Pension Gasthaus zur Schnecke

After nearly four years living in Kandern, we finally tried this place for dinner for the first time. The food was delicious, and the wait staff spoke English too. Just wish we'd made it here sooner.

We had a great lunch here, with warm service and really fair prices. The traditional German atmosphere is super cozy, the portions are huge, and the schnitzel was one of the tastiest we've tried. Good beers too. It was exactly what you'd hope for from this kind of place.

The craft beers were good, and the fried vegetables were tasty. Food quality and portions were both exceptional for a fair price, which made it fantastic value. I was positively surprised when this place turned out to be one of the many stops on my European road trip. There are a thousand little details in the amazing interior that make it feel special as soon as you walk in. The atmosphere and friendly, courteous staff made us want to visit again. They could speak more than just the usual couple of words.

We booked two nights at this quaint gasthouse while visiting my boarding school in Kandern, where I graduated 21 years ago. My wife, seven-year-old daughter, and I had two rooms and a bathroom in the apartment. Each room had plenty of closet space, bedding, towels, and even water. Kandern is a tiny town near where Germany, France, and Switzerland meet, and there aren't many places to stay. The family runs the business and lives on site, so it's easy to reach someone if you need anything. Our room was clean and comfortable. We also found a hair dryer and a heated rack for drying clothes. The location is in town, around the corner from a popular doner kebab shop and within walking distance of the pool. There's parking nearby, and we were given free bus tickets into Basel. We booked online and paid when we arrived. Since we got in late on Friday, the owner left our bulky room keys in an envelope taped to the window near the entrance. They fit in a pocket, at least. There's no AC, just a small fan in each room. It didn't cool the room as much as I wanted, though it wasn't horrible. The restroom uses rainwater to help save the planet, which we're all for, but the toilet water smelled like sulfur throughout our stay, and there's no ventilation. Breakfast costs six Euros per person and includes bread, jam, eggs, meats, cheese, yogurt, cereal, juice, and coffee.