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. 

Related reading: 12 Best Restaurants In Spain

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.  

Related reading: 20 Best Restaurants in France

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. 

Related reading: Embrace Winter in One of These Luxury Resorts in Switzerland

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.

A-listers are wont to flock to Tuscany, aren’t they? Florence is not only one of Italy’s finest cities, it’s also the gateway to Tuscany – opening into rolling hillsides and vineyards, the like of which you’ve seen on the pages of glossy magazines, at celebrity weddings. Clearly, the stars know where to find the best hotels in Tuscany. But where do celebrities stay in Florence? They – like the rest of us – love the city for its opulent Renaissance architecture, impeccable food and world-class art, but there are so many special places to stay, one could easily find themselves quite spoiled for choice. It is uniquely hard to pull together a list of the best hotels in Florence because there are simply so many – it’s palazzo after palazzo, pool after pool, fresco after fresco. A Renaissance banquet for the senses.

Here are some of our favorite luxury hotels in Florence. 

Villa Cora

This is a villa in the most fairytale sense of the word – an imposing standalone building, twinkling with lights and surrounded by pristine lawns, oak trees and roses. The villa was a private residence for centuries, welcoming elite guests through its halls, from Princess Eugenie (wife of Napoleon III) to the French pianist Claude Debussy. Rooms and suites are richly adorned with history and refinement, laced with jewel tones and velvet. 

 

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The St Regis, Florence

Set along the banks of the Arno River, this palazzo designed by Filippo Brunelleschi is one of our favorite hotels with a view. The luckiest guests can peer out through heavy damask drapery over the Ponte Vecchio and Tuscan hills. It’s a view that really encapsulates the grandeur of this city. There’s no less grandeur within, though – think, crystal chandeliers, four poster beds, reproductions of Renaissance artwork, frescoes, stained glass, the works. The lobby is a sensation. 

Related reading: 21 Most Beautiful Places In Italy You Need To Visit

Hotel Calimala

One of the best hotels in Florence for blending old and new, this 19th century palazzo has been filled with modern furniture, terrazzo floors and mirrored headboards, though rooms feature lots of exposed original brickwork, too. There is a little more glamor here, a little less opulence – lots of black and white marble and careful lighting. 

 

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Villa San Michele

The rumor mill strongly suggests that previous guests of this 15th-century villa carved into a hilltop include Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian and Julia Roberts. It’s currently undergoing a renovation and will reopen in 2026, which is thrilling because it’s already hard to picture a more perfect place to stay – it makes so many of the best hotels in Florence look basic. The Belmond website correctly describes Villa San Michele as a “perpetual Renaissance dream of Italian indulgence” – picture yourself walking among the garden’s lemon trees and fragrant roses (in 2026). 

Related reading: These Are Our 15 Favorite Michelin Star Restaurants in Italy

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

This 15th-century Medici palace is a Florentine classic with all the extras you could wish for: Michelin starred cuisine, glittering pool and sprawling botanical gardens, abundant with majestic trees, like the umbrella pine, weeping beech and ginkgo. Floral displays abound indoors and palettes are cool and creamy, though the hotel is palatial from its frescoed ceilings to its marble floors. 

 

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Brunelleschi Hotel

Of all the views in the world described as ‘breathtaking’, the view directly over the Duomo from rooms at this very central boutique hotel, actually are. All eyes are on the dome; pared back rooms with parquet floors and angular furniture are designed to cool you off from the sheer excitement and drama of the view. Downstairs, an unexpected treat: a tiny, private archaeology museum.

Related reading: Best Hotels In Europe In 2025

Riva Lofts

This is one of the best hotels in Florence despite actually being 10 meticulously crafted lofts (by the architect behind Dolce & Gabbana’s boutiques). Riva is a collection of early-20th-century stone buildings that were once artisan workshops. The lofts themselves are chic, airy spaces that feel a little Mediterranean, with stone walls, calm colours, linens and squishy but cubist sofas. 

 

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Il Salviatino

What is the best area of Florence to stay in? We love the lush hills of Fiesole in the north-east, which feels like a rich, tranquil blend of Florence and Tuscany, but is only a 20-minute taxi away from the duomo. Here, Il Salviatino provides the most fabulous retreat, with contemporary but noble Tuscany-adjacent rooms and a spectacular botanical garden spa that uses products by Florentine’s best perfumiers and cosmetologists. 

Hotel Montebello Splendid

This is where guests on our Ultimate Italy journey rest their royal heads for three nights – in between sampling the flavors of Umbria and dipping a toe in the sea on the sparkling Cinque Terre. Hotel Montebello Splendid is one of our chosen accommodations in Florence thanks to its understated neoclassical charm, and the serenity and elegance it provides, despite its  wonderfully central location – it’s just a short walk to the Ponte Vecchio. 

