I just returned from two days in Geneva, Switzerland as the start of a ski vacation in Chamonix and really enjoyed the city. It’s a beautiful city that is totally walkable, has great cuisine and architecture and a great kicking off point for a trip to the French Alps where we skied in Chamonix, France. Read on for our Geneva, Switzerland Travel Guide.
Day One:
Check In at Tiffany Hotel: After taking a cab from the airport, we checked into a wonderful suite at the Tiffany Hotel, which is perfectly situated in the heart of Geneva and is walking distance to all of the activities we would do while in town. This four-star hotel was wonderfully designed with a great room and amenities (such as Frette linens) and concierges that beautifully helped us get around town. It’s location, design and price point made it a great home base for us to explore the city from.
Lunch at Brasserie Des Halles de Lile: After settling into the hotel, we went to Brasserie Des Halles de Lile for a wonderful brunch. This scenic restaurant is located on its own island in the middle of a river and uses its space well with giant windows creating tons of light on the inside of the restaurant, creating a cozy, hygge-like feel.
We ordered the English Breakfast of scrambled eggs and crispy bacon and an amazing hamburger with extra bacon along with some delicious cocktails. I had a wonderful aperol spritz while my husband sipped red wine. Our portions were very sizable and cooked to perfection. The food and service was wonderful as was the setting. I especially liked the decor throughout — lots of greenery, rustic wood, tables with high-design elements, etc.
The Fountain & Clock: Next, we walked about ten minutes to Geneva’s iconic jet d’eau fountain, stopping at their flower clock on the way for a requisite photo. The fountain, on Lake Geneva, is one of the tallest int he world and one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The flower clock, called L’horloge fleurie, isn’t much to look at but it worth swinging by not he way to the fountain.
Cocktails at Voodoo Reyes: I’m about to give some high praise to Voodoo Reyes, but it is completely deserved. This eclectic cocktail bar has catapulted itself to the top of my favorite cocktail bars in all of the world. Their bartenders, especially Katalin, have such a passion for mixology that shines through in everything they do, and they have the most inventive and extensive cocktail menu printed on Tarot Cards, which is a bonus in my book.
One of the things I loved most about Voodoo Reyes is how their bartenders like to suss out what flavor profile, alcohol and type of drink you like so that they can create something for you on the spot. Katalin did this for me with a mezcal-based cocktail that was out-of this-world good. The attention to detail is incredible, for instance, each cocktail is served in a unique glass tailor-made for the concoction and has garnishes to go with the theme.
The cocktails were decadently delicious and presented in a way that you truly drank with your eyes first (seriously, one of the cocktails comes in an open reptile mouth and covered in a smoked-out glass canister!). The same goes for the eclectic decor at Voodoo, which is both whimsical and sophisticated at once. We absolutely adored our time at Voodoo Reyes and enthusiastically recommend it to you.
Dinner at L’Adresse: For dinner, we went to a wonderful retail-shop-turned restaurant called L’Adresse. We had a delicious meal of ravioli and beef with mushrooms paired with some great red wine. The restaurant had a wonderful, casual energy and a super friendly staff. We felt like locals being that we heard no one else speaking English in the restaurant. Our portions were hearty and tasty and the wine was delicious. It was the perfect way to spend a cold, winter’s night.
Drinks at La Verre a Monique: From the same ownership group as Voodoo Reyes comes La Verre a Monique, a sultry speakeasy that feels a bit like stepping back into time. Like its sister restaurant, the cocktails at La Verre a Monique were extremely inventive and the attention to detail from the bartenders on the customer’s taste profile was very much part of the process.
The atmosphere of the bar is like that of a hidden speakeasy with the utmost attention to detail of the eclectic decor. We ordered a number of cocktails, each better than the next. My favorite cocktail was called The English Garden, which was very light and refreshing and such a nice nightcap.
Day Two:
Breakfast at Hotel Tiffany: On our second day in Geneva, we headed downstairs from our room to Hotel Tiffany’s famed Sunday brunch. The hotel puts out a delicious spread of traditional items such as scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, cheese, pastries, fruit and pancakes, and you can also order breakfast plates from the kitchen. From their menu, their mini sliders looked wonderful, but we had already filled up on the buffet! There is a set price for the menu, which also includes fresh juices and coffee. We suggest making reservation in advance.
Explore Old Town: This hillside, cobblestone area of Geneva was my absolute favorite place to walk around as it was like walking in a postcard of how you picture Geneva.
Lunch at Bains de Paquis: One of the best finds of our trip was an extremely casual, Lake-side restaurant serving up the most delicious fondue my husband and I have ever tasted. Bains de Paquis is a wonderful little hole in the wall at a swimming spot in Geneva where you can indulge in rich, Swiss food while taking in the sun and hearing the waves crash around you. It really is special. We loved that their fondue was extremely light because it is cooked with champagne, making it fluffy instead of dense. One word of advice: Bains de Paquis only takes cash, so make sure to get some before heading there!
Explore the Carrouges Neighborhood: This hipster neighborhood about a 35-minute walk from downtown Geneva is worth a visit if you have the time. Some liken it to the West Village in New York (it’s nothing like that), but it has its own charms and great shops worth exploring.
Dinner at Osteria della Bottega: We finished our two days in Geneva just perfectly with the most delicious dinner at acclaimed Osteria della Bottega in Geneva’s charming Old Town neighborhood. The restaurant’s owners have another location a short walk away that recently was awarded a Michelin star, so we were super excited to be able to experience the amazing cuisine at Osteria della Bottega.
This note from Bottega’s Michelin review completely also applies to Osteria della Bottega: “The chef here presents a re-worked version of Italian cuisine with the help of top-quality Swiss ingredients. The modern, delicious dishes come full of surprises to delight guests.”
From the moment we stepped into Osteria, we knew we were in for a treat. The menu has so many delicious items, but we narrowed our choices down to two amazing entrees to share. The first was the fettuccine with a beef ragout and we also shared the filet of beef with pomme terre. The presentation of both was just stunning and from our first bite of each, were hooked.
The waiter suggested a gorgeous bottle of red wine to have with our meal, which complimented it just perfectly. We opted to split the tiramisu for dessert even though I typically am not a fan. But wow am I happy that my husband ordered this, because it was unlike any other version of the overly sweet, coffee dessert I’ve ever had. This was a deconstructed version with whipped bananas in it that I just fell in love with.
This is one of our favorite restaurants in recent history and an absolute must visit on a trip to Geneva. Be sure to make a reservation in advance!
Day 3:
Head to Chamonix for Skiing: We flew into Geneva so we would have an easy way to get to Chamonix, France to ski the French Alps. Geneva is just an hour’s drive from Chamonix, but we didn’t want to go through the hassle of renting a car and driving ourselves in a foreign country. So, we relied on Mountain Drop-offs to drive us to and from Chamonix during our trip. They were on time, had luxury vehicles and drove us safely to our destinations. We would highly recommend them! Check back on the blog for our Chamonix Travel Guide!
Read More Of Our Travel Guides:
Travel Guide: Where to Eat & Apres Ski in Zermatt
Travel Guide: Zurich’s Hotel Glockenhof
Travel Guide: Zermatt’s Riffelalp Resort
The Ultimate London Travel Guide
Amalfi Coast Travel Guide
The Ultimate Amsterdam Travel Guide
Travel Guide: Copenhagen, Denmark
Travel Guide: London’s Notting Hill