Here you will find guidance on reserving seats in the SBB Restaurant and in dining cars on international trains.
Seat reservations in the SBB Restaurant.
Seats in the SBB Restaurant can be reserved up until one day before departure for CHF 5 per seat online at SBB.ch, at the ticket counter or by calling the SBB Contact Center on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/min.). You will then receive a reservation confirmation which you have to take with you on your journey. We will deduct the CHF 5 paid from your purchase in the SBB Restaurant.
Requirement to purchase.
Please note that you must make a purchase while sitting in SBB Restaurants. As a thank you for your reservation, the CHF 5 will be deducted from your bill. If you do not order anything, the staff may give the seat you reserved to other passengers who want to make a purchase.
You can reserve seats up to one day before departure. Here’s how it works:
Online reservation on SBB.ch: up until one day before departure.
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Enter the route you wish to travel on SBB.ch at least one day before your journey.
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Select the connection you require.
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Once you have selected the required connection, click on “Billette wählen” [“Select tickets”].
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Do you need a ticket? Select the ticket you require and click on “Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation”].
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If seats are available, the message “Reservierung möglich” [“Reservation possible”] will appear for the required route(s). Select the checkbox for the required route(s) and confirm with “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. A selection of the compartments you can reserve then appears.
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Select “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] and then click on “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. (Please note: If the train does not have an SBB Restaurant or if no seats are available, the option “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] will not appear. In this case, you will need to select another connection.)
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Do you already have a ticket or a travelcard (e.g. a GA Travelcard) and just want a seat in the restaurant? Further down the page, select “Nur Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation only”] under “Zusatzangebot” [“Additional offer”], and then click on “Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation”].
Image legend:
Select “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] and then click on “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. (Please note: If the train does not have an SBB Restaurant or if no seats are available, the option “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] will not appear. In this case, you will need to select another connection.)
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You can now see your seat reservation in the SBB Restaurant for the route you have chosen. Click on “Weiter” [“Continue”] and complete your purchase. You will receive an e-mail confirmation right away with a QR code. Present this QR code (or the reservation you have saved or printed out as a PDF) in the dining car/bistro. You will be shown to your reserved seat and can enjoy your CHF 5 credit. Tip: If you are logged in and have linked your login to SBB Mobile, you can also show the reservation in the app.
Seat reservation at the ticket counter: up until one day before departure.
You can reserve seats in the SBB Restaurant up to one day before your departure at the ticket counter.
Have the reservation sent by post: book at least 4 working days before departure.
If you would like to receive your booking confirmation by post, you can reserve your seats by telephone by calling the SBB Contact Center on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/min.) and simply pay by credit card. Please allow three working days for it to be sent. You should therefore reserve your seats at least four working days before your departure.
Reserving a seat in the dining car of an international railway company.
Intercity-Express (ICE) trains.
In the on-board bistro or on-board restaurant on ICE trains, a variety of seasonal dishes awaits you. We will also be glad to serve you at your seat in 1st class.
Seat reservation in the on-board restaurant.
Seats cannot be reserved in the ICE restaurant.
Contact.
DB Fernverkehr AG
Central advance booking for on-board catering
Telephone: +49 1805 051 826
From Switzerland you can travel on EC trains to Munich or Hamburg Altona. On these trains, you can enjoy the varied catering offerings in the SBB Restaurants, which are open for the duration of the journey. Many of our delicious dishes can be picked up in the SBB Restaurant and enjoyed at your seat.
Seat reservation in the SBB Restaurant.
Individual passengers.
Seats in the SBB Restaurant cannot be reserved on trains travelling to/from Germany.
Groups.
Upon request, we can organise special meals in the SBB Restaurant and provide you with individual catering offers for groups of at least 25 or a minimum consumption of CHF 1,500. We request that you order your meals at least eight workdays before departure.
You can travel to Italy on SBB and Trenitalia EC trains. From 6.30 am to 9 pm you can enjoy a varied range of food and drinks. All food and drinks are also available as take-away.
Seat reservations in the restaurant.
Individual passengers.
Seats in the SBB and Trenitalia restaurant cannot be reserved on trains travelling to/from Italy.
Groups.
Upon request, we can organise special meals in the SBB and Trenitalia restaurant and provide you with individual catering offers for groups of at least 25 or a minimum consumption of CHF 1,500. We request that you order your meals at least eight workdays before departure.
The TGV Lyria on-board bistro offers a varied catering service. Between Switzerland and Dijon or Paris, we serve food at your seat in Business 1ère class. In Standard 1ère and Standard classes, you can purchase snacks and beverages in the on-board bistro or from the refreshment trolley.
