Guidebook for Genève
Food Scene
All of these food suggestions, and most of the bars, are in Paquis, within 5 minutes of the apartment.
My favourite place in town – for an affordable meal (plat de jour is 14 CHF), a swim in the summer, or sauna in the winter. You’ll find here billionaires, refugees & everything inbetween, and everyone is treated the same. They sometimes have evening events, with a DJ / cinema / some other entertainment.
It's 5 minutes away, where the lake bends, across from the Kempinski Hotel.
365 locals recommend
Bains des Paquis
30 Quai du Mont-BlancMy favourite place in town – for an affordable meal (plat de jour is 14 CHF), a swim in the summer, or sauna in the winter. You’ll find here billionaires, refugees & everything inbetween, and everyone is treated the same. They sometimes have evening events, with a DJ / cinema / some other entertainment.
It's 5 minutes away, where the lake bends, across from the Kempinski Hotel.
Eritrean food - basic decor (very pink!), but definitely cheap & cheerful. Lovely staff: the wife is the chef, and the husband is the waiter/bartender.
9 locals recommend
Mosaïque
31 Rue du MôleEritrean food - basic decor (very pink!), but definitely cheap & cheerful. Lovely staff: the wife is the chef, and the husband is the waiter/bartender.
Pad Thaï
50 Rue de MonthouxBasic decor, but good food, cheap & cheerful.
Espresso Club
25 Rue des PâquisReasonably good Italian food, fun & lively place
Low-key, nice vibe. Great place to read the newspaper or meet friends for a coffee / beer. Reasonably good food: burger, salads, etc.
24 locals recommend
Café Art's
17 Rue des PâquisLow-key, nice vibe. Great place to read the newspaper or meet friends for a coffee / beer. Reasonably good food: burger, salads, etc.
El Catrín
7 Rue de RichemontGreat Mexican food!
Yummy pho! A bit pricey, but excellent quality. And just across the street from the flat.
I see that it says above that Airbnb says it's a 'strip club' - eh??! It's definitely not! It's a Vietnamese restaurant!
Sen
43 Rue de Zurich Yummy pho! A bit pricey, but excellent quality. And just across the street from the flat.
I see that it says above that Airbnb says it's a 'strip club' - eh??! It's definitely not! It's a Vietnamese restaurant!
Shahi
38 Rue de LausanneThe best Indian food I've found in Geneva! A bit on the pricey side.
Drinks & Nightlife
Nice bar, decent (but not special) food - except Sunday brunch. I think it is closed on Saturday days - ?
25 locals recommend
Restaurant Les 5 Portes
8 Rue de ZurichNice bar, decent (but not special) food - except Sunday brunch. I think it is closed on Saturday days - ?
Surprisingly good Thai food - !
Also good bar & night club ... Not at all pretentious, low-key.
7 locals recommend
Fenomeno
28 Rue des PâquisSurprisingly good Thai food - !
Also good bar & night club ... Not at all pretentious, low-key.
Lively bar, decent restaurant, and turns to a night club later in the night. Particularly good in the summer, when the terrace is open – but open all year.
50 locals recommend
Brasserie des Halles de l'île
1 Pl. de l'IleLively bar, decent restaurant, and turns to a night club later in the night. Particularly good in the summer, when the terrace is open – but open all year.
The restaurant is at the Perle du Lac, before the Botanical Gardens. Their terrace is a perfect place for a drink in the summer - surprisingly reasonably priced (whereas the food is expensive).
23 locals recommend
Perle du Lac
126 Rue de LausanneThe restaurant is at the Perle du Lac, before the Botanical Gardens. Their terrace is a perfect place for a drink in the summer - surprisingly reasonably priced (whereas the food is expensive).
Just next to the Bains des Paquis - outdoor bar next to the lake, packed with people in the summer (and closed in the winter).
20 locals recommend
La Terrasse
31 Quai WilsonJust next to the Bains des Paquis - outdoor bar next to the lake, packed with people in the summer (and closed in the winter).
Olé-Olé
11 Rue de FribourgTapas bar - nice ambiance, but a bit noisy.
Along the Rhone, outdoors … Very laid-back, lovely beer garden in the summer. (Closed in winter, I think?)
