We've been all over Europe on our trip, 13 countries to be exact! Every place we've been to has a different meal time, from 6 o'clock in Amsterdam to 8:30 in Italy! We can't find any information on what time dinner usually runs in Switzerland, and we would prefer not to be eating at "tourist hours".
Thanks!
Ask at the hotel, "When to the local folks generally go to dinner, lunch, etc.?
I'm never too worried about when "meal time" is, or whether it's "tourist hours". I usually eat when I'm hungry, which is typically a bit earlier than most Europeans. That's often an advantage as the restaurants aren't crowded. One example from my recent visit was a small restaurant in Vienna. There was lots of space available and I was seated immediately. Within 15 minutes, the place started filling up, and before long they were turning customers away.
Switzerland is not a single homogeneous place like the United States is becoming more and more.
Which Canton?
My limited experience in Switzerland -- Zermatt and the Lauterbrunnen Valley/Jungfrau Region -- suggests the Swiss eat earlier than we do in Italy, but they are as accommodating at 8:00 or 8:30 pm as at 6:00 or 6:30 pm. We never eat before 7:30 or 8:00 pm and that has been fine in Switzerland. At least we have never had that "only people in the restaurant" experience at 7:30 in Switzerland. By 8:30, though, things are thinning out. I would not assume I could dine after 9:00 pm unless I verified with the restaurant and it might be pretty quiet by then.
I'd vote with the eat when you are hungry camp. If really doesn't matter if you look like a tourist. You are a tourist, and the restaurants and hotels are happy to have your business.
Until my trip I would have voted for the eat whenever you want club, but I found in Switzerland they're more "continental" than I would like. Meaning it's best not to try much before 6:30 or 7.
