Many Zermatt visitors take lunching seriously. In fact lots of ski days (and even weeks) revolve around specific restaurants. It’s worth planning your lunches and making reservations at the more popular restaurants. But with so many to choose from there is always somewhere to get in.
Whether you choose a restaurant for it’s gastro accolades (several of them even win gastronomy points in the Gault & Millau guide), a sun-drenched terrace boasting stunning views of the iconic Matterhorn, or a lively atmosphere with live music, there is something to suit everyone’s tastes.
Go to the directory to browse through the restaurants and see their locations or check out our lists below.
If you are looking for high gastronomy on the mountain then this is the resort to come skiing. To make the criteria for this list we have added the restaurants mentioned in the Michelin or Gault & Millau guides.
All the restaurants here are sought after lunch spots and you generally need to reserve in advance.
Zermatt sits just a cable car ride from Italy, and that proximity shows up beautifully on the plate. The Italian restaurants here are a cut above your typical ski resort pasta, think regional cooking, generous antipasti, and wine lists that do justice to the food.
Whether you’re looking for a long, lazy lunch or a quick bowl of something warming mid-run, these are the spots we find ourselves coming back to season after season.
Non-skiers needn’t miss out on Zermatt’s legendary mountain lunches. Thanks to the extensive lift system, many of the best restaurants on the mountain are just as accessible to walkers and sightseers as they are to skiers. It’s one of the things that makes Zermatt so good for mixed-ability groups, everyone can end up at the same sun-drenched terrace with a raclette and a glass of Fendant!
Sometimes you just want to get in, fuel up, and get back on the mountain and Zermatt’s self-service restaurants do that job brilliantly.
Don’t let the format fool you; the food quality here is well above what you’d expect. Grab a tray, pick your spot on the terrace, and enjoy the views while the lifts keep running. Perfect for families, bigger groups, or anyone who’d rather spend more time skiing than waiting for a table.
The skiing might stop, but the day doesn’t have to. Zermatt’s après ski scene ranges from cosy mountain huts serving glühwein or champagne as the last runs wind down, to livelier bars in town that keep going well into the evening. Whether you want to nurse a beer with your boots still on or clean up and hit a proper cocktail bar, there’s a version of après ski here for everyone.
Book your table for lunch. Preferably the night before, definitely first thing in the morning. Just rocking up is unlikely to work in the more popular spots.
On busy days, most places have two sittings, at 1200 and 1400, so don’t be disappointed if you can’t get a table at 1300.
Once a restaurant is booked, try your best to be on time, and call if you are running late.
