The 11 best restaurants in Zermatt

Zermatt is a dining destination in its own right, with more than 100 restaurants in the village and around 50 huts and restaurants dotted around the ski area, a number of which are Michelin starred. 

Gastronomy here is constantly evolving; sitting alongside the established, family-run favourites are new, modern eateries offering world cuisine as well as contemporary twists on Valaisan mountain classics. All serve as much locally sourced and organic produce as possible, with a strong emphasis on meat and cheese farmed locally, using sustainable farming practices passed down the generations.

Zermatt is a car-free town and has a very strong ethos on sustainability and reducing food waste. Every year, hoteliers meet to share best practices and some favourites include Hotel Bellerive’s policy of preparing sandwiches from breakfast buffet leftovers that are offered to guests for free. The Matterhorn glacier paradise restaurant at the top of the Klein Matterhorn at 3,838m holds the Minergie-P® certification, a quality level for low-energy consumption.

While sustainability matters, so does price and there’s no escaping the fact that dining with views of the Matterhorn is not cheap – but with a little exploration you can find options to suit most budgets. There is also the option to head over to Cervinia for a cheap and delicious plate of pasta for lunch. One last word of advice on eating out in Zermatt — even mountain restaurants get very busy so book well in advance when you can.

For further Zermatt inspiration, see our guides to the resort's best accommodation and après ski.

• In the resort
• On the mountain

Fine food in an uncomplicated setting is this restaurant’s strapline, and it consistently receives top reviews, making it a good splash out option for a special evening. Set on Zermatt’s lively main street, Potato promises to serve Valais and French cuisine sourced only within a radius of 99km — though we puzzlingly spy avocado on the menu in a couple of places. Three- and five-course set menus start from CHF129 (£114) and include such delicacies as Swiss shrimp and black garlic from Lausanne as well as leek, Swiss egg and liquorice followed by pork belly with polenta. Pescetarian options and wine pairings at an additional CHF60 (£53).

Price: £££
Contact: potatozermatt.com

This Michelin-starred restaurant is part of Backstage Hotel Zermatt offers another gourmet experience in the centre of town. Chef Florian Neubauer became the youngest chef in Europe to attain two Michelin stars by his early thirties and has worked with the likes of Heston Blumenthal and Tim Raue, cooking around the world and travelling every summer to source his ingredients. He says of the five- and six-course set menus “[it] is more than a meal — it’s an experience that engages all your senses”, featuring vegetable creations as well as expertly crafted meats, seafood and desserts costing CHF195 or CHF240 (£172/£212) with cheese extra. Local Valaisan and international wine pairings are available.

Price: £££
Contact: backstagehotel.ch

Complete with its own Josper Grill (a type barbecue), 1818 Eat Drink promises to take diners on a culinary journey through South America. One of five bars and restaurants in the centrally located Hotel Monte Rosa, 1818 is open six nights a week serving up a diverse offering of cuisines from spicy flavours of the Andes to the smoky grills of Argentina — with some modern influences. There’s meat, cheese and seafood, but also grilled vegetables and tasty tapas and sharing plates — the chicharron (crispy pork belly) and posta Negra (braised short ribs with purple potato) are favourites. Chefs work in an open kitchen and bright décor completes the atmosphere that transports skiers away from Zermatt and the ubiquitous Swiss cheese.

Price: £££
Contact: monterosazermatt.ch

Simple Italian fare — antipasti, pizza, pasta, grilled fish and meat — is the order of the day in this popular spot in the centre of Zermatt. There are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, and service is speedy and waiting staff friendly and attentive. The atmosphere grows more lively as the evening wears on — Grampi’s is only open in the evenings (from 6pm) and as a bar, too, it remains open until 2am, so it’s not the spot if you’re looking for a quiet and romantic meal. Prices aren’t cheap — pizzas cost an average CHF28 (£25) and mains CHF35-40 (£30-35) but this is Switzerland. Just don’t forget to book.

Price: ££
Contact: grampis.ch

There are two iterations of the Saycheese! Restaurant, one at the top of the Gornergrat (at 3,100m) the other in the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, a five-star property in the centre of town. Both serve variations on the world-famous classic cheese dishes of raclette and fondue, with a special (some might say “cheesey”) Toblerone fondue for dessert, served with fresh fruit and gummy bears. Prices are very reasonable for Zermatt and Switzerland, plates of Valais dry-cured meats and sausage for CHF12 and raclette at CHF11 (around £10). Fondues start at CHF28 (£25).

