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August 11, 2017 By Hailey

5 Reasons Chez Vrony Is A Zermatt Must-Do

Zermatt is home to Switzerland’s most iconic mountain: The Matterhorn. With its croissant-shaped peak dramatically thrusting up into the sky, the mountain is absolutely magnetic. Visitors to Zermatt often let out a gasp of delight and awe when they catch their first glimpse of it. (Well, I certainly did!)

Although I had visited Zermatt this past winter, I still wanted to return in the summer and gaze upon the Matterhorn standing above a sea of green, instead of floating through layers of white. So, Justin, #BasiltheKooiker, and I made the cross-country journey to spend a long holiday weekend in the famous town of Canton Valais.

(Side note: The holiday was Swiss National Day, which is celebrated on August 1st to commemorate the brotherly oath that laid the foundation for the country in 1291… a history that you can follow while hiking The Swiss Path.)

Our Zermatt trip goals were simple: hike every day and have lunch at Chez Vrony.

While you can read about our hiking adventures in my next post, I have to put the spotlight on Chez Vrony today. Chez Vrony is one of the most popular restaurants and apero bars in Zermatt – and for many good reasons! In fact, I can think of FIVE reasons why Chez Vrony is a Zermatt Must Do.

1. A HISTORIC ESTABLISHMENT
Originally constructed in 1900, the story of Chez Vrony began as a summer home and farmhouse for the Julen family in the town of Findeln, a tiny hamlet on the eastern slopes above Zermatt. By the 1920s, the family opened up their home as a mountainside teahouse named Findelbord, which eventually evolved into a restaurant called the Alpenheim. When Vrony’s father August inherited “that old shed” in 1962, he invested heavily in the renovation and expansion of the restaurant, employing his three daughters and son Heinz to help run certain aspects of the business. Vrony and her husband Max took ownership of the restaurant in 1996, and they have elevated the simple mountain restaurant to become a gastronomical celebrity in its own right.

Chez Vrony began as a simple mountain home in the romantic hamlet of Findeln above Zermatt. (Photo provided by Max and Vrony.)
Max and Vrony wrote a book called Findelbord that chronicles the entire story of Chez Vrony and recounts astonishing details about the Julen family – like the fact that Vrony’s grandmother was the first local woman to summit the Matterhorn. You can get a sneak peak of Findelbord on their website!

2. DIVINE VISTAS
With an unobstructed view of the Matterhorn, Chez Vrony is in primo position for mountain gazing. Truly, the scenery is absolutely spectacular! Who wouldn’t want to sip on a tasty beverage with such an enchanting backdrop?

3. GREAT ATMOSPHERE
The restaurant is charming in every sense of the word. From comfortable wooden recliners on the outdoor patio and cozy dining nooks inside to the gorgeous table settings and gourmet fare, Chez Vrony is simultaneously informal and formal – inviting you to relax with friends while feeling a bit pampered. Vrony’s brother Heinz was behind the vision for the latest looks of the interior, a cozy, rustic charisma with a touch of the avant-garde.

Chez Vrony Interior
Chez Vrony Interior Design
Chez Vrony Rustic Mountain home

4. EXCELLENT FOOD & DRINK
Trust me when I say that not all Swiss dishes are created equal, and therefore, it’s super exciting to find a restaurant that presents Swiss food with flavor – such as Chez Vrony! Marked by their dedication to using local and organic products, Chez Vrony turns traditional Alpine dishes into gourmet cuisine. The food really is outstanding and award winning.

Justin and I began our lunch with two starters: the Emmental Beef Tartar on a toast medallion in a bowl of refreshing gazpacho and the “Bloody Mary Soup,” another tomato-based soup peppered with chunks of spicy lamb chorizo and topped with “basil froth.” They were simply superb.

Chez Vrony Goat Cheese Ravioli
Chez Vrony Burger Alpina

And our entrees were just as delicious. Justin ordered the Mountain-goat cheese ravioli in thyme-browned nut butter and caramelized Valais pear while I had the Vrony Burger – grilled Alpine beef from Findeln in a toasted Western-style bun with spicy chips. Both were satisfying in every sense of the word. If only we could have tried their desserts! Alas, Baby D is severely limiting my stomach space… I’ll just have to return to try the sweets another day :)

5. GREAT SERVICE
Finally, Chez Vrony is a standout establishment for its warm and friendly service. Max and Vrony Cotting-Julen set the standard for their staff, greeting and serving guests with a smile. Even when the place is packed to the brim, you are sure to feel welcomed.

