"Gilad Peled won two Michelin stars in the Palace's second year — book the eight-course lakeside menu to close a deal."
About Colonnade
Three courses, CHF 195; eight, CHF 255; one of the two tasting menus is entirely vegetarian. Those are the terms at Colonnade, the modern-French dining room inside the Mandarin Oriental Palace on Lake Lucerne, and they buy you a meal that earned two Michelin stars in the 2025 Swiss guide — in only the hotel's second year open.
The room is Belle Époque restored: high windows onto the lake, a colonnade of pale stone, and a kitchen that reads the Central Switzerland larder rather than importing luxury for its own sake. The cooking is precise and seasonal, and the lake does the rest.
The Kitchen
Executive chef Gilad Peled runs the pass. Israeli-born and trained at Le Cordon Bleu London, he cooked alongside Clare Smyth and Gordon Ramsay before taking Colonnade to two stars; his signature sits somewhere like the sweetbreads with peas, asparagus, morels and wild garlic — a plate that builds a luxury course out of a spring hedgerow. Head sommelier Moritz Dresing pairs it from CHF 165, leaning on Swiss and Burgundian bottles.
The format is a tasting menu in three, five or eight courses, classic or vegetarian, with an optional cheese course. It holds 17 points from GaultMillau alongside the two stars. For more of the city, see our Lucerne dining guide.
The Room
Colonnade occupies a Belle Époque hall at Haldenstrasse 10, restored when the Palace reopened in 2022: tall lake-facing windows, pale stone columns, tables spaced for quiet conversation. The sound level stays low, the lighting is candle-soft after dusk, and the dress code is smart — a jacket is advisable, though not strictly required.
The room seats around forty, and the window tables over the lake are the ones to request; at sunset they are the best seats in Lucerne.
Best for Closing a Deal
Book Colonnade to close a deal because two Michelin stars settle any question of whether the venue is serious, the spacing lets you talk without being overheard, and an eight-course lakeside menu gives a negotiation room to breathe. For a quieter celebration, it works equally for an anniversary dinner over the water.
Not for
Skip Colonnade if you want a fast or flexible meal — it runs fixed tasting menus over several hours at two-star prices, and there is no quick a la carte option for a working lunch.
Frequently Asked
Is Colonnade at the Mandarin Oriental worth it?
Yes, for a special-occasion dinner. Colonnade holds two Michelin stars and 17 GaultMillau points, won in only the hotel's second year, and chef Gilad Peled's modern-French cooking is matched by one of the best lake views in Lucerne. Expect a multi-hour tasting menu from CHF 195 to CHF 255, not a quick meal — it is priced and paced as a destination restaurant.
How much does dinner cost at Colonnade?
The tasting menu runs CHF 195 for three courses, CHF 225 for five and CHF 255 for eight, with an optional cheese course and a vegetarian version at the same prices. Head sommelier Moritz Dresing's wine pairing starts at CHF 165. With pairing and service, a full dinner for two comfortably passes CHF 800.
How do I book a table at Colonnade?
Reserve through the Mandarin Oriental Palace website or by phone on +41 41 588 22 00, ideally a couple of weeks ahead for a weekend window. Ask for a lake-facing window table, which are limited. The kitchen runs set tasting menus only, so confirm the vegetarian option in advance if you need it.
What is the dress code at Colonnade?
Smart. A jacket is advisable for dinner though not strictly enforced; the Belle Époque room and two-star service call for more than smart-casual. No trainers or shorts. Lunch is a touch more relaxed, but most guests dress up for the lake-view setting either way.
Is Colonnade good for closing a deal?
Yes. Two Michelin stars remove any doubt about the venue, the generously spaced tables let you talk privately, and a long lakeside tasting menu gives a negotiation time and cover. Book a window table, pre-arrange the wine pairing, and let the room carry the meeting.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Colonnade
Book via the Mandarin Oriental Palace; request a lake-facing window table.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressHaldenstrasse 10, Mandarin Oriental Palace, Lucerne
NeighbourhoodHaldenstrasse, lakeside
CuisineModern French
PriceCHF 195–255 tasting; wine pairing from CHF 165
Dress CodeSmart (jacket advisable)
Seating≈40 covers; lake-view windows
ReservationMO Palace · 2 weeks ahead
