World City Guide

Restaurants

We have selected 25 restaurants, which we have divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.

Most restaurants in Geneva include VAT, which currently stands at 7.6%. The prices quoted below are for a three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine or equivalent, including VAT and a compulsory 15% service charge, unless otherwise stated.

Gastronomic

Auberge du Lion d’Or
Located in the Cologny district – the Beverly Hills of Geneva – the Auberge du Lion d’Or (Golden Lion) Michelin-starred fish restaurant, offers panoramic views of the city and Lake Geneva. The restaurant is decorated in a smart, classical style and guests can enjoy alfresco dining on the terrace in summer. Two chefs, French Gilles Dupont and Thomas Byrne from Ireland, create delicacies such as langoustine with lemon grass and vinaigrette, which are enhanced by an excellent choice of fine, international wines. Auberge du Lion d’Or is closed Saturday and Sunday.

Place Pierre-Gautier 5, 1223 Cologny
Tel: (022) 736 4432. Fax: (022) 786 7462.
E-mail: liondor@maxess.ch
Website: www.liondor.ch
Price SFr160. Wine: SFr45.

Le Béarn
Jean-Paul Goddard’s Michelin-starred Le Béarn, located in the heart of Geneva's business and financial district, attracts international financiers and their clients for classic cuisine with a twist. The restaurant is decorated in a grand, Italianate style with decorative columns. Delicacies include Provence-style roast lamb, truffle soufflé, rabbit with roast sage and tarragon ice cream. Closed Saturday (in winter) and Sunday.

Quai de la Poste 4
Tel: (022) 321 0028. Fax: (022) 781 3115.
Website: www.resto.ch/ge/bearn
Price: SFr145-195. Wine: SFr60.

Le Cygne
Located on floor ‘E’ of the luxurious Hôtel Noga Hilton, Le Cygne (The Swan) offers wonderful views over Lake Geneva. The restaurant itself is decorated in a classical style with warm tones. Chef Olivier Villette serves light but traditional French cuisine accompanied by an excellent wine list, sprinkled with a good mix of local wines. Specialities include Carpaccio de langoustines à l’huile de Maussane (Lobster carpaccio) and fillet mignon stuffed with foie gras and Sichaun pepper. Unlike many of Geneva’s restaurants, which are only open during the working week, Le Cygne is open daily.

Hôtel Noga Hilton, Quai du Mont-Blanc 19
Tel: (022) 908 9085. Fax: (022) 908 9090.
E-mail: geneve_sales@hilton.com
Website: www.hiltongeneve.ch
Price: SFr160 Wine: SFr50.

Le Neptune
The god of the sea rules at this Michelin-starred restaurant, situated in the Hôtel Mandarin Oriental du Rhône. Le Neptune is a modern-style restaurant, where white colours dominate, softened by paintings hanging on the wall. Chef Frédéric Charrière, from the Haute Savoie region of France, creates fish and seafood specialities, including lobster cannelloni steamed with lobster bisque and sweet pepper or seabass fillet with breadcrumbs and almonds on a bed of mashed potato and olive oil. The foie gras is also renowned. Desserts are not to be missed – the warm praline tart with banana and passion fruit sherbet is highly recommended. Closed Saturday and Sunday for three weeks in August.

Hôtel Mandarin Oriental du Rhône, Quai Turrettini 1
Tel: (022) 909 0006. Fax: (022) 909 0010.
E-mail: reservation@hoteldurhone.com
Website: www.hoteldurhone.com
Price: SFr68-130. Wine: SFr45.

Les Continents
Chef Didier Quesnel, from Brittany, oversees his Michelin-starred French restaurant located in the Hôtel Intercontinental Genève. Les Continents is decked out with wooden panelling in a classical style. Specialities at this fashionable address include salmon trout with fennel or langoustine with lemon grass and olive oil. The restaurant is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Hôtel Intercontinental Genève, Chemin du Petit Saconnex 9
Tel: (022) 919 3350. Fax: (022) 919 3838.
E-mail: geneva@interconti.com
Website: www.interconti.com
Price: SFr100. Wine: SFr35.