The Chez Vrony Staff of Winter 2016/2017 season. (Photo from the Chez Vrony Facebook page.)

BEFORE YOU GO
The easiest way to reach Chez Vrony from Zermatt is to take the Sunnegga Funicular up the mountain. From the Sunnegga station, a pleasant stroll down the path towards Findeln, which remains open year-round, will bring you to your culinary destination. In the winter, skiers and boarders can also make their way over from the slopes.

How to reach Chez Vrony in Findeln. (Map from the Chez Vrony website.)

Given its mountainside location, Chez Vrony is only open during the day and has two seating times for lunch. If you want to have a meal here, I strongly recommend booking a table in advance, which you can do from the Chez Vrony website.

BONUS POINT!
Chez Vrony is featured in the 2015 edition of Where Chefs Eat: A Guide to Chefs’ Favorite Restaurants. Recommended by Swiss Chef Ivo Adam, I am obviously not the only one raving about this mouth-watering mountain destination!

SPECIAL THANKS
Justin and I had a spectacular meal at Chez Vrony that was blog-worthy from the beginning. Because I had made a reservation via email, Max had noticed my Global Heartbeat signature. After we had finished our meal and had just paid our bill, Max came over, ripped up the receipt, and informed our server to put the money back on our credit card. He then insisted on giving us a tour of the entire restaurant.

Max’s passion for his wife’s family history was obvious, and his generosity towards us was a surprising treat. We were happy to be paying guests, especially as the prices are actually great for the quality received. Therefore, you can believe me when I say that we would go back to Chez Vrony in a heartbeat and that my high regards for this establishment are genuine.

Without a doubt, a visit to Chez Vrony is a “must do” in Zermatt!


Hoi zame! Have you ever been to Zermatt? Do you recognize that famous peak? Have you ever tried Swiss cuisine? Doesn’t it just warm your heart to visit successful family-run establishments with a great and precious history?

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Hailey Domeck is a Southern girl with a Spanish heart and Swiss soul.

As a wife, mom, and travel addict, her love for mountains, fairy-tales, and great food keep her mind and heart always on the lookout for the next great adventure.

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💫 2020 - not about travel; all about family. 💫

#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow
For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the beauty of growing a child in the womb and then nurturing a precious newborn around the clock; the wild roller coaster of shepherding a toddler, whose contagious joy and  stubborn defiance make each day a challenge and a gift; the mundane tasks that help make a home feel warm and welcoming; and a bunch of other things. 

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#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow
📷: @whitneykeilman
Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circ Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circumstances, may you experience JOY in this holiday season and have HOPE  for a brighter year ahead. 

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#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow 

📷: @whitneykeilman
• T H A N K F U L • We are saying thanks for • T H A N K F U L • 

We are saying thanks for all things in life this week. It’s so easy to get stuck on either the big picture or the tiny details, but I believe it’s important to take it all in - like I did on this ridge overlooking #Manang Village last year while trekking the #AnnapurnaCircuit in #Nepal. 

Creating a culture of gratitude takes intentionality and discipline... and it’s especially not easy when babies and toddlers demand so much of you at all hours of the day and night. Yet, here we are at the start of the holiday season, and I’m choosing to be grateful for the whole lot. 

What are you thankful for this year?
Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳 I don’t have a Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳

I don’t have any big plans today (#newbornlife), but I’m recalling the joy of “Heidi Hailey” in the Himalayas last November. ☺️ Shout out to @thatdutchieguy for bringing his Polaroid camera on our #CreateConnectNepal journey... what a fun way to capture special moments, - like my favorite stretch of the #AnnapurnaCircuit in the #Manang District ❣️

What are you up to this weekend?
As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s j As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s just wild to me that on this date exactly one year ago, I was walking among giants and completed the most difficult hike of my life. 

On November 11, 2019, the #CreateConnectNepal team and I went up and over the Thorong La Pass. At 17,769 feet (5416m), this is the pinnacle of the Annapurna Circuit and one of the highest mountain passes in the world. The day began in the dark with a grueling 4+ hour ascent through snow-kissed trails and then required a fierce descent down a bone dry valley. It demanded everything of me. 

Yet, that day up and over Thorong La was just one part of my epic adventure in #Nepal last November. I am eternally grateful for that experience and cherish those memories dearly. I also miss those people a lot. ❣️
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