Zermatt 2019/20

How we got there: Please see our Zurich post for getting to Zurich. Once in Zurich the Intercity train will get you to Visp in about 2 hours. A train change will be required at that point. We had 6 minutes to make our connection and did so without a problem. The second train ride is a scenic one hour ride right into Zermatt center. You can buy all tickets online prior to the journey.Insider Tip: The trains do get crowded and if you are traveling with ski's, boot bags and luggage you should be prepared for a bit of a hustle and some physical labor. The connection to the local train to Zermatt also required an expeditious platform change so I would recommend giving yourself a bit more time. If you have the means booking first class may make things a bit less chaotic; that being said unlike many other countries first class tickets are significantly more expensive.[wpvideo 81pWv5Ni ]Arriving in Zermatt: Zermatt is a car free zone and the only means of transportation is a regulated number of e-taxis and e-buses. Most hotels will arrange pick up for you and this is highly recommended.Booking your stay: Despite booking very early for this trip most hotels were already fully booked. Additionally if you are booking around the holiday time Christmas/New Years a 7 night minimum is required at most hotels. Rule of thumb if you are thinking of Zermatt plan as early as possible!Where we stayed: Maison Matthiol: a boutique hotel that had great reviews on trip advisor and more importantly availability for Christmas and New Years. The hotel is located about 20 minutes from the city center by foot. The room we chose was simple but welcoming with a nice balcony. The hotel staff is young, friendly and helpful. The property has a wellness center with a small gym, multiple saunas, a steam room and an outdoor jacuzzi. A ski room and locker for your boots allows for a seamless transition into ski mode. The hotel had a Restaraunt Filet et Fils known for their outdoor igloo fondue experience. Additionally a small but cozy bar area sits just adjacent to reception and the restaraunt and is a great place to just relax.A great perk of this hotel is the ability to ski in and out through a groomed pathway down to the first lift and a more substantial trail #43 right to the back or the hotel.https://matthiol.ch/en/[wpvideo IXoKhCcg ][wpvideo 5iMGtxPj ]The cons: The hotel is located about 20 minutes from the town and while there is a public bus about a 5 minute walk from the hotel the service terminates relatively early leaving you with a bit of a walk and /or taxi service (about 25 dollars). The room was simple and there are some more design driven properties in town.Skiing: where to begin! The skiing is phenomenal! The beauty of this mountain is unparalleled to the point that sometimes you wonder if any of it is real. The Matterhorn is visible from almost any vantage point. We purchased our ski pass in advance online and it offered access to all high speed gondolas, chairlifts and trams within the Zermatt system. The ski pass also allows you to cross over neighboring Italy where you can fully enjoy the entire Cervinia ski resort (just be sure to get back before the lifts close). The lifts are outstanding with the most modern technology I have seen. In short the visual beauty and dream of a ski experience will set a high standard for any of your future adventures.Insider Tip: The mountain has a great app that allows you to navigate to any point and more importantly find your way home! The app has train information and lift opening and closures in real-time in addition to dining etc.https://apps.apple.com/us/app/skiguide-zermatt/id1079386338[wpvideo 9oFblu6q ]ITALY: CERVINIA[wpvideo imSGg0ss ]When to eat: For lunch target your reservations around 1:30 so you do not have to rush to get there. In some instances the venues on the slopes can be over an hour away depending on where you are coming from. For dinner target thr 8/8:30 seating as this will give you some time to unwind and hit the spa and also seems to be more in sync with Swiss dinner time.Where to Eat: I cannot stress this enough but the reality is that if you want to get the hotspots both for lunch on the mountain on the Zermatt and/or Italian side and for dinners in general; advanced reservations are an absolute must!There are plenty of Restaurants to Choose from and below you will find the ones we were able to secure tables for. LUNCHLunch reservations are all the craze on the mountains and getting to the hot spots is half the battle.Simi: think warm and cozy, this classic slope side Restaraunt is a great spot for relieving those tired feet. I would highly recommend the veal schnitzel it was DELICIOUS! This venue is located not too far from the Furi gondola station.Stafelalp: From the owners of the Matthiol hotel this establishment literally rose from the ashes after a terrible fire. The decor is crisp and inviting in a modern Swiss way. The menu offers dishes that range from steak tartare to the divine superfood salad. We ended up coming here twice! Would highly recommend.Fluhalp: a wonderful pit stop for lunch do try to request a table outside the view of the Matterhorn was stunning. The liver mousse salad is a must! [wpvideo pOjrgeHr ]Chez Vrony: think of this as the Ivy of the slopes. Nestled in the most picturesque area of the mountain; you must not miss this hot spot. The food was delicious, and most importantly not overpriced. We could have sat there for hours. I would most certainly have come here twice if time would have permitted. The Vrony burger was delicious![wpvideo 44xJjXeC ]Lunch in Italy..Abslolutely: While we never made it to our target restaraunt Chale Étoile I would still recommend this placed based on feedback from others and of course recent celebrity spottings. We did however make it to the cutest restaraunt called Pousset. The welcoming interior paired well with delicious traditional Italian food! I highly recommend the Pizza, Cacio e Pepe and the Tiramisu was one of the best I have had. Rumor has it people call in advance to reserve the Tiramisu. DINNERSay Cheese: we decided that there is no better way to start a Swiss adventure than with fondue. Tucked inside the classic Zermatterhorf hotel Say Cheese is a small modern venue that specializes in fondue. The food was delicious, ambiance was great and I would most certainly come back here.Insider tip: Ask for a table in the main dining room when you make your reservation as there is a smaller more claustrophobic section. Lastly if you haven't immersed yourself in a pure cheese dining experience before its best to choose a more mild flavored fondue. Chez Heini: Known for their lamb the first thing that will strike you is the eclectic decor. The prix fix menu was great and the highlights were the lamb and the Foie Gras and we would certainly come back!Waldhaus: Closer to our hotel we discovered this quaint traditional venue with tons of local flare. The food was delicious and our must haves included the barley soup and schnitzel.After 7: This two Michelin star Restaraunt offers a high end feast. The 5 course tasting menu was delicious and the detail in both the food delivery and design were outstanding. Make sure you give yourself a few hours for this experience. We sat on the couch which was the last available seat even with reserving in advance; though I really loved being able to stretch out and move around a bit more between courses.[wpvideo yPemi7pu ]Restaraunt Sonnmatten: also located slightly uphill from the town DO NOT let the distance keep you away. The prix fix menu was outstanding from beginning to end and the veal was one of the best we had ever eaten.Fillet et Fils: this was the restaraunt at our own hotel Maison Matthiol. While the food was good it did not wow us as many of the other places we had visited. They do offer a unique igloo fondue experience though the fondue was far better at say cheese (see above).[wpvideo PpRz4jFN ]CHILL SPOTS SLOPE SIDEIce Bar: located at the top of the matterhorn express the ice bar is a great place to grab a drink and a tan! When the weather is nice there is a perfect set up of seats outside that allow you to drink and just soak up the sun.[wpvideo iT6NpRd6 ]Art Bar: this cute bar has a Bohemian meets Harley Davidson fanatic vibe but its understated character draws you in. Staff are extremely friendly and you have your choice of Lager, Glühwein, hot chocolate or tea. This is also conveniently located along slope 43 that lets you ski in to some of the chalets outside of town.[wpvideo oZYWNjVe ]