Hotel Montebello Splendid, Florence

Velona’s Jungle Luxury Suites

A slightly offbeat choice in both location in style, Velona’s Jungle Luxury Suites is more like a chic and characterful Florentine home – a place to really get comfortable. Though not central, it’s only a 15-minute walk to key sights, and the interiors are jungle-themed, festooned with palm fronds and drapery in lush shades of teal, sage and fern. The suites have canopy beds and rainshowers with chromotherapy lights.

See Florence in luxury on our Ultimate Italy journey. 

We have a lot of love for Lisbon, and we know we’re not the only ones. It’s the perfect city to linger a while; not too big and not too small, with delicious treasures up and down its cobbled streets. And it wears its brilliance so lightly. If you’re embarking on a luxury tour to Portugalwith us, but want more Lisbon in your life, you might be wondering: what is the nicest hotel in Lisbon? If you choose to extend your stay, here – for your consideration – are the best hotels in Lisbon.

1. Pousada de Lisboa

You know this is one of our top hotels in Lisbon because it’s where guests stay on our Spain and Portugal in Style journey. It’s a palatial city landmark and we love it for its timeless grandeur: the marble halls, the Portuguese art-filled corridors and majestic, sunshine yellow facade. It’s a refined sanctuary on Praça do Comércio, in the heart of historical Lisbon.

2. Brown’s Avenue Hotel

The Brown’s Hotel Group runs four boutique hotels in Lisbon, and this one’s rooftop pool is the crown of them all. It’s not huge, but it’s supremely glamorous, set in angular, sun-bleached limestone and surrounded by potted cacti, green striped loungers and vintage style parasols. If you like your resting place to feel like an oasis, this is one of the best hotels in Lisbon for you.

3. Pestana Palace

If you want somewhere to stay that is unabashedly palatial from top to toe, Pestana is the place. On the palace hotel checklist it has: parquet floors, frescoed ceilings, stained glass windows, oil paintings, marble staircase and lush, green garden flourishing with subtropical trees. There is a spa with a Turkish bath, and the outdoor pool (converted from an original garden lake) will make you want to weep.

4. Convent Square Lisbon

Super-central and as sleek as you could possibly wish it to be, this 800-year-old Dominican convent is easily one of the best hotels in Lisbon. The heart of the place is the open-air cloister, complete with a central firepit and plush outdoor furniture – a place to rest after a morning of walking up and down hills. The rooms are also about peace and repose, with neutral tones, sumptuous sheets and bronze velvet cushions.

5. Palácio Príncipe Real

Another palácio for your address book, this one is in the Principe Real, which is the best neighborhood to stay in Lisbon if you like to swoosh down chic, quiet streets, but still be close to the action. Within this 28-room peachy mansion, you’ll find checkerboard marble floors, palm motifs, azulejo tiles, chandeliers and a glorious, bougainvillea-filled garden with an enormous heated pool and always-alluring hammocks.

6. Bairro Alto Hotel

This is a big old 87-room 18th century building that sits grandly on the borders of two bohemian neighborhoods: the Bairro Alto (an old quarter at the top of Lisbon) and Chiado (lively cultural hub). These are two neighborhoods people might name in answer to the question, which part of Lisbon is best to stay? The Bairro Alto Hotel was one of the first boutique hotels in the city in 2005. No two rooms are the same and each has its own dose of Portuguese flair, with glazed tiles, woven fabrics and ceramics by local makers. The terrace is a special place to soak up views of the city and the Rio Tejo.

7. ME Lisbon by Meliá

The best hotels in Lisbon offer a little respite from the city. On our Ultimate Portugal journey, we stop at this sparkling “luxury lifestyle hotel” to be soothed and energised in equal measure. At the magnificent rooftop pool, sunset is served with spicy watermelon margaritas and California rolls. Rooms are light, modern spaces, with plenty of personality and dreamy views whether you’re facing the street or the Palácio Sotto Mayor.’

8. Memmo Alfama

Many visitors city’s fans cite Alfama as the best place to stay in Lisbon, thanks to its winding, cobbled streets and the fado music that drifts through them as evening descends. Memmo Alfama sits in an immaculately restored 19th century building, beautifully blending the old and the new. The Memmo motto is “make yourself at home” and it’s easy to do so in the fresh, white rooms, with polished concrete floors and views over red roofs, towards the river.

9. Lumiares

An homage to Lisbon’s colours, patterns, and light, this luxury, apartment-style stay in Bairro Alto does not let you forget where you are. The rooftop bar and restaurant is all terracotta, linen, rattan and stone, with mesmerising city views and gorgeous gazpacho and roast octopus. Interiors feature monochrome tiles and gold detailing alongside natural materials – and even the studio rooms have kitchens and coffee machines.

10. Palacio Ludovice

One more palacio for the road (although this one is a mere five storeys, a palacete), this relatively recent luxury opening is named after the man who built it nearly 300 years ago, João Federico Ludovice, architect to King João V. The 18th-century tiles, frescoes and stucco ceilings have all been wonderfully restored. Good news for oenophiles, too: it considers itself a ‘wine experience hotel’, with wines from each Portuguese region represented, a five-course ‘wine dinner’ in the restaurant and wine-themed treatments in the Caudalie spa.