Adler Hitta: a little piece of home between the Matterhorn and Adlerhorn
Some places are more than just a restaurant. They are a way of life, a home – for guests as well as for the people who run them. The Adler Hitta in Findeln is a perfect example. Anyone who stops here can sense it immediately: you can feel its heartbeat.
The Adler Hitta restaurant has stood right on the border between the majestic Matterhorn and the striking Adlerhorn since 1978. The history of this special mountain restaurant is inextricably linked to two people: Thesi and Ugi Zumtaugwald. They run the Adler Hitta, together with their daughter Sarina and a strong team. As a guest, you can feel the special team spirit. The Adler Hitta is not just a workplace for them; it's a home - in every respect.
From chalet to cult restaurant
“The restaurant was originally a small chalet owned by my parents, Adi and Marianne,” says Ugi. Almost 50 years ago, they came up with the idea of converting the cosy chalet into a restaurant. “The living room became the restaurant, the bedroom became the kitchen. And the water we needed? That came with a garden hose directly from a spring above the Leisee.” Ugi and Thesi took over management of the restaurant in 1996. From modest beginnings it has developed into one of the hippest spots in Zermatt over the last few decades – a place with a real buzz.
The close connection between the Zumtaugwalds and their Adler Hitta restaurant is also evident in the special moments of their lives. When Thesi and Ugi got married, they had an unusual addition to their gift list: a snow cannon. “We wanted to be able to make snow on our own ski run to the restaurant,” says Thesi. “The cannon was pink – so we called it Miss Piggy.”
Good food meets music and atmosphere
A former cattle pasture, Findeln is one of the culinary Meccas of Zermatt’s mountain restaurants. The small sun-drenched hamlet above Zermatt is home to five restaurants. The Adler Hitta is best known for its legendary “Mistkratzerli” – the chicken from the outdoor grill that Ugi created in his first winter season in 1996/97. “I wanted to make something that people wouldn’t just like but would really look forward to. Today, we can't imagine the Adler Hitta without the Mistkratzerli,” says Ugi, although he is proud of the whole menu.
“The Adler Hitta is much more than just good food,” adds daughter Sarina, who is responsible for events and marketing at the Adler Hitta. “It's a place where food, music and atmosphere come together to create something special. In winter, the Hitta is located directly on the ski run – a perfect stop-off for unforgettable experiences and fantastic descents. “We want our guests to feel like they're visiting friends,” says Sarina. Alongside good food, the Adler Hitta team focus on creating memories – whether with live DJs, cool events like the legendary waterslide contest or simply the unique panoramic view.
Summer in the Adler Hitta
Located slightly off the main hiking trail, the Adler Hitta is a special insider tip in summer. When Ugi and Thesi travel to the Mediterranean in summer, they create a connection with the mountains. They were the first to bring the music, flair and relaxed atmosphere of the Mediterranean region to Zermatt – transforming the Adler Hitta into a summer oasis during the warmer months.
Head chef Florian Reichert and restaurant manager Melanie Keller take over the management of the Adler Hitta during this time. They ensure that guests feel completely at home with a smaller menu featuring lots of regional delicacies, including a cheese fondue from the Horu cheese dairy. After an active day in the mountains, hikers and bikers stop off to enjoy the sun and relax in a cosy atmosphere. With a charging station for e-bikes too, everyone can leave feeling revitalised. “This mix of nature, music and good food - it's the perfect way to celebrate life,” says Melanie.
But the Adler Hitta is more than a stop-off for tired hikers – it's also a place for celebrating special moments like birthdays, weddings and company events. Once you get there, you’ll want to stay for the whole day. While the adults relax in the whirlpool or enjoy the view of the peaks, the children have plenty of space to play.
A logistical masterpiece
The Adler Hitta is located at over 2,100 metres above sea level. It is only accessible by foot or by bike in summer and by ski in winter. Running a mountain restaurant up there is all about spoiling guests with culinary delights – but also overcoming the logistical challenges. Everything required for the Adler Hitta, from food and drinks to technical equipment, has to be transported at great expense. In winter, the goods arrive in Sunnegga by train, then continue by ski-doo or even by Air Zermatt helicopter, when necessary. In summer, tractors are often used for transport. “Every delivery is a bit of an adventure,” says Ugi. “But that's what it's all about – Adler Hitta wouldn't be what it is without the challenges it brings.”
A team like a family
Alongside the unique atmosphere and the culinary signature of Ugi and Thesi, there is a great deal of passion in every detail of the Adler Hitta. Anyone who works here quickly becomes part of a family. “Our team is the heart of the restaurant,” emphasises Thesi. “Without them, the Adler Hitta wouldn't be what it is today.”
And the guests notice this too. Many come back again and again – not just because of the food, but because of the special vibe. “Sometimes we see guests who were here as young people then come back with their children,” says Ugi. “That makes us incredibly proud.”
Thesi and Ugi know that a strong team needs more than just a workplace – it needs a home. In these times of housing shortages, they take responsibility and create new living spaces for their team. They are building staff accommodation at the entrance to Zermatt to offer their employees a cosy home.
Whether in summer or winter – anyone who visits the Adler Hitta immediately senses that something special has grown here. It is a place with soul, where guests become friends. And that seems to drive Thesi and Ugi. “The Adler Hitta thrives on the atmosphere,” says Thesi. “It's so cool that you almost forget how good the food is.”