Restaurant Schäferstube was one of the dinners I most looked forward to in Zermatt. The wood-grilled lamb, warm wooden room and walk through town with glimpses of the Matterhorn made the evening feel closely tied to the place.
Location and reservations
Address: Riedstrasse 2, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland
Restaurant: Schäferstube at Tradition Julen
Current menu and reservations: official Schäferstube website
We booked through Google Maps before our visit. The room filled up around dinner, so I would reserve rather than rely on finding a table on arrival. Check the restaurant’s official page for current service times, availability and menu prices.
Walking through Zermatt
We followed the streets with views of the Matterhorn appearing between the buildings. The walk did not take us long, and it became part of the memory of dinner rather than simply a way of getting there.
The entrance had the traditional Alpine character I had hoped for. It was an appealing first impression after walking through town.
Inside the chalet-style dining room
Warm wood, a large cowbell and rustic details made the room feel like an old Alpine chalet. I preferred that character to a more formal or modern dining room. We could also see some of the kitchen activity while waiting for the food.
Bread was already on the table when we settled in. The setting felt cozy, and it suited the kind of unhurried Swiss dinner we wanted.
What we ordered
We chose grilled rack of lamb, raclette and wine. The lamb was described on the menu as cooked pink over the wood grill, with potato gratin and vegetables.
The wood-grilled lamb
The lamb was the highlight. It was tender and juicy, with a pink center and much less gamey flavor than I had worried about. The grill added a roasted flavor that worked particularly well with the creamy potato gratin.
Personally, I enjoyed it even more than a steak I had eaten in Paris. That comparison is entirely about my own meal, but it captures how much I liked the dish. The vegetables and potatoes also helped make the plate feel complete.
Raclette and wine
We also had raclette and wine alongside the lamb. Moving between the meat, melted cheese and sides made the dinner feel varied without needing a long tasting menu.
Visit-time prices and our bill
My original notes recorded CHF 69 for the Classic lamb option and CHF 98 for the bill shown in the photograph. Those notes do not make the exact per-person or per-course pricing clear enough to use as a current budget quote. Check the photographed bill for our meal and the official menu for today’s pricing.
I felt satisfied with the food and atmosphere for what we paid. Zermatt is not where I expect a low-cost restaurant dinner, so my assessment was about the experience as a whole.
Would I go back?
Yes, especially for the lamb and wooden dining room. I would book ahead, look over the current menu and leave enough time to enjoy the walk through town. The views on the way and the cozy setting both contributed to a memorable evening.
More first-hand travel reviews
For another European stay from our travels, see our Catalonia Plaza Catalunya hotel review in Barcelona. For a different memorable restaurant meal, read our Sushi Yuu Otaru lunch review.
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