We stayed at the Antares after reading posts on the Zermatt forum; Kileysmom suggested this hotel as close to lifts and that south-facing rooms had a view of the Matterhorn. With enough snow, this could be a ski-in/ski-out hotel; it's the second hotel from the lift and a very easy walk after a long day of skiing. As a bonus, they serve a wonderful breakfast. While this b'fast might be typical for most European hotels, I delight in the fresh yogurt, breads (esp the fresh baked croissants!), cheeses & meats in the morning--and the fresh pot of delicious coffee and steamed milk for hot chocolate. While the rooms are standard for European rooms and smaller than American rooms, if you put your luggage in the closets, you should be fine. Also, you have the option of taking a five-course dinner at the hotel for 30CHF/person/night, which is a great deal considering how expensive nice dinners in Zermatt can be. We went for this option on every night except for the last night when we ventured into town for dinner. Dinner was delicious each night, with something different every day. (Dinner menus attached.) The staff, especially Monika, Pascal and Perry, were all very friendly and made us to feel at home amongst the others who appeared to be regulars at this wonderful establishment. If we could afford to ski Zermatt every year, this would be the place we'd stay!

As other reviewers noticed, the Antares is one of the "classic" hotels in Zermatt. Most of them are located in the area around the station, on the main street. The Antares is just around 1000 metres from them, but (together with the Focus and Coeur des Alpes, which I also reviewed in the past years, and a few others) is one of the best locations for skiers, just around 100 metres from the Matterhorn Express departure station. This is an invaluable feature you'll appreciate if you are in Zermatt for skiing, and it's probably well worth choosing the Antares alone, unless you're also looking for a "designer" hotel like the others I mentioned - and are also ready for a higher price.
The general hospitality situation in winter seems to be better than some reviewers found this summer. The spa, while not top notch as in other, more recently built hotels, was regularly accessible, and the only group of guests was a ski team from Sweden. The hotel, however, shows its age in many details. Rooms are small, and have a dated design. Buying a superior room will not improve room space (you'll just get a better view), the bathrooms have been renovated in 2008, you may find them luxurious or overstyled - like other details in the hotel, but you'll agree on the small size again. The room looked clean, but our luggage collected too much dust after being placed on the closet. Hot water is at the boiling point. Our bathrooms all had a massage-shower (kind of "car wash" style sprinklers) plus the traditional showerhead, and there was a digital scale in each room.
Wifi (for the techies: B standard only) works properly and it's free of charge. Two PCs are available for guests to use, near the reception.
This year we chose not to have dinner at the Antares, so I cannot comment on the restaurant; breakfast was ok, in line of that of other hotels in Zermatt. Food was not all that special in 2008.
The hotel owner, a vigorous lady, is generally kind, altough I did NOT enjoy an unpleasant comment on our Italian roots from the restaurant manager - probably he did not really realize the meaning, think "Lost in translation".
The hotel owner arranged a free trip to the station with the hotel car.
Be careful about arrival time: the reception and front door are closed after 11 pm, so you have to check in before this time and in the next days a key is provided to the guests planning a late return to the hotel. Same with the hotel car: service should be reserved in advance, this is normal in Zermatt as the hotel car, as ALL vechicles in Zermatt, is an electric only minivan, so they have to be sure the batteries are charged and so on.

While not as iconic as other properties in Zermatt, the Antares is still a reasonable choice, especially now that the Swiss currency commands a toll on the global expense for holidays in Zermatt. Please note that summer experiences from other reviewers seem to be different from my findings, especially regarding staff and general service.

Everything about our stay @ Antares was great. At check in, the owner greeted us and made us feel like family…even upgraded our room without us asking! Breakfast was wonderful and service a delight. The location couldn’t be better and the hotel is cozy. Antares is the only place we would ever stay… I hope we get to go back. Monica and the other staff were wonderful… they certainly made our stay memorable and comfortable.
Thanks guys!

We'd visited the Antares twice before....around 12 years ago when it was a buzzing 'classic' Swiss 4**** hotel with a kitchen way above the average. And when we decided on Zermatt this year we were delighted to find that the owners were still actively involved...so booked and looked forward!

But sadly it's almost a different hotel.....while the hotel is still beautifully kept, the bar is permanently shut, (!) and the spa is only opened 'by request' with notice. So no drink before dinner except at the table....when your starter arrives before your drink...Does that sound like 4 star service? And no sociable spot for coffee afterwards....

Why? Sadly the strength of the Swiss franc means the regular 'summer holiday' business has virtually collapsed, and the Antares is living on 'one night only' coach parties from the far east who arrive and pour into the (hitherto almost empty) dining room around 9pm in the evening when they're fast-fed (huge noise and disruption...) before they all disappear at the same time to bed...and off early in the morning. The next day it's a different group, and so it goes on.

The effect on the kitchen must be depressing...and there's a marked effect on the food for the very few 'ordinary' residents who rattle around the rest of the time. I ordered a fish dish described as 'white fish fillet'......(it arrived badly overcooked and very strong)...later it emerged it was a piece of shark.

Added to all that, the staff are very obviously not a happy crew...and standards are sliding. Another reviewer mentioned a poor reception...they could also have mentioned the deputy manager's habit of wandering casually around the hotel (and the reception area) clad in a track suit....and staff not turning up when promised to help with luggage arrangements etc. Four star service it isnt.

Altogether it left us very sad....