As well as being famous for the Matterhorn, Zermatt boasts an incredible selection of mountain restaurants.
The following are our tried and tested favourites but there are many more brilliant restaurants to be found both up and down the mountain.
Chez Vrony
Situated in Findeln the renowned Chez Vrony delivers delicious food with spectacular views. Retaining all of its old hut character with tasteful furnishings (loads of wood and sheepskins), Chez Vrony is perhaps the most chi-chi restaurant on the mountain. The cooking offers a traditional Valais menu but with international influences and is beautifully presented. This is accompanied, as you would expect, by a fine wine list. It also opens for breakfast, take one of the first lifts of the day and enjoy coffee and croissants in the mountain air.
Tel: +41 27 967 25 52, Email: info@chezvrony.ch, Web: www.chezvrony.ch
Adler
Also located in Findeln the newly refurbished Adler hut has re-opened for business. There are several decks outside to sit and stare at the majestic Matterhorn from. Traditional Swiss/Italian mountain cooking is on the menus with some subtle variations (eg. homemade leek spatzli with bacon and penne with truffles and ceps)
Tel: +41 27 967 1058, Email: info@adler-hitta.ch, Web: www.adler-hitta.ch
Findlerhof
A fabulous restaurant that makes lunching an unforgettable experience in Zermatt. Tucked away at furthest accessible point at the bottom of Findeln, amongst some old wooden sheds, down a roped path, you come upon this half-hidden gem. Ski carefully as you approach for fear of missing Franz and Heidi Schwery’s lovely ancient mountain hut. They serve traditional Swiss cooking and modern Italian dishes along with the best salads. Inside or out, Findlerhof is all about ambiance and the charm of old Zermatt.
Tel: +41 27 967 25 88, Email: info@findlerhof, Web: www.findlerhof.ch
Fluhalp
Only Zermatt offers so much choice above 3000m and Fluhalp is unmissable just below Rothorn with its tall black timbered structure and red shutters. Famous for years for wonderful big Swiss cooking from homemade soups to pot au feu, bratwurst and pasta, what Fluhalp is really about is the live music and party atmosphere inside or out on the deck.
Tel: +41 27 967 25 97, Email: info@hotelpollux.ch, Web: www.fluhalp.ch
Alphitta
Immediately below the Riffelalp resort and with the convenience of a Gornergrat train station close by, the Alphitta is managed by local character and band front man, Dave Banks, together with his partner Tanja Siemerink. They were both previously in charge of the hotel and restaurant at Schwarzsee. Weather permitting, there is daily live music on the terrace which looks across at the Matterhorn and the inside is warm and inviting.
Served by a young and dynamic team, the food is delicious.
Tel: +41 76 461 94 22, Email: info@alphitta.ch, Web: www.alphitta.com
Blatten
A lovely, homely and traditional alpine restaurant. A 30 minute leisurely hike from Zermatt, or alternatively take the Klein Matterhorn Express to Furi and then ski or walk down. A charming cosy atmosphere with delicious food. Their famous Gily Gily digestifs are a must!
Tel: +41 27 967 20 96, Email: info@blatten-zermatt.ch, Web: www.blatten-zermatt.ch
Zum see
Skiing down below Furgg, and just above Blatten, you will come on a collection of black timber houses and farmsheds from another century. This is the hamlet of Zum See, after which this famous mountain restaurant names itself. Max and Greti Mannig offer more old Zermatt charm, whether outside on the terrace on a sunny day or in the lovely old dining room. Swiss cooking dominates a fine menu, including homemade pasta dishes, with veal, calves liver and lamb specialities typical of these lower shepherd hamlets. Unmissable quality and atmosphere again.
Tel: +41 27 967 20 45, Email: info@zumsee.ch, Web: www.zumsee.ch
Simi
Situated in Furi at 1800m Simis serves traditional Swiss and Walliser cooking and local Valais wines. A beautiful old hut and lovely terrace on which you can enjoy food cooked on the wood grill and also on hot stone. Simi’s is another Zermatt gem.
Tel: +41 27 967 26 95, Email: info@hotelsimi.ch, Web: www.restaurantsimi.ch
Stafelalp
Down a meandering red run below Schwarzsee, this stunning hut is more like a large conservatory with timber floors and sheepskin furnishings. Lamb is the theme here as the indigenous black-nosed sheep pasture on the meadows nearby in summer. It also serves the best hot chocolate on the mountain!
Tel: +41 27 967 30 62, Email: info@stafelalp.ch, Web: www.stafelalp.ch