14 locals recommend
La Barje
Promenade des LavandièresAlong the Rhone, outdoors … Very laid-back, lovely beer garden in the summer. (Closed in winter, I think?)
Hip new-ish bar, just what Paquis needed! Next to the bike shop, same owners.
Very nice vibe. Excellent place for a coffee or cocktail.
18 locals recommend
Qafé Guidoline
24 Rue des PâquisHip new-ish bar, just what Paquis needed! Next to the bike shop, same owners.
Very nice vibe. Excellent place for a coffee or cocktail.
Essentials
Closest supermarket, reasonably good selection.
Open Mon-Sat, closes 19h except Thurs (20h) and Sat (18h).
21 locals recommend
Migros Les Cygnes
18-20 Rue de LausanneClosest supermarket, reasonably good selection.
Open Mon-Sat, closes 19h except Thurs (20h) and Sat (18h).
Sri Lankan convenience shop - amazing spices!! Open late & on Sundays. Very nice guy working there.
Rue de Zurich 31
31 Rue de ZurichSri Lankan convenience shop - amazing spices!! Open late & on Sundays. Very nice guy working there.
Located in Cornavin (train station). Open every day, until 22h. The selection is limited, but enough to keep one from starving.
139 locals recommend
Migros
3-7 Pl. de CornavinLocated in Cornavin (train station). Open every day, until 22h. The selection is limited, but enough to keep one from starving.
Shopping
Tuesday & Friday mornings - local farmers' market. More expensive than the supermarket for most things (unfortunately), but still nice.
8 locals recommend
Place de la Navigation
Place de la NavigationTuesday & Friday mornings - local farmers' market. More expensive than the supermarket for most things (unfortunately), but still nice.
Plainpalais
Flea market, produce, etc… Tues / Fri / Sat / 1st Sunday of the month
Les Grottes
Local products, lively scene. Thursday evenings, 16h – 20h
Parks & Nature
Conservatory and Botanical Garden
1 Chem. de l'ImpératriceThis is the mountain you can see from Geneva, towards Annemasse, which isn’t the Alps nor the Jura.
You can walk / cycle / drive up, or take the télépherique (https://www.telepherique-du-saleve.com).
To travel by public transport: bus (Nos. 8, 34, 41, 44) to Veyrier-Ecole, Veyrier-Douane, Croix-de-Rozon douane.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/mount-saleve.html
16 locals recommend
Le Salève
575 Route des FruitièresThis is the mountain you can see from Geneva, towards Annemasse, which isn’t the Alps nor the Jura.
You can walk / cycle / drive up, or take the télépherique (https://www.telepherique-du-saleve.com).
To travel by public transport: bus (Nos. 8, 34, 41, 44) to Veyrier-Ecole, Veyrier-Douane, Croix-de-Rozon douane.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/mount-saleve.html
Walk through the vineyards of Lavaux, between Lausanne & Montreux - lovely in all seasons, and spring should be particularly so. Easily accessible by train, you just need to decide which quaint little village to exit the train.
23 locals recommend
Lavaux Vineyard Terraces
Walk through the vineyards of Lavaux, between Lausanne & Montreux - lovely in all seasons, and spring should be particularly so. Easily accessible by train, you just need to decide which quaint little village to exit the train.
Arts & Culture
I found this tour absolutely fascinating! Needs to be booked in advance - spots open up 2 weeks in advance. http://visit.cern/tours/guided-tours-individuals
53 locals recommend
CERN
1 Espl. des ParticulesI found this tour absolutely fascinating! Needs to be booked in advance - spots open up 2 weeks in advance. http://visit.cern/tours/guided-tours-individuals
The Old Town is a lovely place to walk around, have a drink or a meal. Visit the Cathedral. If you’re into history, there are a number of museums.
260 locals recommend
St Pierre Cathedral
Cour de Saint-PierreThe Old Town is a lovely place to walk around, have a drink or a meal. Visit the Cathedral. If you’re into history, there are a number of museums.
Getting Around
tpg.ch -- Use this website / application to plan your public transportation - route planners, buy tickets, etc.
8 locals recommend
Geneva public transport - TPG
1 Rte de La-Chapelletpg.ch -- Use this website / application to plan your public transportation - route planners, buy tickets, etc.