Chalet Returns: A Beloved Classic Reimagined at EQ Kuala Lumpur

If you speak to anyone in Kuala Lumpur who is old enough to remember CD-ROMs, fax machines, and printed newspapers, they will all likely have a Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur story to tell. In 2012, one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest international standard hotels closed for a major redevelopment. The rebuilding and re-branding of Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur as EQ became a significant milestone in Malaysian hospitality. And it didn’t stop there – not by a long shot. Recently named by Travel + Leisure Asia as the Best City Hotel in Malaysia, EQ has also been TripAdvisor’s number-one-ranked Kuala Lumpur hotel since 2019, and recently even made the list as the #22-ranked hotel in the world – the only hotel in Malaysia to make the cut.

A very different Jalan Sultan Ismail in the Hotel Equatorial’s heyday

In August, one of the city’s best-loved dining outlets is set to make another cameo appearance at the hotel. Chalet, the preeminent continental fine dining restaurant of the original Hotel Equatorial, will ‘pop-up’ again for a little over two weeks

A cherished chapter in Malaysia’s fine dining story is being revisited this season as EQ Kuala Lumpur resurrects Chalet — the celebrated restaurant that once set the gold standard for culinary elegance. Now hosted as a limited-time pop-up within the modern iteration of the hotel, this nostalgic revival invites guests to once again savour the hallmarks of Swiss fine dining, complete with classic dishes and gracious service reminiscent of Chalet’s golden era.

In 1974 Kuala Lumpur, the Hotel Equatorial’s popular Chalet restaurant was the place to see and be seen

Hotel Equatorial’s Chalet restaurant, 1978

For those who recall it fondly — and for new diners eager to experience a slice of Malaysia’s culinary heritage — Chalet promises a return to old-world hospitality, dramatic tableside presentation, and refined European cuisine served with quiet confidence and contemporary polish. Diners at Chalet feel like they are being taken on a gastronomic journey across Switzerland’s grassy meadows, mirrored alpine lakes, and over the snow-covered Alps.

Tableside culinary theatrics defined Chalet’s golden era

The original Chalet was a highly decorated and well-regarded restaurant housed in the original Hotel Equatorial. From 1973 until the property was closed for redevelopment in 2012, Chalet was one of the city’s most popular ‘big night out’ restaurants. Crisp table linens, stately silverware, fine crystal glasses, classic Swiss dishes, and personalised service – much of it delivered tableside – were hallmarks of refined dining among Kuala Lumpur’s high society. Time marched on, but Chalet endured, becoming a mainstay of sophisticated dining for nearly three decades. Known for signature tableside offerings like raclette, flambéed desserts, and the theatrical Canard à la Presse, Chalet earned its place in the memories of generations of KL diners.

The venue has been updated, but Chalet’s signature style and service remains as it always was

Enjoy live music at various points during your leisurely meal

This latest iteration is not a replica, but rather a reimagining — one that preserves and pays homage to the essence of the original while updating it for today’s palate. The pop-up menu brings back Chalet’s celebrated specialties, drawing inspiration from Switzerland’s rich culinary traditions. Ingredients associated with alpine cooking — cheese, cream, wild game, and brandy — are thoughtfully balanced for Malaysia’s tropical climate and modern tastes.

A signature favourite, Raclette Valaisanne, sees molten cheese served tableside over new potatoes and tangy cornichons. The beloved Fondue au Fromage, now enhanced with truffle and offered for two, remains a convivial classic for sharing.

Melted cheese being scraped from the half-wheel for Raclette Valaisanne

Main courses transport diners across the Swiss regions, from the comforting Émincé de Veau à la Zurichoise — sliced veal in mushroom cream sauce served with rösti — to the indulgent Filet de Boeuf Wagyu, crowned with foie gras and black truffle. For seafood lovers, the Homard Thermidor offers a rich, yet balanced lobster dish that showcases Chalet’s sophisticated flair.

Of course, no visit would be complete without experiencing the aforementioned showstopping Canard à la Presse. This signature dish, featuring a whole roast duck prepared tableside using a traditional silver press, delivers both ceremony and flavour in equal measure. Available by pre-order, it’s best enjoyed by two diners and remains Chalet’s pièce de résistance.

Filet de Boeuf Wagyu with Foie Gras and Black Truffle

A selection of Chalet offerings for your consideration

Starters are a celebration of European delicacies — Viande des Grisons (Swiss air-dried beef), classic steak tartare, and foie gras de canard all make an appearance. Chalet’s wild mushroom soup, served in a hollowed-out bread bowl, also returns, offering a comforting nod to the restaurant’s original menu.

Desserts embrace old-world indulgence, where a touch of liqueur and a flicker of flame add drama and delight. Crêpes Suzette is flambéed tableside in traditional style, while the Hot Strawberry Soufflé delivers warmth and sweetness in perfect balance. For a final flourish, Chalet’s signature coffees, spiked with brandy or liqueur and crowned with whipped cream, promise a decadent end to the evening.

CURATED WINES

The wine list for the pop-up is a slight deviation from that offered in Sabayon, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant at altitude. The Chalet pop-up features mostly European wines in line with the continental theme, but alas, there are no Swiss wines. This is hardly surprising as few are exported, least of all to a small market such as Malaysia.

Nonetheless, diners can enjoy a lovely curated range of wines with their meal at Chalet. There are several sparkling wines offered, including Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label (RM168/glass and RM818/bottle) and the hotel’s own Equatorial 50th Anniversary Barons de Rothschild Rare Collection Blanc de Blancs, Reims (RM2,888).

Whites by the glass include Alois Lageder, Sauvignon Blanc, Alto Adige (RM75/RM368), Albert Bichot Domaine Long-Depaquit, Chardonnay, Chablis (RM78/RM378) and the wonderful Elena Walch, Pinot Grigio, Castel Ringberg, from Italy’s Alto Adige (RM83/RM388).

Reds by the glass include Cecchi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Sangiovese from Tuscany (RM75/RM368), Albert Bichot Bourgogne, Pinot Noir from Burgundy (RM78/RM388) and La Petite Lune, Cabernet blend from Bordeaux (RM83/RM398).

The ever-present Whispering Angel Côteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, rosé of Grenache from Provence is offered at RM78 by the glass, or RM368 by the bottle. We were impressed that a sweet dessert wine, Michel Lynch, Sauternes, was available with a 75 ml pour at RM45 by the glass or RM338 by the bottle.

We also liked that Chalet offers some particularly fine wines using the Coravin system with a 125 ml pour. These included, Fabien Coche, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru ‘Les Combes’, Chardonnay from Burgundy (RM148/RM888), Simon Colin, Chassagne- Montrachet 1er Cru ‘Les Chaumées’, Chardonnay from Burgundy (RM208/RM1,188), along with reds such as Château de Pommard ‘Clos Marey-Monge Monopole’, Pinot Noir from Burgundy (RM198/RM1,088) and the 2016 Le Carillion d’Angelus (2nd Vin), Merlot blends from St-Émillon (RM328/RM1,888).

But beyond the refined dishes and elegant wines, it’s the experience that defines Chalet. The sense of occasion, the polished service, the rolling trolleys, and the slow, theatrical pacing of a proper meal — all of these elements come together to recreate a dining tradition many thought lost. Though the venue has changed, the soul of Chalet endures.

The Chalet Pop-Up runs from August 14 to 30, 2025. Book your table early to avoid disappointment.