As the TGV Lyria on-board bistro has no seating, seat reservations cannot be made.
Pre-order menus for the TGV Lyria.
Groups of ten or more in Standard 1ère and Standard class can pre-order food and beverages for at-seat service up to ten days before departure.
Enjoy a wide selection of dishes and beverages in the Railjet restaurant. Many products are also available to take away. In 1st class, we can serve you the whole range at your seat on request. On Railjet trains you can also order and pay online via the Railnet portal.
Seat reservation in the Railjet restaurant.
Individual seats cannot be reserved in the Railjet restaurant. For groups we recommend reserving seats in the Railjet restaurant and/or placing food orders in advance.
Hello! My wife and I have booked tickets for EC 61 from Spiez to Milano Centrale on November 26, 2026. Our reserved seats are in coach 7, seats 14 and 16. However, seat 14 is marked as a “Priority Seat” on the ticket. We are both healthy adults and do not require priority seating. Are we allowed to use seat 14 since it was officially reserved and issued to us? If we are allowed to use it, we would prefer to keep our current seats. If this seat is restricted to passengers with reduced mobility or other special needs, would it be possible to change it to a regular seat without cancelling our existing tickets? Thank you for your help!
That seat is not restricted. You are allowed to use it. I would expect you to be able to just stay in that seat. Its only if someone who is entitled to a priority seat boards, and this person was given a non priority seat that you might be requested to swap.
Hello everyone, I’m trying to get tickets one way for March but it keeps telling me tickets are sold out. I find this hard to believe 5 months in advance. Any clue what I might be doing wrong? Had no issues getting them from Basel to Luzern
Charlie58Link opens in new window. it keeps telling me tickets are sold out This is a known error on the SBB site that has been around for years. The system is not able to distinguish between “all seats sold” and “sales haven’t started yet”. I have pointed out that this is not a very user friendly message, that is costing the SBB customers.
Hello Phiecauquaiwh85Link opens in new window. The refundability depends on the type of ticket: Phiecauquaiwh85Link opens in new window. Saver Day Passes Only refundable with medical attestation that you can’t travel (must specifically mention that you can’t travel!), so for you yes, but not for your wife Phiecauquaiwh85Link opens in new window. a Point-to-point ticket in Switzerland Refundable without needing to give a reason until midnight before the day when you travel. You can refund the ticket online using the link in the confirmation e-mail of your purchase Phiecauquaiwh85Link opens in new window. a point to point ticket from Italy to Zurich Should be refundable up to 80% of the ticket price no matter the cause for the refund. You can claim your refund only at a station office or via the SBB Contact Center (+41 0848 44 66 88).
Do you have any questions about rail travel, tickets or travelcards? Book a free consultation at an SBB Travel Centre or make an appointment for a callback.
![Once you have selected the required connection, click on “Billette wählen” [“Select tickets”].](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_3_Fahrplan_Billette_waehlen.png?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![Do you need a ticket? Select the ticket you require and click on “Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation”].](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_4_Sitzplatzreservierung.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![If seats are available, the message “Reservierung möglich” [“Reservation possible”] will appear for the required route(s). Select the checkbox for the required route(s) and confirm with “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. A selection of the compartments you can reserve then appears.](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_5_Fahrplan_Reservierung_moeglich.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![Select “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] and then click on “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. (Please note: If the train does not have an SBB Restaurant or if no seats are available, the option “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] will not appear. In this case, you will need to select another connection.)](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_6_Fahrplan_Restaurant_Uebernehmen.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![Do you already have a ticket or a travelcard (e.g. a GA Travelcard) and just want a seat in the restaurant? Further down the page, select “Nur Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation only”] under “Zusatzangebot” [“Additional offer”], and then click on “Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation”].](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_7_Fahrplan_Sitzplatz_Restaurant.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![Select “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] and then click on “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. (Please note: If the train does not have an SBB Restaurant or if no seats are available, the option “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] will not appear. In this case, you will need to select another connection.)](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_8_Fahrplan_Restaurant.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![You can now see your seat reservation in the SBB Restaurant for the route you have chosen. Click on “Weiter” [“Continue”] and complete your purchase.
You will receive an e-mail confirmation right away with a QR code. Present this QR code (or the reservation you have saved or printed out as a PDF) in the dining car/bistro. You will be shown to your reserved seat and can enjoy your CHF 5 credit.
Tip: If you are logged in and have linked your login to SBB Mobile, you can also show the reservation in the app.](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_9_Sitzplatzreservierung_Weiter.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)