Business

Brasserie Lipp
Brasserie Lipp is a firm favourite with the local business community. Named after the renowned Parisian brasserie, this restaurant, located on the second floor of a chic shopping mall, transports diners to the heart of Paris with its black-jacketed waiters and typical brasserie ambience. Specialities include fresh oysters and southwestern French favourites, such as charcuterie and cassoulet.

Rue de la Confédération 8
Tel: (022) 311 1011. Fax: (022) 312 0104.
E-mail: lipp@swissonline.ch
Price: SFr60. Wine: SFr48.

Chez Roberto
In spite of increasing competition, Roberto remains the top Italian restaurant in town, popular with the business community and habitués that have been dining here for a quarter of a century. The legendary Signor Roberto Carugati, with years of experience behind him, continues to produce superb dishes from all parts of Italy, including a spectacular fish risotto, served in a relaxing environment (closed Saturday evening and all day Sunday).

Rue Pierre-Fatio 10
Tel: (022) 311 8033. Fax: (022) 311 8466.
Price: SFr85. Wine: SFr52.

La Perle du Lac
Situated in the Mon-Repos Park, overlooking Lake Geneva, La Perle du Lac has been serving French cuisine, fish and seafood specialities, such as lake perch fillets and osso bucco des lotillons (Angler fish), as well as excellent Swiss wines, to world diplomats and the local business community since 1930. Perhaps best enjoyed in summer, the restaurant (closed Monday) boasts a charming open-air terrace and lush garden. It has modern but unobtrusive decor, with green walls and dark carpets, and banquet rooms are also available.

Rue de Lausanne 128
Tel: (022) 909 1020. Fax: (022) 909 1030.
E-mail: info@laperledulac.ch
Website: www.laperledulac.ch
Price: SFr100. Wine: SFr48.

Le Chat Botté
Situated in the Hôtel Beau-Rivage, Chef Richard Cressac serves French cuisine with a contemporary note at this gourmet restaurant, popular for both pleasurable business lunches and romantic treats. It is of a classical, even nostalgic style, with gentle tones of pale yellow and pictures on the wall. Specialities include fresh red mullet in vinaigrette sauce or cutlets of fresh salmon fried with spices. Prior reservation is strongly recommended.

Hôtel Beau-Rivage, Quai du Mont-Blanc 13
Tel: (022) 716 6920. Fax: (022) 716 6060.
E-mail: info@beau-rivage.ch
Website: www.beau-rivage.ch
Price: SFr115. Wine: SFr40.

Le Tsé Yang
Set on the first floor of the smart Hôtel Noga Hilton, Le Tsé Yang offers high quality Chinese cuisine, a luxurious setting and spectacular views of Lake Geneva and the Jet d’Eau fountain. Although the restaurant is large and ideally suited to working lunch parties, the table arrangements offer privacy. Chef Lau Kwok has elaborated some 60 Chinese dishes, including a superb Peking duck.

Quai du Mont-Blanc 19
Tel: (022) 732 5081. Fax: (022) 731 0582.
E-mail: geneve_sales@hilton.com
Website: www.hiltongeneve.ch
Price: SFr110. Wine: SFr40.

Trendy

Café Nikolaj
This chic but welcoming Russian restaurant serves afternoon tea with scones and cream or blinis and caviar. In the evening, it is worth splashing out on the grandiose five-course ‘Menu des Tsars’ and sampling Caviar House products, as well as the wide variety of vodkas on offer. Specialities include foie gras with apricots or fromage frais with herbs and smoked salmon. The recently opened Bar à Cigar is a relaxing place to unwind over an aperitif. A banquet room for 16 persons and reception room for 30 is available for group booking. Closed Saturday evening and all day Sunday.

Place de la Fusterie, Rue du Rhône 30
Tel: (022) 781 3447. Fax: (022) 781 0924.
Price: SFr80 or SFr95 (five-course Menu des Tsars). Wine: SFr40.

La Demi-Lune
This trendy, friendly bar-restaurant, located in the picturesque Old Town, serves tapas and homemade hamburgers daily until 2330 and then serves refreshing cocktails until around 0100. La Demi-Lune is popular with a young crowd (a mix of students and young professionals), who enjoy the candlelit intimacy of this venue, enhanced by relaxing jazz. Open daily (until 0100 weekdays, until 0200 Friday and Saturday night).

