The Omnia

The Omnia is the most architecturally singular hotel in the Swiss Alps. Designed by Ali Tayar and built directly into the rock face above Zermatt's car-free village, it is reached by a private elevator that rises from street level through the mountain itself. The building emerges from the granite like a natural extension of the landscape. There are only thirty rooms, which means the ratio of staff to guests approaches private-home levels. The restaurant serves refined Alpine cuisine, and the library lounge, anchored by a massive fireplace, is the social heart of the hotel and one of the finest rooms in Zermatt for an evening drink. The Omnia attracts architects, designers, and travelers who have done the grand-hotel circuit and want something with more conviction. It is simply the most considered hotel in town, and for a certain type of guest, that distinction matters more than all the others combined.