Eaux-Vives
Nestled on the left bank of Lake Geneva, the Eaux-Vives area is a mixture of individual homes and older apartment buildings. Eaux-Vives is lively with many small restaurants and hip bars as well as designer stores and boutiques. Everything is within walking distance, including the lake and the iconic jet d’eau. Here there are old style cinemas, thrift shops and a distinctly bohemian-chic feel. The Parc de la Grange, Geneva’s largest park, is a vast lakeside green area that also encompasses orangeries, a playground and an 18th-century villa.
Les Augustins and Carouge
Quartier des Augustins is an interesting fraction of Plainpalais which has a real local neighborhood feeling, is very well connected with easy public transportations to all parts of the city, and where characterful small shops and cafés have been bursting the past few years. Places like Les Enfants Terribles, one of the city’s coolest design concept store, or Chez Marius, a former butcher shop turned into a popular wine and tapas bar with hanging hams, reflect the vibes of Augustins quite accordingly. Wondering around you’ll find bobo-chic second hand boutiques, a vintage record shop and café, design stores, etc. Close to the apartment you’ll also find a great choice of food stores, making the area very easy-to-live on the day-to-day.
The Cocoon Homes flat is a few steps away from Carouge, another interesting neighbourhood… maybe our favorite. In Carouge, facades are pastel pretty and fountains splash… with its Latin charms, you're getting closer to the Mediterranean. Described like Geneva’s Greenwich Village, Carouge remains the city's relaxed alter-ego. Many of the neo-classical houses and the inner courtyard gardens are well preserved and have been converted to restaurants, fashion boutiques, workshops, ateliers and antique stores.
Our Recommendations
(Full list can be found below)
Restaurants
Kakinuma
An authentic restaurant full of soul with excellent service where you can taste very qualitative Japanese cuisine; and not only sushi (try the meat).
Rue Henri-Blanvalet 3
+41 22 735 47 11
Best: for lunch.
Bains des Pâcquis
A hip institution among Genevois, “les Pâcquis” is a peninsula in the middle of the lake facing the jet d’eau. A buvette proposes breakfasts, salads and dishes of the day. In summer, lay down and chill on one of their wooden decks before going for a swim. During the winter, try their wellness centre (hammam, sauna, massages) and as of 6pm, recover with a nice fondue sitting on long communal tables – with a view.
Quai du Mont-Blanc 30
Buvette: +41 22 738 16 16
Massages: +41 22 731 41 34
Inda-bar
Newly-opened restaurant in buzzing rue Henri-Blanvalet, Eaux-Vives, that offers Indian fusion cuisine. Try the weekly menu for a cosy and gourmet lunch or share various dishes with your friends in the evening. Curated décor, good vibes and friendly service.
Rue Henri-Blanvalet 23
+41 22 700 79 50
Cottage Café
Cute little house with a big fountain in the middle of a small green field yet in the very heart of Geneva, a few meters from the lake. Various dishes and tapas are proposed, from exotic to classic cuisine.
Rue Adhémar-Fabri 7
+41 22 731 60 16
Best: for lunch or after-work drink with tapas.
Sumo Yakitori
Small and cosy hidden gem in vibrant Pâcquis neighbourhood serving Japanese street food. Sit around the Grill bar and watch the cook while listening to background jazz music.
Rue de Monthoux 15
+41 22 731 19 50
Best : for a rainy evening to catch-up with a good friend.
Le Thé
X-small 5-table spot specialized in Dim-Sum and teas. A soothing and surprising place that makes you travel.
Rue des Bains 65
+41 79 436 77 18
Café Dunia
Zen, industrial-chic café and decor showroom with generous volumes a few steps from Parc de la Grange and Gare des Eaux-Vives. Cuisine non-stop from 11:00-16:00 (rare in Geneva). Friendly staff and owner!
12, Chemin Frank-Thomas
+41 22 700 49 23
Best: for lunch.
Café des Négociants
This retro-style bistro offers gourmet seasonal cuisine and has a huge wine cellar, accompanied by excellent advice. Book ahead, the restaurant is often full.
Rue de la Filature 29
+41 2 2 300 31 30
Le Café des Bains
Trendy café in a hip art district “quartier des Bains”. Their deck terrace in summer is particularly enjoyable.
Rue des Bains 26
+41 22 320 21 22
Best: for lunch in summer.
Le Café du Marché
Located on the corner of charming place du marché, with a food market at certain times in the week (Wednesday and Saturday mornings, as well as Thursday afternoon until 9pm from March to December), this is a local institution. If the ambience alone looks tempting, the food is what you'll really remember from this refined bistro-style restaurant.
Place du Marché 4
+41 22 301 26 47
Le Flacon
An enchanting high standard restaurant where the chef creates delicious cuisine and beautifully presented dishes from his open-view kitchen.
Rue Vautier 45
+41 22 342 15 20
Best: For a romantic dinner or a special occasion.
Le Bistro Le Lion d'Or
One of the oldest restaurant in Carouge where you will find a relaxed atmosphere in a charming setting and taste delicious French dishes full of flavor, together with a warm and friendly service. Pleasant and quiet terrace in summer.
