Matterhorn 5.66

THE PAST

The Matterhorn story is an oral history, gleaned from the multitude of people passing through the ubiquitous swing doors at the end of a long corridor on Cuba St – history based on hearsay, gossip, intrigue and the occasional late night lie...

Established on Cuba Street in 1963 by two Swiss brothers, Matterhorn started life as one of NZ's first purpose-built cafés to be housed in its own modernist arcade completewith bookstore, tobacconist and florist. It was a time in New Zealand when liquor ceasedto be sold after 6pm with very few places to meet respectable society in public. Matterhorn, it must be said, was Very Continental.

Right from the early days it was a special-kind-of-place. Featuring authentic Swiss maidsin full outfits, on the menu was a melting pot [fondue anyone?] which included strongfilter coffee, club sandwiches, asparagus rolls, stroganoff, sausages and sauerkraut,mince on toast, Swiss pastries and rolled pancakes with lashings of cream.

Legend has it that a contingent of the culturally starved Swiss embassy attended the official opening night of the Matterhorn, the party swinging until after midnight with the Ambassador doing dishes into the wee hours. Later came the contraband with covert drop-offs behind camellia trees and pot plants - we've heard of 21st parties of the 60's rich having run of the place well into the night, a sign of your coming of age being if you could finish the huge plate of schnitzel and pickles.
Naturally, the place quickly became a Wellington institution; on Saturdays it was the perfect place to stop off with the kids or grandchildren after dance lessons at Paula Hunt's famed Dance Academy or a visit to the nearby Farmer's department store, queues sometimes stretching down the corridor and onto Cuba St.

When one of the brothers passed away, the other returned to the homeland and the business was sold to another Swiss gentleman, Mr. George Stucki. An amateur cameraman, Stucki focused his camera every moment he had between the mince and slushy machines; you can discover a copy of his Super-8 film A day-in-the-life-at Matterhorn at the NZ Film Archive - www.filmarchive.org.nz (Film Archive, Wellington location 2002.2915).

Elements of the café's interior design, such as a large-scale photographic portrait of the Matterhorn peak and the courtyard still remain in evidence from this period. In the early 80's, the Matterhorn was sold to a Polish family, the Lepionkas, who heralded in the era of The Lamington. The business enjoyed continued success and even assisted the family's son, Stefan, into an orange juice business under his own name [Stefan now runs the 'Charlie's' juice brand].

Iconic, Retro, Kiwi Kitsch... is the image conjured in wistful remembering at many a dinner party in Karori, Wadestown or Miramar. Yet Matterhorn has very rarely been 'retro' - invariably it has continued a path up with the times as a contemporary café.
Its only fall from grace was in 1995, when it was sold again to a Greek family. Already in disrepair, and slowly fading out of vogue during the booming glam espresso-oriented environment of the 80's, Matterhorn slipped away from the public's imagination and taste.

However, fate intervened in 1996 when Matterhorn was taken over and it re-opened in 1997 on Bastille Day, fittingly the same day in history that Edward Whymper became the first climber to the conquer The Matterhorn. The new owners, Leon Surynt, Sam Chapman, Christian McCabe and Adan Tijerina built on the myth to create a national icon and internationally respected hospitality business while retaining Matterhorn's most important function as a treasured local haunt.

14 years on and after achieving wild success, Leon, Sam, Christian and Adan sold the business and passed the custodial responsibility of looking after Wellington's adored local onto another group of dedicated followers – Sam Ansley, Simon Ansley, Mark Keddell, Matt Bould & Kate Prangnell.

THE PRESENT

1997
- Matterhorn re-opens as a 40-seat lounge bar
2001
- Matterhorn awarded "Best Of" status by Let's Go travel publications
- Contracted by the International Festival of The Arts to present two events to broaden intake of festival-goers.
2002
- Redesign and construction of Matterhorn
2003
- Matterhorn turns 40
- Matterhorn contracted by Tourism NZ to provide International Media launch to promote worldwide premier of Lord of the Rings with performances by Fat Freddie's Drop
- Rave reviews from ID, Wallpaper, Italian Vogue, Dazed and Confused, London Daily Mail, Gourmet Traveler & Oyster magazines
- Winner of multiple Felix awards: Best Ambience and Style, Best Wine List, Best Sommelier, Best Barman & Best New Chef
- Winner Best Bistro Wine List Lace New Zealand Fine Awards
- Matterhorn design work in conjunction with Eyework Design is a finalist at the New Zealand Graphic Design Awards 2001- 2003
- Matterhorn design work featured in Paste Up – A Century of New Zealand Poster Art,by Hamish Thompson
2004
- Contracted by Film New Zealand to design and manage event celebrating "20 years of New Zealand Film at Cannes" – Cannes, France
2005
- Matterhorn produce NZ Film Industry event, Cannes, France. Event described by Hollywood Reporter as "one of the classiest soirées of the festival" and out-rated both the annual MTV bash and Star Wars events held on the same night.
- Fat Freddies Drop Live at the Matterhorn goes Platinum
2006
- Matterhorn celebrates the 80th Birthday of Peter McLeavey – Art Dealer
- Matterhorn voted "NZ's Best Bar" - NZ Bartender Magazine Awards
2007
- Matterhorn voted No 5 in Australian Bartender Magazine's "World Top 20 Bars"
- Matterhorn voted "NZ's Best Bar" – NZ Bartender Magazine Awards
2008
- Matterhorn voted NZ's Best Restaurant – Cuisine Magazine
- Matterhorn voted "NZ's Best Bar" – NZ Bartender Magazine Awards
- Matterhorn voted 2nd Best Drinks Selection in the world – Tales of the Cocktail – New Orleans
2009
-Matterhorn named in top twenty bars of the world (12th place) – Bar Tender Australia Magazine
-Matterhorn named as 17th Best Bar in the World - Drinks International Magazine
2010
-16th Best Bar in the World, voted by Drinks International Industry Poll
-Claire Harlick 2nd place in the Havana Club International Cocktail Grand Prix
-Calem Chadwick 3rd place in the 42 Below Cocktail World Cup.
2011
- 33rd Best Bar in the World, voted by Drinks International Industy Poll
- Riki Carter, 1st place, NZ National Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge
2012
- Riki Carter, 2nd place overall, Angostura Aromatic Bitters Global Cocktail Challenge 2012
- Riki Carter, 1st place Best Rum Cocktail, Angostura Aromatic Bitters Global Cocktail Challenge 2012
- Finalist (Top 50) in the Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year
- Awarded Outstanding Bar in the Capital Hospitality Awards
- Awarded Outstanding Beverage List in the Capital Hospitality Awards
- Awarded Outstanding Wine List in the Capital Hospitality Awards
2013
- Jimmy Pask awarded Outstanding Emerging Chef at the 2013 Capital Hospitality Awards