed away not too long before our visit). The ability for a group of people, to welcome strangers and make them feel like home is unheard of these days. And I just wanted to let people know that this place is truly one of a kind! We haven't been back to Carmel in a decade, but we forever remember the kindness, service, and amazing food we had, one blessed night, in Carmel. read more

What a gem of a restaurant! We have been coming to Carmel for years and never ventured from the downtown area til today. Our server was very attentive and the food was beyond great! I had the pork schnitzel with spätzli, my husband had the sausage platter with spätzli, and the dog chose the chopped sirloin with carrot chunks from the doggie menu. We all thought our meal was great and filling. There is even a nice outdoor eating area. The bathrooms were clean as well. We got the apple streudel to go for an evening snack at the hotel. We definitely will be back!!! read more

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Amazing place ..... everything is good . good service friendly staff . the fondue reminder me my holiday in Switzeland ! Thank you Julio read more

Excellent food and service! The place looks Bavarian inside, simple and sweet; like dinner in the Alps. There was a large party and several tables but the noise level was still comfortable and even our senior guests could hear fine. The veal ghoulish and different types of wienerschnitzel were delicious. We didn't try the cheese fondue but we did dive into the fun and yummy chocolate fondue for dessert. It was a great meal for our extended family gathering! I highly recommend it. The whole family of all ages will enjoy it! read more

Came here before spending an afternoon in Monterey on a random road trip with the SO and thoroughly enjoyed our meal! Located in the very back of the Barnyard Shopping Village, Lugano Swiss Bistro serves traditional Swiss eats. The inside is decorated in a traditionally Swiss style - lots of orange wood decoratively carved, a billion cow figures, Swiss cow bells, and alpine horns everywhere. We came on a weekend afternoon and it was empty except for a family dining outside. We were seated immediately and ordered: Tomato Ticino fondue - comes with veggies, apples, and bread for dipping. Chicken schnitzel - the SO enjoyed this dish a lot Schnitzel - super crispy and comes with lil anchovies for additional flavor Service was amazing! Our waiter was quick with refills, and even took some time to explain some of the decor surrounding us. Super nice man. In the end, would definitely return to try their other foods. Such a unique lunch option if you're ever in the area. read more

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Always a satisfying dinner at Luganos ! The flavor of the Onion soup was delicious. Fish n chips and pork schnitzel was amazing. Julio is very attentive as always. Save room for apple strudel and bread pudding. read more

Lugano Swiss Bistro - Fish n Chips - Fondue Near Me - Carmel, California

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It was our last day in Carmel and we had hit all of our usual suspects, restaurant-wise and were looking for some new territory. A friend recommended Lugano and even looked it up so we could see the menu ahead! We called to see if they were open and lunch service was about to close down at 4pm, so we scooted over to the Barnyard. After circling the Barnyard, we spotted the restaurant tucked away in a corner. There was lots of parking right across from the entrance, but the ramp down was a bit steep for my 94-year-old Mom. We admired the outdoor patio, but it was getting too cold to eat outside, so we went in a got a nice corner booth. The only issue here was that the benches are very narrow, so it was a bit difficult to maneuver. We were warmly welcomed and perused the menu, while we admired the gemutliche (warm, cozy) Swiss style. Cow bells, murals and carved climbers hung above red and white checkered table covers. Knotty pine tables and cuckoo clocks lined the walls. The menu focused on Swiss favorites, so it was easy to find a dish to make each person happy. I chose the cheese fondue, since I had made it many times, but never eaten it in a restaurant. My husband loves Schnitzel and chose the chicken version. Mom got the beef and potato goulash with a side salad. The food arrived promptly, with salad as a first course on chilled plates, accompanied by chewy bread and butter. As soon as we finished the salad course, entrees appeared. The fondue was bubbly and fragrant, with bits of bread, green apple and veggies to dip in. The goulash arrived in a small pot like onion soup, rich and savory. The chicken Schnitzel was the star of the show, pounded thin with a crispy crust almost like friend chicken! The meal portions were large, so we had leftovers to take home and enjoy the next day. The fondue reheated easily over a low gas flame and tasted just as rich and tasty the next day! I look forward to returning to enjoy the outdoor seating on a sunny day! read more

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The food was outstanding, we had the chicken schnitzel and my husband had the The beef wienerschnitzel

I've lived in the area for almost a decade & FINALLY made the effort to eat here!! As a child, I grew up in German & Bavarian restaurants in different parts of the US because of my mother's German roots. The ambiance & decor felt familiar. The food was hearty and flavorful, but the service was even better. The server was attentive & guided my menu choices. Pricing is average, coffee is hot, and I will definitely return. The bathrooms are clean and diners can sit outside & stay warm under a heater. There is live , traditional music for those bold enough to attend events during a pandemic. One day, Lugano Swiss Bistro will once again be the fun & nostalgic place for small events. read more

Lugano Swiss Bistro - Creme Brulee - Fondue Near Me - Carmel, California

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Definitely get the Groupon if want to snag a discount on the Swiss fondue appetizer + alcoholic drinks. Otherwise, I think the cheese fondue is overpriced a la carte ($23 per person for a pot of cheese fondue + dipping bread and veggies). In retrospect, maybe ordering the four course fondue sampler (~$40 per person, I believe) would've been a better choice, since it comes with a salad plus cheese, meat, and chocolate fondues. Besides the cheese fondue, we also ordered chicken schnitzel and the sausage platter entree. Those prices were comparable to similar restaurants I've eaten at. Overall, the food was better than I thought! The entree portions were pretty generous and the cheese fondue was definitely filling. FYI, they have a dog friendly patio and a dog menu for your four legged friends. If you come here, I'd probably recommend ordering the four course fondue sampler to try everything. read more

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