Da Lat grilled restaurant with train view - Chill place in the evening 2026

Da Lat is not only famous for its poetic beauty and cool climate all year round, but is also considered a culinary paradise at night. Among them, grilled restaurants are always the top choice of tourists when they want to find a place to eat delicious food and enjoy the typical atmosphere of the mountain town.

If you are looking for a Da Lat grill restaurant with a beautiful view and a chill atmosphere, then Xom Leo Grill & Chill is a suggestion worth considering in your culinary discovery journey.

What time does the train pass? Trai Mat train-spotting times

The night trains pass within sight of the restaurant around 18:40 – 19:00 and 20:45 – 21:10 (they leave Da Lat Station at 18:15 and 20:20), provided enough passengers have booked that day. It is the question guests message us about most, so the details follow.

The Da Lat – Trai Mat heritage tourist line runs about 7km and takes roughly 25 minutes each way. The far end of the track cuts through Xuan Truong Ward, directly below the restaurant, so you can watch the train without going to the station at all.

• Night train 1: leaves Da Lat Station at 18:15 → passes Trai Mat around 18:40 – 19:00.
• Night train 2: leaves Da Lat Station at 20:20 → passes Trai Mat around 20:45 – 21:10.
• Return leg: the trains leave Trai Mat station at 19:15 and 21:20 to head back to Da Lat, so you get a second pass on the way back.

One thing most articles leave out, but you deserve to know: the tourist train only departs once enough passengers have booked, usually 15–20 people. The timetable therefore shifts by season and by day, and nobody can promise a train tonight. To be sure, call Da Lat Station on +84 263 3834 409 and ask about that day.

Tickets on the Da Lat – Trai Mat line cost 72,000 – 100,000 VND per leg, as announced when the night service launched in April 2024 (VietnamPlus); returns are 25% off, and prices may have changed since. If you only want to watch the train rather than ride it, dinner in Trai Mat is the cheapest way to do it. Ticket prices, opening hours and the station architecture are covered in our guide to Da Lat Train Station.

Where to sit to catch the train

A few things we have learned working the grill here across several peak seasons:

• Take the outdoor row closest to the valley edge, not the indoor area.
• Arrive before 17:00 — in time for sunset whatever the month (the earliest sunset is around 17:20 in mid-November, the latest around 18:15 in early July), and before the evening crowd fills the good tables.
• Have your phone ready on video: the train is only in frame for about 20–30 seconds.
• On heavy-fog nights the headlight is just a soft glow. Still lovely, but do not expect a sharp photo.

Why are grilled restaurants in Da Lat always attractive?

Unlike other cities, Da Lat has a chilly climate in the evening, creating ideal conditions to enjoy hot grilled dishes. The feeling of sitting next to a charcoal stove, eating and chatting in the cool air is an experience that many tourists seek.

That’s why the grill restaurant model in Da Lat is increasingly developing. However, a grilled restaurant is highly appreciated not only for its food but also for many other factors such as:

• Space

• View

• Overall experience

This is also a clear difference between a restaurant that is “all you can eat” and a restaurant that is “worth coming back to again and again”.

The night trains leave Da Lat Station at 18:15 and 20:20 — reserve before the train time to eat and watch.

A chill atmosphere - the element that creates the experience

Nowadays, the trend of customers is not only to eat delicious food but also to enjoy the space. Shops with open, airy, and close-to-nature designs are often preferred.

Xom Leo Grill & Chill is one of the places following this style:

• Open design, taking advantage of natural air

• There are flexible outdoor and indoor areas

• Large space, easy to go in large groups

• There are many private seating corners for couples

Sitting in the cold air of Da Lat, next to the smoky grill, the soft yellow light, creates a very unique feeling - both warm and relaxing. This is the “chill quality” that many people look for when coming to Da Lat.

Train view - what sets a Trai Mat grill apart

Da Lat has plenty of grills with a good view. Places with a genuine train view can be counted on one hand, because it depends on something money cannot buy: the restaurant has to sit on the stretch of track that still carries trains.

The Da Lat – Trai Mat line is the only working railway left in the city. Xom Leo sits in Xuan Truong Ward, 5km from the centre towards Trai Mat, at around 1,500m elevation, looking down across almost the full width of the valley. From the same seat you get three different scenes depending on the hour:

• 15:00 until sunset (around 17:20 – 18:15 depending on the month): afternoon light, then sunset, across the flower gardens and greenhouses in the valley.
• From 18:30: thousands of greenhouse lamps switch on, like a field of stars laid out below you.
• 18:40 – 19:00 and 20:45 – 21:10: the train cuts across that scene, with its whistle carrying over the hills.

That is why the outdoor row usually fills up first, especially at weekends and in high season, even though both areas share the exact same menu and prices. There is no surcharge for a view table.

Food - the factor that retains customers of grilled restaurants in Da Lat

No matter how beautiful the space and view are, the quality of the food is still the deciding factor in whether guests return or not.

