1777

Who Should Book 1777

If you want a relaxed meal in central Basel without sacrificing quality, 1777 is worth your attention. The address at Im Schmiedenhof 10 puts it squarely in the heart of the old town, which makes it a practical choice before or after an afternoon at the Art Basel venues, the Kunstmuseum, or a stroll across the Mittlere Brücke. First-timers to Basel's dining scene who want somewhere approachable rather than ceremonial should put this near the leading of their list.

The Space

The venue sits in one of Basel's historic mercantile buildings, and the architecture does a lot of work. Expect the kind of proportions that feel considered rather than cavernous: rooms that hold conversation at a reasonable volume, seating arrangements that give tables enough separation to feel private without the stiffness of a formal dining room. For a first visit, this spatial balance matters. You are not walking into a room designed to intimidate, and that is a deliberate choice on the part of the venue. The name itself, 1777, references the building's history, giving the space a grounding in Basel's long commercial and civic past without leaning on it heavily in the décor.

In the current season, Basel's old town is at its most navigable: the summer festival crowds have thinned, and the city settles into a quieter rhythm that suits a longer, more unhurried meal. That makes autumn and early winter visits particularly well-suited to the pace this venue encourages.

What to Expect on the Plate

Specific menu details are not available in our current data, so treat any dish-level guidance here with caution and check directly with the venue before visiting. What the address and building context suggest is a programme that respects Swiss-regional produce without being rigidly traditional. Basel sits at the corner of France, Germany, and Switzerland, and kitchens in this part of the city tend to reflect that triangulation in their sourcing and technique. That is a general truth about the city's better casual-to-mid-range venues rather than a confirmed claim about 1777's current menu, so contact the restaurant to confirm what is running now.

Booking and Practicalities

Booking difficulty is rated Easy, which means walk-ins are plausible for weekday lunches and quieter evenings, but a reservation made a few days out gives you more control over timing and seating preference. The central location means the surrounding streets fill on weekends when events are on at the Messe Basel or during Art Week, so plan accordingly. Phone and website details are not currently in our records; search for the venue directly or try a Basel booking aggregator to confirm current hours and availability before making a trip specifically for dinner.

Quick reference: Easy to book, central old-town location, accessible for first-timers, leading reserved a few days ahead during busy periods.

How 1777 Fits Basel's Wider Dining Picture

Basel has a surprisingly dense concentration of serious restaurants for a city of its size. If you are building an itinerary and want to understand where 1777 sits, our full Basel restaurants guide gives a broader view of the field. For those planning a longer stay, the Basel hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide are worth reading alongside this.

Within Switzerland, the reference points for serious dining are venues like Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau, Memories in Bad Ragaz, and Hotel de Ville Crissier in Crissier. Those are a different tier of ambition and price. For a casual but quality-minded meal in Basel itself, 1777's positioning is more directly relevant than the Swiss grand-dining circuit. Also worth knowing for context: Maison Wenger in Le Noirmont and Einstein Gourmet in Sankt Gallen represent what the country's regional fine-dining looks like if you are calibrating expectations. Internationally, Le Bernardin in New York City and Lazy Bear in San Francisco sit in a different category altogether, but they serve as useful reference points for what serious tasting-menu dining looks like if you are comparing formats. Da Vittorio in St. Moritz rounds out the Swiss luxury picture for anyone spending time in the mountains.

Closer to home, Basel venues worth knowing: Ackermannshof for Mediterranean-leaning cooking and Acqua are both worth a look depending on what you are after. The Basel wineries guide is also useful context if wine is a priority for your visit.