The Allure of Cervo Zermatt
Lately, the hotel I get invited to last becomes my all time favorite! Don’t get me wrong, I still love all the ones before but somehow the last always ends up taking precedence! This time, it’s all about Cervo the most talked about resort in Zermatt, a charming car-free village tucked in the Swiss Alps, 3.5 hours from Zürich – perfect location for a weekend gateway.
Those in quest for relaxation will find their bliss and those who want to be active will find ample activities to pick from. Whether you go in the winter or summer, there is plenty to do and see. To begin with, Zermatt is right beneath the king of all mountains, the iconic and majestic Matterhorn. It is also home to countless number of bars, restaurants and nightclubs which one can indulge in after a long day of skiing or hiking.
First Impressions: Arrival in Zermatt
The ride there was absolutely breathtaking. Every little village, every corner we passed had its own personality and undeniable charm. Luckily the weather was also on our side. The sun shining and temperatures rising. In all honesty I was expecting to arrive to a desolate village where a few locals hung out. Imagine my surprise when upon arrival we had to wait for a while before we could freely move around. The town was packed with tourists from all over the world, all ages and creeds.
We got picked up at the train station with a huge smile. Upon arrival to Cervo, we got greeted with even more smiles by a young and dynamic staff, who seemed genuinely happy to be there. The check-in process was really sweet. Instead of having us fill out forms like we would normally do, they walked us to the outdoors terrace with a glass of bubbly. We got to enjoy the mountainous air while getting into the nitty gritty of things. That is what I call a warm welcome! And that was just the beginning!
Accommodation: The NOMAD S Experience
Our room was called NOMAD S. It’s cosy, understated and super comfortable. Not to mention the mountain views which I got lost in every morning upon waking up.
Gastronomic Delights
Madre Nostra
Our first dinner was a total surprise and actually it was the kind of surprise that kept on giving, over and over and over again! I honestly had no expectations prior to our meal. My personal requirements were no meat and no sugar (the rest of the crew ate everything!)
Let me tell you that Madre Nostra merits its all its accolades and more, in my opinion. The dishes were small and combined elegantly different colors, textures and ingredients. I was delighted to see how creative the Chef was, given the boundaries he had to work with. Towards the end, as no one was paying attention, I subtly opened my pants to make room for more! My stomach was satiated but clearly my brain was not! It was simply too good not to indulge fully.
What makes Madre Nostra so special is not only their menu but their philosophy around the ingredients they use – fresh from the local market and sustainably produced.
An Evening of Gin Tasting at Ferdinand
As I was getting ready for our Gin tasting, I expected to meet a very cool mixologist at the bar of the hotel. I truly didn’t expect to be surprised the way I was. Entering Ferdinand is like entering an old American speakeasy in the 20’s, somewhere mid-town Manhattan.
A short door (even to my standards!) opened to a moody, sexy, sultry bar. The lights were dim, the decor minimalist and the energy high, not to mention the cool beats playing in the background. Our mixologist shared his tricks but more importantly his Gins! So many brands and types I had never heard of, not that I am a connoisseur. I’m not a huge fan of Gin but being there led itself to enjoying the moment and trying new things.
Needless to say we ran behind schedule and arrived at our dinner table slightly tipsy … but ready!
Side note: this was the only time the hotel let anyone post pictures of Ferdinand. They are very strict about keeping it exclusive and mysterious.
La Piscina – New Pop-up Restaurant Opens Its Doors on December 7th 2024
“La Piscina” opens its doors from 7 December 2023 to 4 February 2024 in the former Hotel Sunstar, now known as “Rising Sun”. Look forward to Italian home style cuisine by Gaia and Silvia in a unique setting – the hotel’s former swimming pool.
Book your table now if you want to enjoy an Italian 4-course menu in the most stunning atmosphere.
Exploring Nature: The Five Lakes Hike
The Cervo organized a beautiful hike around the five lakes. They went as far as preparing us a small picnic bag to keep us alive and happy.
I cannot think of words that would describe perfectly the vastness, diversity and beauty of the nature that surrounded us. For example, how often can you see one mountain being reflected in 3 different lakes? (this is the case with the Matterhorn)
The hike was easy and took us about 3 hours to complete with many stops. We took in all the energy and beauty we could – each of the lakes were quite different and unique in the experience they offered.
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Great article, Ariane. I love Zermatt. 😍 Lots of love from Germany, Amrei