Grilled restaurants in Da Lat often focus on familiar dishes such as:

• Grilled meat: beef, pork, chicken

• Seafood: shrimp, squid

• Side dishes: vegetables, kimchi, dipping sauce

What these dishes have in common is:

• Richly marinated

• Suitable for most customers’ tastes

• Easy to eat, easy to order

A clear, easy-to-understand menu will help guests - especially first-timers - choose dishes quickly and without confusion. This is also a plus point that helps enhance the overall experience.

Real experience - What makes customers come back to the grilled restaurant in Da Lat

Many customers, after experiencing the grill restaurant in Da Lat, often come back not only because of the food but also because of the overall feeling that the restaurant brings.

Some factors that create a good experience:

• Comfortable, unrestrained space

• The atmosphere is suitable for chatting

• Stable service

• Easy to go in groups, not too complicated

These elements, when combined, create a complete experience, rather than just a meal.

What time of day should you go?

For the best experience, you should choose the right time:

• Go in the evening to enjoy the cold air

• Go early to choose a good location

• Avoid rush hour if you don’t like crowds

In addition, if you go in a large group, you should consider booking in advance to avoid having to wait.

Suggestions for choosing a grill restaurant in Da Lat for first-time visitors

If it’s your first time coming to Da Lat and want to try a grilled restaurant, a few suggestions will help you have a better experience:

• Prioritize restaurants with space + view (not only food)

• See real reviews from customers

• Avoid choosing a restaurant that is too crowded if you have not booked a table

One of the places often mentioned is

👉 Xom Leo Grill & Chill

You can browse the full menu and prices along with photos of the space to know what to expect before you arrive.

Why should you choose a grill restaurant with a “chill” experience?

The current trend has changed: customers not only go to eat but also go to experience.

A highly rated barbecue restaurant often brings together:

• Beautiful and pleasant space

• Comfortable atmosphere

• Stable service

• Suitable for many purposes (dining, gathering, dating)

This is also the reason why “chill” style restaurants like Xom Leo Grill & Chill are increasingly chosen by more and more people when coming to Da Lat.

Sister venue: Tram Dung Chill next door at 111

Same team, same stretch of track: right beside Xom Leo (number 113) is Tram Dung Chill at 111 Huynh Tan Phat. It opened in 2022, also does outdoor BBQ, also catches the train going past, and has the same sunset-then-greenhouse-lights sequence.

Why mention it rather than hide it? Because on weekends and in high season one of the two is usually fully booked before 18:00 — before the first night train even passes. If Xom Leo is full, it is under a minute on foot next door and you keep the view, instead of driving 5km back into town and missing the train altogether.

How to pick between them:

• Xom Leo (113): more private corners, good for couples and mid-sized groups; live acoustic and saxophone on some evenings.
• Tram Dung Chill (111): larger outdoor area, a menu of over 70 dishes, better suited to big groups and tours.

Both open 15:00 – 23:00 daily, and neither charges extra for a view table.

FAQ – Da Lat BBQ with a train view

❓ Where is the Da Lat BBQ with a train view?
→ Xom Leo Grill & Chill is at 113 Huynh Tan Phat, Xuan Truong Ward - Da Lat, Lam Dong — about 5km from Xuan Huong Lake towards Trai Mat, roughly 12–15 minutes by motorbike or 15–20 by car. The restaurant looks down on the Da Lat – Trai Mat line, the only stretch of railway in Da Lat that still carries trains. See detailed directions.

❓ What time does the train pass the restaurant?
→ Two night trains leave Da Lat Station at 18:15 and 20:20. The 25-minute run puts them past Trai Mat around 18:40 – 19:00 and 20:45 – 21:10, plus a second pass on the return leg. Trains only run with enough passengers, so call Da Lat Station on +84 263 3834 409 to confirm.

❓ Is there a surcharge for a view table?
→ No. The outdoor tables overlooking the valley and the railway use the same menu and the same prices as the indoor area. You just need to arrive early or book ahead, because the front row has a limited number of tables.

❓ How much does dinner for two cost?
→ Around 250,000 – 300,000 VND per person for a full BBQ meal, so roughly 500,000 – 600,000 VND for two. Check the menu and prices first to estimate against the dishes you actually plan to order.

❓ Can you still see the train in rain or fog?
→ In heavy fog the headlight is only a soft glow — video still works, but a sharp photo is hard. In rain there is an indoor area, plus parasols, small tents and warm blankets so you can stay rather than leave early.

❓ Do I need to book ahead?
→ On weekends, public holidays and in high season, book ahead and plan to arrive before 18:00 if you want to be sure of an outdoor table. On weekdays walking in is usually fine. Call +84 764 527 336 or message us on Facebook to hold a table.

❓ What if Xom Leo is fully booked?
→ Our sister venue Tram Dung Chill is right next door at 111 Huynh Tan Phat, with the same view over the railway and the valley, also open 15:00 – 23:00. It is under a minute on foot.

Summary

If you are looking for a Da Lat grill with train view and chill atmosphere, choosing the right location will greatly affect your experience.

Among the many options available today, Xom Leo Grill & Chill is one of the prominent names, suitable for both tourists and locals.

Not just simply eating and drinking, this is also a place for you to enjoy the atmosphere of Da Lat in a more complete and comfortable way.