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.
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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.
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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.
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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 - ?
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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).
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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?)
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
Flea market, produce, etc… Tues / Fri / Sat / 1st Sunday of the month
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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
Conservatoire et Jardin Botanique
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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Geneva public transport - TPG
1 Rte de La-Chapelletpg.ch -- Use this website / application to plan your public transportation - route planners, buy tickets, etc.