Rue Etienne-Dumont 3
Tel. (022) 312 1290.
E-mail: info@demilune.ch
Website: www.demilune.ch
Price: SFr40. Wine: SFr35.

Le Café du Soleil
This trendy bistro, located in the International Organisations quarter, and decorated with a theatrical touch, is said to serve the best fondue in town. Their secret fondue recipe and excellent raclette (melted cheese usually served with ham and potatoes) attract a young, gourmet crowd.

Place du Petit-Saconnex 6
Tel: (022) 733 3417. Fax: (022) 312 5150.
E-mail: info@cafedusoleil.ch
Website: www.cafedusoleil.ch
Price: SFr30. Wine: SFr21.

Le Comptoir
This trendy, minimalist bar-restaurant attracts a young, chic crowd with its friendly atmosphere and decent, although reasonably priced, eastern-influenced cuisine, offering Chinese, Malaysian and Vietnamese flavours. Dishes include chicken curry or glazed duck, as well as vegetarian options, such as tofu. Although it is closed Monday, Le Comptoir is open until 0100 weekdays (until 0200 Friday and Saturday night).

Rue Richemont 9
Tel: (022) 731 3237.
Price: SFr40. Wine: SFr24.

Spice's
Spice’s replaced old favourite, Le Cirque, at the Hotel Président Wilson, in September 2001. Following on from Le Cirque, Chef Ulrich Behringer has now turned his hand to world cuisine, inspired by Indian, Thai, Chinese and Japanese dishes, as well as the runaway success of the Parisian The Buddha Bar. The new restaurant is comfortably modern with wonderful views over Lake Geneva. The menu is seasonal and may include Peking Roast Duck with pancakes, chicken teryiaki or grilled lamb biryani. For the short term, Spice’s is bound to be one of the most fashionable restaurants on the Geneva set, at least until the novelty has been replaced by a good reputation.

Quai Wilson 47
Tel: (022) 906 6666. Fax: (022) 906 6667.
E-mail: sales@hotelpwilson.com
Website: www.hotelpwilson.com
Price: SFr100. Wine: SFr70.

Budget

Bleunuit
Bleunuit, close to Place du Cirque, attracts an arty young crowd, with its lively atmosphere and good value food. French cuisine is served from Monday to Friday in this rustic restaurant, while at the weekends, Mexican food, such as guacamole and chile con carne, is on the menu. Bleunuit is open until 0100 during the week and until 0200 at weekends.

Rue du Vieux-Billard 4
Tel: (022) 328 3444. Fax: (022) 781 0471.
Price: SFr30. Wine: SFr30.

Café Cuba
This Cuban bar-restaurant, decked out in Latino style with wooden tables and rich, warm tones, extends over three floors. On the menu are tapas snacks, a wide choice of specialities from Havana and cocktails (fiercely alcoholic and soft). For those that know how, a small dance floor allows diners to work off the calories, dancing to salsa rhythms. Popular dishes include tortilla, chile con carne or guacamole. Extremely popular with young and old alike, Café Cuba opens daily until 0100 (until 0200 Friday and Saturday). Open evenings only on Sunday.

Place du Cirque 1
Tel: (022) 328 4260. Fax: (022) 328 4452.
Price: SFr45. Wine: SFr30. Cocktails: From SFr15.

Chez Ma Cousine
There are now three Chez Ma Cousine restaurants in Geneva – this one, at Place du Bourg de Four, was the first one to open. Chez Ma Cousine is a fresh and trendy French bar-restaurant, with a bright, cheery yellow interior, offering excellent value for money and popular with students on a budget. It is also popular with lawyers on their lunchbreak as the lawcourts are nearby. Service is speedy, the atmosphere friendly and the single menu of grilled chicken, sauté potatoes and salad is reliably good. There is a choice of desserts, including chocolate mousse and tarte tatin. Wines may be sampled by the glass or by the bottle.

Place du Bourg de Four 6
Tel: (022) 310 9696.
Price: SFr20. Wine: SFr15.

