The Omnia, Zermatt, Switzerland

The Omnia is Zermatt's most striking design hotel, perched on a rocky outcrop high above the car-free village, with views across the rooftops to the Matterhorn. Guests enter through a tunnel at street level and ride a lift up through the rock to the lobby, an arrival that sets the tone for a hotel that feels both hidden and spectacular. Inside, the style is calm, modern and warm, inspired by European and American mountain lodges.

Location: Zermatt, Switzerland

The hotel stands about 45 metres above the centre of Zermatt, on a rock above the village's main street, at around 1,600 metres in the canton of Valais. Zermatt is car-free, and visitors arrive by train from Täsch or Visp, connecting with services from Zurich, Geneva and Milan; the hotel arranges transfers from the station.

From its perch, the hotel looks out over Zermatt to the Matterhorn and the surrounding peaks, including the Rothorn, Stockhorn, Gornergrat and Monte Rosa. Zermatt's lifts, which link to around 360 kilometres of pistes including runs across the border into Italy, are a short walk or electric-taxi ride away.

Zermatt is one of the most famous mountain villages in the world, and also one of the most charming. Its car-free streets are lined with traditional dark-timber chalets and old storehouses on stone stilts, alongside luxury boutiques, restaurants and bars, and electric taxis and horse-drawn carriages carry visitors through the village.

Rooms and suites at The Omnia

The hotel has 30 rooms, including 12 suites, so it feels intimate and personal. Interiors are designed in white oak and grey granite, with minimalist, modular furniture, warm textiles and large windows that frame the mountains. Most rooms have private balconies with panoramic views.

Request a room facing the Matterhorn; the view from bed on a clear morning, with the peak glowing in the first light, is unforgettable. The suites add separate living areas and extra space for longer stays.

The design is a deliberate contrast to the traditional chalet style of most Zermatt hotels. Clean lines, a restrained palette and carefully chosen materials create a sense of calm, while custom-made furniture, fireplaces and soft lighting keep the atmosphere warm and inviting, particularly on winter evenings.

Facilities at The Omnia

The spa includes an indoor and outdoor pool, an outdoor whirlpool, a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath, a caldarium and a flower steam room, plus a relaxation room, fitness room and massage treatments. Swimming outdoors with the Matterhorn above you is a highlight.

The restaurant serves gastronomic breakfasts and modern, seasonal lunches and dinners, with a sun terrace for dining outdoors. There is also a lounge bar, a library and a striking glass-and-steel space known as the Cavern, ideal for evening drinks.

Service is personal and discreet, as befits a small hotel, and the staff can arrange ski guides, mountain guides, heli-skiing and restaurant bookings in the village, as well as lunches at Zermatt's celebrated mountain restaurants, which are among the best in the Alps.

The mountain moment

The defining Zermatt moment is the Matterhorn at sunrise, when the summit turns pink and gold above the still-dark village. From The Omnia's terrace or your balcony, you can watch it without leaving the hotel.

By day, ride the Gornergrat railway or the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car, the highest in Europe, for views across glaciers and dozens of 4,000-metre peaks, or ski across the border to Cervinia in Italy for lunch.

Why The Omnia is one of the best mountain hotels

The Omnia earns its place because it brings contemporary design, intimacy and spectacular views to one of the world's most famous mountain resorts. It is expensive, and its design-led style may feel cool to lovers of traditional chalets. But for those who want a calm, modern retreat with the Matterhorn on the horizon, it is one of the best addresses in Zermatt.

It also makes a fine partner to Riffelalp Resort 2222m, also in our collection: one on a rock above the village, the other on a sunny plateau high on the mountain, each offering its own perspective on the Matterhorn.

When to go to The Omnia

Zermatt's ski season runs from around late November to early May, with glacier skiing extending into summer. January to March offers the most reliable snow, and spring brings sunny days and long lunches on the slopes. Summer, from June to September, is superb for hiking, mountaineering and lake walks, with wildflowers in the high meadows. Check the hotel's seasonal opening dates, and book early for Christmas, New Year and February.