@paradise

The story

@Paradise Zermatt: Refined Mountain Cuisine with Matterhorn Views

The founders and the kitchen

Elia Zurbriggen trades his World Cup slalom gates for service at @Paradise Zermatt, a prominent destination for refined mountain cuisine. He shares the venture with longtime hostess Loredana and Austrian chef Markus Pössenberger, who assumed control of the kitchen in December 2023 after years managing high-end establishments across the region. Their approach to Alpine cuisine deliberately bridges familiar Valais traditions with unexpected international touches. Pössenberger sources local produce whenever possible while weaving in subtle foreign accents that echo childhood holidays or distant travels.

Signature dishes and seasonal preparation

The kitchen builds its reputation around deeply savory regional dishes prepared with precise technique. Tafelspitz anchors the menu, resting atop a rich broth clarified from twenty kilograms of veal bones and served alongside crisp Hasselback potatoes. Loredana insists that traditional dumplings receive a distinct local twist, stuffed with melted Valais cheese and finished with toasted walnut butter and aged Parmesan. Summer guests often gather for Monday barbecues, where Pössenberger himself tends the smoker to deliver freshly grilled specialties directly from the fire.

The terrace and mountain atmosphere

Dining unfolds primarily on a sunlit terrace positioned at 2,230 metres, offering uninterrupted sightlines toward the Matterhorn. The owners constructed the wooden decking themselves, creating a relaxed environment that attracts a loyal local crowd and earned a steady score of 13 from Gault&Millau. An exclusive corner table secured through Omega provides a prime vantage point, though standard bookings quickly fill the surrounding benches. Guests extending their stay beyond the mid-afternoon shift change simply reserve a five or seven course tasting menu.