Ski deluxe: ski holidays at the Hotel Schweizerhof Zermatt

A winter weekend in Zermatt is always a good idea – and if it can be combined with a visit to a “new” hotel, all the better. At the beginning of February, we packed ourselves heavily in Zurich (does anyone have a tip on how to go on a ski holiday with light luggage?) on our way to Zermatt. The destination of our trip: the Schweizerhof Zermatt. A hotel that has been welcoming guests in a prime location directly opposite the train station since the beginning of this season. But in the last eight months, the house has undergone a metamorphosis.

Hotel Schweizerhof Zermatt: old name, new face

Even though it is less than a two-minute walk from the train station to the hotel entrance, we are picked up in style with the electric scooter in retro design and a few minutes later we walk through the mighty wooden doors that show us the way to the lobby. Behind it, an inviting and permeable lobby, bar and dining area awaits us, which exudes a “living room feeling”.

Built in 1982 in an oversized chalet style, the Schweizerhof Zermatt was for a long time an average 4-star establishment without pomp and circumstance. In 2017, the hotel and the associated residences were put up for sale. The contract was awarded to entrepreneur and investor Michel Reybier. The Frenchman is already involved in a number of hotels in Switzerland.

After an eight-month conversion and renovation phase, the Schweizerhof Zermatt opened its heavy wooden doors on 21 December 2018 with the old name but with a new, fresh look. At the restart, they wanted to move away from all legacy burdens and also started at 0 on booking and review platforms such as Tripadvisor and Booking. Not an easy task, as the General Manager tells us on the tour of the hotel. The reopening of the Schweizerhof also took place under a 4-star classification, whereby the hotel wants to define itself less by stars and much more by services; in-house ski service, ski room with coffee machine, supervised kids’ club with climbing wall and technology that incorporates the latest trends.

The first thing we do is take a look at our room. We are accommodated in a double room on the side of Bahnhofstrasse. The different floor plans posed challenges for the design and architecture firm responsible for the project, Kristian Gavoille & Valérie Garcia. But the result is convincing. Special about our room is the sloping roof with dark beams. I like it! The double rooms are spacious, so there is enough space to store all the packed winter clothes. In addition, there are extras such as tablets that can be used to control the lighting (and a lot more), powerful Marshall speakers and state-of-the-art Dyson hair dryers.

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Even more space and chic bathing corners can be found in the Junior Suites. And if the hotel room with balcony faces the Bahnhofstrasse, then the coveted view of the Matterhorn is also included in the room price.

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Cool & Cozy

While the rooms exude a pleasant tranquillity with warm tones and restrained furnishings, a colourful potpourri awaits you on the ground floor. The lobby, restaurant, bar area and lounge flow smoothly into each other. From 11 a.m., the Schweizerhof Kitchen is open continuously – not a matter of course in Zermatt, where many restaurants close in the afternoon. The pride of the kitchen: the barbecue and the pizza oven. The menu offers a nice mix of classics and regionally rooted creations. So I’m spoilt for choice as to whether I should try the Zermatt-style mountain beef tartare, the raclettissima or the cheese beef burger as a classic. The friend opts for the BBQ pizza – with a twist, as he confirms to me after the first bite.

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After dinner, you can either relax in one of the armchairs and read a book in peace and quiet, or relax in the hotel’s wellness area. The spa of the Schweizerhof Zermatt includes a large heated pool (which made us shiver a bit at first due to the warm air temperature), two saunas, a steam bath, Kneipp facilities and two whirlpools.

If you want to treat yourself to a special relaxation after a sporty day of skiing, I can recommend the massages. 50 minutes cost 150 francs – but it’s worth it! My tension in the neck area was noticeably relieved after the distressing signature massage.

The perfect day of skiing in the best ski area in the Alps

While we took a relaxed approach to the first day in Zermatt, took a close look at the hotel and relaxed in the wellness area, the wonderful weather lured us out of bed early on the second day. Have a quick breakfast, grab your skis and head up the mountain! The Schweizerhof Zermatt has its own rental service in the basement. In order to reduce the lugging, I had accordingly left my skis at home and only taken the ski boots with me. In no time at all, I get a matching pair of skis pressed into my hand and off I go. Conveniently, the Gornergratbahn is just around the corner.

Zermatt is regularly at the top of the podium in the rankings of the best ski resorts in the Alpine region. Deserved, I think. The 79 CHF for the day ski pass (on the Swiss side) is not a bargain, but it gives you 200 kilometres of slopes at altitudes up to over 3,800 m above sea level. We are amazed at how well people spread out on a Saturday and we don’t have to stand in a long queue anywhere. If, like us, you like to combine a day of skiing with a stop at a mountain hut, we recommend that you reserve your spot in advance. The tables at Chez Vrony, Findlerhof and Paradies are usually sought after. We chose paradise this time and didn’t regret it for a second – the view, the food – perfect!

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Zermatt Après-Ski Tipps: drink & dine around

If you follow the valley run to Zermatt from the Rothorn via Tuftern, you can’t miss the Cervo with its sun terrace. From 3:00 p.m. onwards, DJs and musicians will set the mood and are guaranteed to let you stay longer than you had actually planned. While we stay at the Cervo with a hot chocolate and iced tea, we later try the “not so soft” creations of the bar team at Schweizerhof Zermatt. The aperitif is followed by dinner at la Muña. In addition to the Schweizerhof Kitchen, the Schweizerhof has two other restaurants on offer. On the one hand, the Cheese Factory with typical Valais dishes and traditional Swiss fare, and on the other hand, the Peruvian, Japanese-inspired la Muña. As a fan of Peruvian cuisine, the decision is easy for me. And the ceviche is able to meet my high expectations. The fact that the house wine served with it comes from one of the most famous wineries in the Bordeaux region is also due to the new owner. Château Cos d’Estournel is part of the portfolio of entrepreneur Michel Reybier.

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In addition to the convincing culinary offer at the Schweizerhof Zermatt, there are of course plenty of equally great alternatives all around. Among our favorites are the 1818 Eat & Drink and the Cervo Puro.

Every time we visit, we pick at least one restaurant that we don’t know yet. This time our choice fell on the two Michelin-starred After Seven. You can choose between a 4-course, a 5-course or a 7-course menu. Unfortunately, the menu did not fully meet my gout. Too many show effects, too few solid flavor combinations. On the other hand, I find the wine accompaniment interesting, which, with the exception of a “port wine” from Vaud, focuses on Valais wines.

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Apart from that, this was again a thoroughly successful ski weekend in Zermatt. And if you are looking for a centrally located, uncomplicated and casual hotel with a touch of luxury, the Schweizerhof is a good choice.

More tips for your winter weekend in Zermatt

• Room rates start at 390 CHF per room/night including breakfast and access to the wellness area in the winter season.
• If you want to ski as many exciting slopes as possible in one day, follow the Matthorn ski safari.
• If you prefer a more leisurely pace, you can go on one of the numerous winter hiking trails. I particularly like the hike via Furi to Stafelalp or the Zermatt-Findeln-Sunnegga tour including a stop at Chez Vrony.
• In case of bad weather, a visit to the Matterhorn Museum Zermatlantis is worthwhile.
• Zermatt has dynamic ski pass prices. You can choose between the Zermatt / International ski pass and the cheaper beginner ski pass, which is limited to the Sunnegga area. You can find the current price information here: Zermatt ski pass prices

Note: Our winter weekend in Zermatt was supported by Schweizerhof Zermatt and Zermatt Tourism. All impressions and opinions are, as always, ours.