The Geneva food scene is a dream for a visitor, because no two meals are alike. You might eat a perfect fondue on the lake one night, and be dining on a Michelin star menu the next; you might snack your way happily through a Geneva happy hour, or start your day with a Geneva brunch; for lunch, you could do something traditional in the old town, or go for Lebanese food, or poke, or a burger. For all of these scenarios and many more, we have compiled a list of some of the best restaurants in Geneva right now.
Our Majestic Switzerland itinerary begins and ends in Zurich and takes in Geneva along the way, as well as St Moritz, Zermatt and the Glacier Express. There are Michelin star dinners, vineyard visits and fondue experience along the way.
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Le Blanc Valet
This is a French-Swiss dream of a restaurant, convivial and traditional with a well-stocked cellar, various wines by the glass and lots of local beers. It’s the ultimate Geneva happy hour, whatever the hour. Food-wise, the offering is seasonal and fun, with oozing tartiflette served in the colder months and impeccable sashimi in the summer. The cocktails are super-refined and the mood is always right, so you may want to stay for an espresso martini.
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Buvette at Bains des Pasquis
This is one of the best restaurants in Geneva with a view thanks to its quite special location – on a long jetty over Lake Geneva. The jetty acts as a sort of cultural hub with a hammam, Turkish baths and glittering views over the lake in all weathers. At Buvette, the simple, excellent menu includes breakfast, sandwiches, beachy snacks like nachos and tuna salads, and a legendary, deeply rich and cheesy fondue made with Cremant de Dardagny.
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Maki Poke
If you like exquisitely vibrant poke bowls with beautiful bottled Hawaiian beers, Maki Poke is the spot for lunch in Geneva. The Sunny Hawaii bowl is abundant with salmon, tuna, cucumber, wakame, edamame, mango, crispy onions, sesame seeds and wasabi vinaigrette – guaranteed to put a little pep in your step. The homemade green, mint, lemon and honey tea is the stuff of local legend, making this a very worthy spot for a pitstop.
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La Chaumière
We always include the best restaurants in Geneva in our Majestic Switzerland journey and this one is an all-time favorite. Chef Serge Labrosse’s generous, thoughtful menu wows our guests, every time. They are whisked out of the city to the lush Geneva countryside for an unforgettable meal in La Chaumière (the cottage) – depending on the season, technicolor tomatoes, courgettes, pumpkins, côte de bœuf and foie gras maison are brought to life by the rural setting.
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Parfums de Beyrouth
If you’re looking for lunch in Geneva, this Lebanese classic is a long-time love of locals, whether they’re popping in for chicken shawarma sandwiches, or filling celebratory tables with meze plates. It’s right in the heart of the city, which makes it a very handy address to keep in your back pocket for sightseeing days. There is very simple seating within, but the pavement tables are the best place for soaking up the best of Geneva.
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Domaine de Chateauvieux
One of the best restaurants in Geneva with a view happens to be just outside of the city in Satigny, which is one of Switzerland’s leading wine-growing regions. It’s so nearby, it would be rude not to. The terrace at Domaine de Chateauvieux, with its idyllic vineyard views, is the perfect spot to celebrate the seasons, over a tasting menu, a surprise menu (composed according to “the mood of the chef”), or – if you time it right – a special morel or truffle menu. Chef Philippe Chevrier has been honing his cuisine here for 40 years.
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Breitling Kitchen
A restaurant concept from a luxury watch brand – well, you are in Geneva, after all. The interior here is all brown leather, cognac, bricks and metal – a space to sink into. And the menu is exactly what you might expect a luxury watch owner to eat for lunch in Geneva; there’s a healthy corner with various quinoa-based bowls, a Swiss grilled ham and cheese, and a luscious lobster roll (brioche, lobster, celeriac, spring onions, mayonnaise). Cafe gourmand for dessert.
Spinella
Three brothers run this casual but chic Sicilian restaurant and bar, close to Cornavin station. The atmosphere is always excellent, as are the brimming plates of antipasti, the risottos, the cocktails, the Sicilian wines and the tiramisu. You could easily come here for lunch, for happy hour, or for a long, luxurious Sicilian dinner with your extended family, ending on an amaro high.
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Inglewood
If you want fine dining in Geneva, this isn’t it. But this little slice of Americana – named for the city in the Los Angeles County, California – is a stalwart on the Geneva food scene. There are 12 burgers on the menu, including the “dzodzet” which is resplendent with egg, bacon, gruyere, Raclette and the house mustard sauce. Plus, salads, chicken wings, cheesecakes and ice cream sandwiches. And Swiss beer. One might go as far as calling the very American Inglewood a Swiss picnic.
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