If l’aprés ski is your sport, Sunegga Paradise is the place to be. This was our slope of choice on our final day, in just 3 minutes, the Sunegga Express, a underground finicular rockets you from Zermatt to 2,288 meters above sea level. We had a few places on our list we had yet to visit, but cruising around, I noticed a few places that were worthy of another visit! At the top of our list was the restaurant Findlerhof in the hamlet of Findlen.
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It was at this location, years ago that I was first introduced to the art of l’aprés ski. Back then, this location was called Enzo’s Hitta. Mr. Splendid had read about it in a travel magazine {good at his restaurant research, that one}. We went up and down the slopes several times asking for directions to this curious sounding establishment. Finally, we saw a sign, the words ENZO’S HITTA and an arrow were splashed onto broken board that was sticking out of the snow.
A fixed line invited us to rappel down a small slope in between the ancient farmhouses in the hamlet. Once we got to the bottom and shed our ski’s we walked out onto the most amazing deck. The view of the Matterhorn looked like a painting. A giant silver bowl was packed with magnums of champagne and wine. Weathered tables and benches were dotted with puffy stacks of bright colored blankets. Then there was the food… fresh, bright, delicious Italian cuisine, I still remember the marvelous al dente pasta with prawns I inhaled there so many years ago!!
The current owners, Franz and Heidi have added an enclosure to the deck, it may take away a little of the rustic charm I recall, but I am sure these aesthetics are a distant concern on a chilly, windy day. This restaurant is very highly rated for their high quality, traditional, rustic cuisine. If I find my way to Findlen again, I would love to lunch here.
But Mr. S and I were mostly there just to see if the place still existed and to take a little slip down memory lane. By the time we found it and had rappelled down that same little slope, we were happy to at least have time for a quick drink before we had to catch the last chair up the valley, to be able to ski back down to Zermatt.
I indulged in a hot chocolate with brandy that was absolutely amazing! Maybe it was just the joy of finding this restaurant again, a place that I have been thinking about for years, that made it taste so good; or maybe it was the cozy, boisterous, wooden cavern in which we were sitting; or maybe it was the delightful contrast of the thick, cold freshly whipped cream on my face lips {it was a generous dollop} and the hot rich drink in the mug warming my hands; or maybe it was truly just the drink; whatever it was, I think that it was perhaps the most delicious beverage I’ve ever encountered!
Up the hill, the deck at Chez Vrony was sunny and lively, but we didn’t have time to join in the fun.
FYI, the restaurant Enzian is sandwiched between Chez Vrony and Findlerhof, it’s a more casual spot with a smaller menu, but a nice little option if you’re unable to get into the other two highly rated restaurants {and don’t you love their sky blue sign?} in the hamlet.
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We rushed to catch the last chair up to the top of the Sunnegga lift. Then, winding down the cat track, with an international team of fellow skiers, we were tempted by a few sunny decks, including Othmar’s Skihutte and Restaurant Ried,
but were determined to hold out for the Champagne Bar,
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and Cervos.
Cervos is a very nice big hotel and restaurant conveniently located up on the slope with an elevator down to the village and to the Sunegga ski lift.
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Every afternoon their deck is swinging with a fun band and plenty of patrons enjoying the last rays of the day.
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To learn about more fun spots to sip on this slope, click on Probably the Longest Aprés Ski Run in the World to find that article in the magazine Zermatt Times.
How fabulous!! My biggest problem is that I'm a terrible skier. I don't think I'd make it down after a spiked hot chocolate. But I'm loving living vicariously through your more athletic exploits!
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