Located at 2,500 m above sea level, Riffelhaus 1853 offers panoramic views of the mountains around Zermatt from all rooms. Located right next to the ski slopes with ski-to-door access, it offers a traditional restaurant, a spa area, an outdoor hot tub with views of the Matterhorn, and free WiFi access.

History
In the mid-19th century, mountaineering began to grow in importance. Exploring the mountains – with many peaks being conquered for the first time – became the most fashionable sport during this period. Towards the end of the 19th century, the remote mountain village of Zermatt was an up-and-coming summer resort. Wealthy city-dwellers would withdraw, often for several weeks at a time, to this retreat in the mountains for their summer holidays.
Hotel Riffelhaus is living testimony to the golden age of mountaineering. Mountain climbing and hotel history were written here. The first team of climbers to ascend the Dufourspitze also set off from Hotel Riffelhaus in 1855 on their way to conquering Switzerland's highest mountain (4,634 metres above sea level).
The world's most famous mountaineers stayed at Hotel Riffelberg, which at that time was still called "Riffelhaus". Numerous portraits of mountain guides, depicting climbers from both the past and present, ensure that this tradition is omnipresent throughout the hotel.
Located in the middle of a beautiful ski and hiking region at almost 2,600 metres above sea level, the hotel situated on the Riffelberg has established a reputable name for itself over the course of more than 160 years and is known well beyond the mountain ranges of Valais. The entire hotel was renovated in 1982 and now has more than 60 beds.
With the comprehensive refurbishment of the hotel in 2014, the citizens of Zermatt have shown that they still believe in the power of this exceptional building and want to preserve and renew it in its natural surroundings, allowing guests from around the world to enjoy a unique experience with guaranteed snow for many years to come.

Rooms
The "new" Hotel Riffelhaus offers many inviting places to linger: in the lounge, the restaurant, the ski bar or, of course, the spa centre. When you first enter your room, you will be astonished at the level of design and comfort that has been put into the room, here in the heart of the mountains, using completely natural materials.

Restaurant
The menu contains the classic dishes: cheese fondue, Käseschnitte (cheese toast) and rösti. The rösti in Restaurant Riffelhaus is the favourite dish of many of the regular guests. The ingredients are simple: potatoes, salt, pepper and, if desired, onions, with the deluxe version having some bacon too – and that's it. However, preparing rösti at 2,500 metres above sea level is actually an art.

SPA
The expanded spa facilities are the perfect complement, both in winter and summer, to all outdoor activities around the Riffelhaus. As you soak in the warm waters of outdoor whirlpool, you might just catch your mind wandering to the sunny climes of Africa. That is no strange idea, but rather one directly inspired by the geology of the Matterhorn.