Le Mortimer
Always busy with a young, trendy crowd, Le Mortimer serves traditional French food and strong, aromatic coffees. Located in the heart of Geneva, the restaurant is set in a building dating from 1580 with a vaulted cellar. The interior is decorated with a wooden bar and tables, and there is also an attractive terrace, perfect for alfresco dining during the summer months. Specialities include baked lamb with potatoes, fresh fish, mixed salads and chocolate gateau. Closed Sunday.

Place du Bourg-de-Forg 2
Tel: (022) 310 1398.
Price: SFr40. Wine: SFr30.

Les Brasseurs
Les Brasseurs, located just opposite Cornavin station, is a convivial restaurant and the only place in Geneva to brew its own beer. Hugely popular with a young crowd, keen to try out the wide variety of blanche, blonde and ambrée beers on offer (by the three- or five-litre ‘column’), Les Brasseurs also serves German and Alsatian specialities, such as sausage and onion flamenküche (Alsacian tart often topped with onions, mushrooms, ham and cream). The service is friendly, although it is best to arrive before 2130, at which time the venue starts to get crowded. Les Brasseurs is open daily until 0100 (until 0200 weekends, evenings only).

Place de Cornavin 20
Tel: (022) 731 0206. Fax: (022) 731 0210.
Price: SFr30-40. Wine: SFr30. Beer: SFr35.50 (three litres).

Personal Recommendations

A L’Olivier de Provence
Located in neighbouring Carouge, which has a village feel to it in spite of its proximity to Geneva, this charming, rustic Provençal restaurant has been going strong for some 60 years and is still on top form. The bistro section of the restaurant is a good budget option, with a cheaper and simpler menu. It also has a shaded terrace for alfresco dining in summer. Chef Bernard Beaud serves specialities, such as sea bass, fresh salmon with sorrel, and in autumn, game dishes, such as pheasant, rabbit and pigeon. The restaurant is closed Saturday lunchtime and all day Sunday.

Rue Jacques-Dalphin 13, Carouge
Tel: (022) 342 0450. Fax: (022) 342 8880.
Price: SFr68 (restaurant) or SFr36 (bistro). Wine: SFr31.

Buffet de la Gare
It is worth taking a 20-minute detour from central Geneva to the Buffet de la Gare in Céligny, where chef Monsieur Choucq serves fine French cuisine in a 1920s bistro décor (closed Sunday and Monday). Dishes include fish from Lake Geneva or roasted lamb with herbs.

Route de Founex 25, Céligny
Tel: (022) 776 2770. Fax: (022) 776 7054.
E-mail: buffet.celigny@swissonline.ch
Price: SFr100. Wine: SFr38.

Hotel les Armures
This rustic 15th-century stone building with beamed interior, in the heart of the historic Old Town, serves Genevois specialities. Guests can choose from a mouthwatering raclette (melted cheese usually served with ham and potatoes), rosti (potatoes traditionally cooked – first boiled, then peeled, grated and fried in butter until golden) or a variety of fondues – fondu bourguignonne (with beef), mushroom or tomato. At lunchtime, a menu d’affaires is served, which is popular with the local business community. Prior booking is strongly recommended.

Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre 1
Tel: (022) 310 3442. Fax: (022) 818 7113.
E-mail: armures@span.ch
Website: www.hotel-les-armures.ch/c-resto.htm
Price: SFr60-70. Wine: SFr38.

La Favola
This intimate little Italian restaurant in the heart of the Old Town excels in fresh pasta and a friendly service. It has exposed beams, with parquet floor and traditional decor. Specialities include Carpaccio Sicilian, Gnocchi Alrleccio and Risotto Ticinese. The restaurant is closed Saturday lunchtime and all day Monday.

Rue Calvin 15
Tel: (022) 311 7437. Fax: (022) 349 1568.
Price: SFr90. Wine: SFr55.

Le Patio
Situated on the left bank, Le Patio is a firm favourite with the business community and is closed on the weekends. The dishes, although ample, are light enough for the ‘working lunch’ not to send diners to sleep in the afternoon. Decorated in classic, rich burgundy tones, the restaurant has a good wine list and also offers wine by the glass. Specialities include fish couscous with steamed vegetables or lamb with rosemary.

Boulevard Helvétique 19
Tel: (022) 736 6675. Fax: (022) 786 4074.
Price: SFr70. Wine: SFr39.