City information

With more than 1,000 restaurants, Geneva and the surrounding area are hardly lacking in places to dine. While Swiss, French and Italian restaurants are seemingly 10 a penny, the city's ethnic groups have contributed towards the growing diversity in cuisine originating from other cultures. The recent explosion in sushi bars in Geneva is just one example of increasing demand for the exotic and a broader choice of dining establishments. Despite the multitude of options symptomatic of this trend, it becomes increasingly more challenging to identify quality restaurants. The good news is that there are many culinary treasures to discover, from award-winning Michelin restaurants to sleek contemporary bistros and rowdy local cafes.

Restaurants For local Swiss cooking, the noisy but welcoming Café du Soleil is located away from the usual tourist haunts and serves an appetizing range of fondues, raclettes and other standard Swiss fare. The restaurant Les Armures in the Old Town is a step up on the glamor scale (and consequently the price scale) but also focuses mainly on Swiss regional cuisine.

Geneva abounds with fine French restaurants. For a truly memorable gourmet extravaganza, La Domaine de Châteauvieux is in a class of its own. Also highly rated are Le Béarn, La Perle du Lac and L'Hostellerie de la Vendée. In Old Carouge, L'Ange des Dix Vins is also an exceptional French/Contemporary restaurant. At the cheaper end of the scale, two Junction restaurants produce quality French bistro cuisine: Café Gallay is a funky, neighbourhood joint open late and L'Echalotte is a noisy, animated refectory serving good value home-style cooking. Three mid-price range contemporary restaurants must be mentioned in the same breath (they are owned by the same group). L'Opera Bouffe and Le Triporteur all produce light, modern cooking in aesthetic surroundings.

There are numerous enjoyable Italian restaurants in town (as well as an equal number of avoidable ones). For atmosphere and hospitality, L'Europa is hard to beat: it offers good prices, a genuinely friendly staff and excellent pizza and pasta. Other sure-fire winners include Da Paolo, La Trattoria, Le Favola, and La Fata Morgana. In terms of Asian cuisine, Jeck's Place has established a sound reputation for the quality of its Singaporean/Malaysian cuisine. Le Comptoir is a cool, postmodern Pâquis restaurant serving up Japanese-inspired food and a global selection of wines. DJs spin funky beats in a small bar, accessible from either inside the restaurant or from the street. Sam Lor and Siam also come recommended for the most authentic Thai food in Geneva. Other noteworthy ethnic restaurants include La Mamounia (Moroccan cuisine in a colourful setting), the boisterous Mexican Le Chat Rouge.

Bars Pub-wise Geneva has several English/Irish-themed watering holes. Some televise sporting events (the Mr Pickwick for example) and tend to be incredibly packed if there is a major football game scheduled. Flanagans is a friendly Irish pub in the Old Town with live music downstairs. Les Brasseurs is the city's only microbrewery and a great choice for beer enthusiasts. A quiet revolution seems to be occurring on the bar scene, with more choices than ever before. Le Deuxième Bureau is large, hip and serves a good selection of cocktails. Also mixing strong spirits, Le Cactus Club, near Cornavin, is pricey but lively. Café Marius is a small, groovy wine bar within staggering distance of Plainpalais. Also a leading alternative music venue, Le Chat-Noir is an agreeably down market bar/club. Although attracting its share of overexcited teenagers, L'Usine is a vast, multi-levelled space by the Rhône. Several bars and performance areas are situated here.

A note about tipping

Service is included in the bill, so it is not obligatory to tip. However, when excellent service is rendered, leaving the waiter an additional 2-3 percent of the total is always appreciated.