CERVO Mountain Resort – a hunting-lodge dream above Zermatt

On the wooded hillside above Zermatt, where the piste runs out almost at the front door, CERVO Mountain Resort was built from a hunter's dream rather than a hotelier's blueprint. As the son of a passionate hunter, Daniel F. Lauber inherited the original concept, wanting the charm of the Alps and the style of hunting lodges worked into a modern design, and with Seraina Lauber he opened the CERVO Mountain Boutique Resort at the end of 2009. A decade later, in December 2020, the resort reopened with a new concept and expanded lodges, reshaped with mls Architekten and the interior designers at Dreimeta. Today the property comprises 54 rooms and suites spread across seven lodges in forest clearings beneath the Matterhorn. The MICHELIN Guide awards CERVO Mountain Resort Two Keys, recognising a place where hunting-lodge materials, Valais tradition and real ski-in/ski-out access replace the usual grand-hotel formula.

01The house

In two phases of construction, five chalets and a restaurant were initially built, giving Zermatt a new highlight when CERVO opened. A sixth chalet and the new restaurant Ferdinand followed in 2013 and 2014. Set on the eastern hillside above the village, surrounded by evergreen forest, the resort still has a remote feel despite sitting only a short lift ride from the centre. The 2020 redesign kept close to the founding brief: timber from the region and granite flooring from the Alps, high-quality materials deployed without seeking to impress. Bedspreads and curtains are linen, and in most rooms the walls carry a cladding of braided linen, part of a warm, earth-toned palette set against the usual alpine-chalet clichés.

02Rooms and suites

The 54 rooms and suites fall into three lodge categories, Nomad, Alpinist and Huntsman, each its own small world, plus the serviced apartments of the Overlook Lodge, a short walk from the main resort. Nomad rooms are the four-star base camps for explorers; Alpinist suites, five-star, come with their own bar; the Huntsman lodge, set slightly above the rest, holds suites with private saunas and gyms and the option of renting the whole lodge with private catering. All accommodation looks out onto the surrounding mountains, and CERVO is one of only two Swiss hotels fitted throughout with Hästens beds. Interiors run in natural beige, grey and wood tones, finished with nostalgic touches such as books, rucksacks and an old rotary telephone, and no televisions at all - a deliberate invitation to unplug.

Insider tip

Zermatt is car-free: leave the car in Täsch, take the shuttle train, then transfer up to CERVO.

03Where to eat

Bazaar is the heart of CERVO, where explorers, locals and modern nomads meet in a relaxed room inspired by the markets of the Orient, unique in Zermatt. The all-day restaurant serves breakfast before turning into a cocktail lounge, with vegetarian and vegan dishes and matcha drinks created by head barista Ibrahim Chalitovič. At Madre Nostra, Italian cooking is served with attention to the finest detail in an elegant alpine room, its pasta, grilled dishes and trimmings sourced directly from the region - a genuine highlight in Zermatt, led by Roman-born executive chef Davide Cretoni. Ferdinand, meanwhile, keeps to Valais tradition, with fondue and raclette made from local products served in a sleek, modern chalet room.

04The bar

Beyond the three restaurants, CERVO keeps two more rooms for drinking. Grapes & Juniper sits behind a discreet door off the cellar's arched vaults, a wine and spirits room for guests who go looking for it. Given the ski-in/ski-out position, the hotel is a natural après-ski stop, and its terrace is busy on fine afternoons as skiers come straight off the final run.

05Spa and wellbeing

The Ātman Mountain Spa draws on traditions well beyond the Alps: a Japanese-style onsen, a Bhutanese hot-stone bath and a Nordic-style sauna sit alongside Mongolian yurts and a ritual room built for mindfulness practice. Yoga and meditation balance the more physical pursuits, releasing energy and renewing enthusiasm for the world beyond the resort. Surrounded by peaks and alpine air, the spa claims some of the best Matterhorn views of any wellness space in Zermatt, in service of strengthening body, mind and soul alike. A climbing wall and gym sit close by for guests who prefer their reset more active.

06The neighbourhood

Zermatt is car-free, so the journey to CERVO starts with a train: visitors leave vehicles in Täsch and take the shuttle that runs every twenty minutes into the village. CERVO's position is a genuine ski-in/ski-out one, letting guests step onto the slopes in winter and head straight into the mountains in summer. The Gornergrat railway is around ten minutes away, and the hotel's own lift connects directly with the Sunnegga funicular, while the village centre and its shops lie a steep but scenic walk below.

07Making the most of a stay

More than 90% of the resort's energy comes from geothermal and solar sources, and food and other supplies are sourced within a 150-kilometre radius wherever possible. In October 2026 the restaurants kept seasonal hours: Madre Nostra for lunch, snacks and dinner daily, Bazaar from breakfast through to dinner, and Ferdinand open Wednesday to Sunday evenings only. Book the Madre Nostra terrace ahead in clear weather - reason enough on its own for the walk up from the village.

For a weekend. For a lifetime.