Price: £
Contact: zermatterhof.ch

Set in the hamlet of Zum See, at 1,766m on an old mule trail that once linked Switzerland and Italy via the Theodul Pass, the Zum See restaurant in a 350-year-old chalet is a must-visit on any trip to Zermatt. Owners Markus and Marion Mennig offer a homely atmosphere and simple but tempting Swiss and Mediterranean dishes — think hearty salads, rosti, pasta as well as meat and fish dishes — best enjoyed on its large, sunny balcony with views of the Matterhorn. Zum See is open for lunches every day and evenings for special occasions, booking is advised. 

Price: ££
Contact: zumsee.ch

After it was destroyed by fire in April 2018, the Stafelalp reopened in December 2021 to the relief of its loyal clientele. While slightly out of the way at 2,200m, reached by skiing down from Schwarzsee to Furi, this former mountain hut remains a firm Zermatt staple, with incredible close-up views of the north face of the Matterhorn. The restaurant was rebuilt using floor-to-ceiling windows so skiers can make the most of the vista even from the inside — though it is closed on bad-weather days so check before you go. Favourite dishes include potato truffle soup and Rösti Stafelalp, made with pulled beef and horseradish sour cream. More adventurous options include Korean beef short ribs and wagyu entrecote with shitake mushrooms.

Price: ££
Contact: matthiol.ch/en/stafelalp-zermatt

A grand and handsome mountain hut with cheerful bright red shutters and red and white checked curtains, Fluhalp sits at 2,606m below the Rothorn. A warren of cosy little wood-panelled rooms and bedrooms offer overnight stays to climbers and hikers during the summer. Soups, pastas and salads – including a great saffron and scallop tagliatelle – come in satisfying portions at reasonable prices, along with the ubiquitous cheese fondue and rösti. The large terrace has a view of the most perfect aspect of the Matterhorn, with a live band during the winter.

Price: ££
Contact: fluhalp-zermatt.ch

Chez Vrony has been owned and run by the same family for more than 100 years. Now run by Vrony herself, this charming wood and slate chalet sits in the small hamlet of Findeln, just below the Sunnegga funicular top station with more fantastic views of the Matterhorn. 

Beautifully and cosily decorated with sheepskins, heavy wool soft furnishings, vast chandeliers and tables scattered with pinecones, booking well in advance here is strongly recommended — even for the large and sunny terrace. The restaurant uses its own organic products from animals fed only on mountain grass, with recipes passed down the generations. Food is rustic, classic and outstanding — the Vrony burger tops the bill for many diners, along with succulent pork loin and shredded Valaisan veal.

Price: ££
Contact: chezvrony.ch

Known to those in the know as Franz and Heide’s, the Findlerhof is one of three restaurants in Findeln on the lower slopes of the Rothorn just below the Sunnegga funicular top station. Family run and oh-so-friendly with a south-west facing balcony, this is a popular spot serving such local favourites as air-dried beef and Valaisan cheeses along with hearty but beautifully presented pasta and risotto dishes as well as succulent local meats. Some vegan and vegetarian options are available, too.

Price: £££
Contact: findlerhof.ch

Sitting in a sunny spot beside the Sunnegga-Findeln piste, Adler-Hitta has a young vibe, with live DJs on the terrace and “rave and taste” sessions that create an atmosphere of a Mediterranean beach club. Food is hearty with specialities including grilled chicken, spätzli (a chewy, dumpling type of pasta typical of this region) and homemade chocolate brownies. The young team keep Adler Hitta running smoothly and efficiently, closing only when the ski lifts close for the day.

Price: ££
Contact: adler-hitta.ch

Every restaurant in this curated list has been expertly chosen by our ski expert, following years of experience on the slopes. We cover a range of budgets, from piste-side huts to Michelin-starred restaurants – to best suit every skier’s taste – and consider the food, service, best tables, atmosphere and price in our recommendations, with options both in the resort and on the mountain. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest opening and provide up to date recommendations.

Abigail Butcher has travelled the globe with her skis from Greenland to Siberia, Chile, Japan, South Korea and extensively across Europe. She qualified as a ski instructor in 2016 and loves nothing better than ski touring in the remote backcountry.