Neighborhood Guide: Zermatt, Upper Valais

NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE

ZERMATT, UPPER VALAIS

The good life at the foot of the Matterhorn

curated by

Daniel and Seraina Lauber, owners of Cervo Mountain Boutique Resort

For Daniel and Seraina Lauber, the Matterhorn is everything. “The mountain is right in front of the hotel. Every day it reminds us of how special it is, how iconic. I don’t fear it. I love it. It draws me in,” says Daniel Lauber, who together with Seraina, will hike, shop and eat in its shadow- and sun-drenched valleys summer and winter. Here are their favorite spots:

DINING
CHEZ VRONY

For one of the best views of this mountain, Daniel recommends the village of Rotenboden, especially in the summer when you see it mirrored on the little lake at the foot of the Riffelhorn. For dinner, he suggests heading to the hamlet of Findel on the patio of the restaurant Chez Vrony, which serves regionally sourced refined alpine cuisine in a beautifully restored farmhouse. Findeln
+41 279 672 552
CHEZ VRONY
DINING
EDELWEISS

To work up an appetite with a mountain hike from Zermatt, Seraina recommends heading for the restaurant Edelweiss, about 300 meters above the village, a little less than an hour’s hike. You get a fantastic view over the village because Edelweiss is situated on top of a rock.” Daniel prefers hiking in the ‘lost valley’ of Findeltrift, which is a green field in the middle of a glacial moraine (“that’s why it’s called the ‘lost valley’,” he explains). Alterhaupt
+41 279 672 236 ‎
EDELWEISS
DINING
ZUM SEE

“Of the mountain restaurants, I’d recommend Zum See,” says Seraina. “It’s in the hamlet of Zum See. Get one of the tables outside, go for lunch, and order the puff pastry with cream.” +41 279 672 045
ZUM SEE
DINING
OTHMAR'S SKIHÜTTE

Daniel recommends Othmar's Skihütte in the hamlet of Ried: “In summer, Chef Werner catches his own Alaskan salmon and brings it back to Zermatt. Try his smoked salmon on toast—delicious.” Ried
+41 279 671 761
OTHMAR'S SKIHUETTE
SHOPPING
HORU KÄSEREI

Seraina is a huge supporter of local artisanal foods: “Just a five-minute walk down from our hotel you will find the Horu Käserei selling homemade yogurts and local cheese." Oberhäusern 6
+41 279 673 975
HORU KAESEREI
SHOPPING
METZGEREI BAYARD

Daniel recommends trying gornerli, a dried sausage available from Bayard, the local butcher on Zermatt’s main street. “Eat it with some local rye bread and a glass of chilled Fendant (white wine from the Valais).” Bahnhofstrasse 9
+41 279 672 266
METZGEREI BAYARD
DINING
WHYMPER-STUBE

But if there is one local dish you can’t leave Zermatt without trying, make it a raclette, says Seraina. “It’s basically melted cheese with potatoes, best had at Whymper-Stube restaurant.” Bahnhofstrasse 80
+41 279 672 296
WHYMPER-STUBE