Rue Ancienne 53
+41 22 342 18 13
Best: for dinner.
Mizzica
Small and cheerful place serving counter top ready-to-eat Sicilian specialties, including pizza-al-taglio (pizza by the slice).
Rue du Pont-Neuf 5, 1227 Carouge
+41 22 321 24 78
Brasserie Lipp
Luigia
An American-style decor pizzeria, with an excellent pizzaiolo from Napoli. Pizzas and drinks are very good, service is efficient and Italian. One of the few children-friendly places in town. No reservation needed.
Rue Adrien-Lachenal 24A
+41 22 840 15 15
Best: For lunch or dinner, with your kids or with a group of friends.
L’Esquisse
A French café with a soul where cuisine, decor, music and staff are well mixed to have you enjoy your evening. Towards the end of the week, music gets louder at night and the place remains open until 2am. If encouraged by the DJ, you can dance in between the tables.
Rue du Lac 7
+41 22 786 50 44
Best: for dinner.
Fine-dining, traditional and classic French-style bistro in the heart of Geneva, serving every day until 2am!
Confédération centre, Rue de la Confédération 8
+41 22 318 80 30
Best: For lunch or dinner, or if you’re looking for a late-evening nice meal.
Café du Marché
Good old retro bistrot with fresh, seasonal local cuisine. Friendly ambiance and service.
16 avenue Henri Dunant
+41 22 320 85 46
Best: for lunch.
L’Adresse
Enjoy delicious and curated cuisine in a stylish boho-chic environment. Lovely terrace for the summer days nestled in the middle of the residential buildings. Love it!
Rue du 31 Décembre 32,
+41 22 736 32 32
Best: for lunch.
Brunch or Coffee
Ô Calme
Means « comme à la maison », and that’s how you feel sitting next to the libraries inside, or relaxing in the backyard little patio, in charming Carouge neighbourhood. Small cuisine like salads, quiches, eggs and cakes.
Rue Ancienne 36
+41 22 301 22 20
Best: for brunch or coffee during the week (avoid week-ends, too busy with overwhelmed staff)
Tout Simplement
Cute and quiet place for brunch with a classic bistro-style décor right next to gorgeous “parc de la Grange”.
Rue de Soleure 2
+41 22 736 28 28
Boréal Café
Tiffany Hotel
Housed in a 19th-century building in the Arts district, the Tiffany Hotel has the timeless appeal of Art Nouveau style with a contemporary twist. The cozy restaurant has a well-earned reputation among Genevans for excellent cuisine. Book ahead to make sure you get a spot for their Saturday or Sunday brunch, a formula which includes a breakfast buffet, a choice of dishes to order as well as hot drinks and juices. Geneva’s best brunch in our opinion. Note: Free up to 4 years old, 50% for children under 11 years old, Playroom with baby-sitter on Sunday.
20, rue de l’Arquebuse.
+41 22 708 16 06
Nice and warm coffee-shop; Starbucks style with a plus. One of the few Internet-cafés in town where you’ll see a mix of bankers, students and start-uppers.
Rue du Stand 60
Best: In the morning or in the afternoon. Avoid week-ends.
Chou
Chou means cute but also and essentially, a cream-puff pastry similar to a profiterole. In this neighborhood bistro-style café you can taste very good coffee and combine it with an assortment of chous. The service is relaxed and friendly and the ambiance is warm and convivial.
Rue des Eaux-Vives 79
+41 22 535 79 66
Bars
MI Food MI Raisin
A discreet and cozy spot full of soul where you can taste natural wine accompanied by unique savory dishes from small producers. Friendly vibes.
Chemin Neuf 4
+41 22 700 58 70
Best: After-work or in the evening to catch-up with your best frien
Qu’importe
Big yet cozy and woody wine bar with a fireplace & terrace, offering a large selection of wines & cocktails along with finger food (try their cheese and ham selection).
Rue Ancienne 1
+41 22 342 15 25
Bottle Brothers
Good vibes, nice ambiance and great music in these crowded industrial-style bars that serve cocktails and creative small dishes. Petit et Grand Bottle]
12 rue Henri-Blanvalet
+41 22 772 30 32
Le Soleil Rouge
A warm wine bar with a Spanish offering, from tapas bites to sangria, wines & groceries. Have a sit around the central round table and enjoy the ambiance. Have a look at their events for a Flamenco performance or Pata Negra tasting.
Tip: You can buy bottles of wines to take-away, which can be handy when shops are closed.
Bd Helvétique 32
Little Barrel
Discreet and authentic cocktail bar, with a great choice of drinks and a particular attention to rum.
Rue du Lac 15
Le Tabouret
Jungle fever décor in this small, newly-opened bar, owned by next-door gastronomic restaurant Le Neptune. Soft light, cool vibes and good sound, you can even grab a fougasse, a revisited gourmet sandwich.
Coulouvrenière 38
Café Marius
One of the coolest wine bars in the city, Café Marius is tucked humbly away on an unassuming corner. An art deco interior lined with bottles, hanging hams and illustrations of pigs hints at its former life as a butcher shop. Try any of its biodynamic and organic wines paired with tasty tapas.
Place des Augustins 9