Art & culture – All our local tips

The “Grütli is one of my all-time-favourites. It combines art and culture with culinary pleasures and if you are interested in theatre and cinema and appreciate fine food in a relaxed non-smoking environment, do not miss this place!

The building, a former school built in the early 1870’s, is owned by the city of Geneva and has been transformed into the “house of art” (Maison des Arts du Grütli) in 1987 by well-known architects. Several film-festivals take place here during the year offering a great selection of films and documentaries from all over the world. Showings usually come with French/German or sometimes English subtitles.

The restaurant, called “Café du Grütli”, is my favourite place for a drink or dinner. Indulge in its creative cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere, flick through art magazines or admire temporary exhibitions. The menu changes each season and the desserts are a must (try the “crème brulée”, it is divine). The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day of the week and has a great terrace as well as good, friendly service.

Please note: the restaurant is closed on Sundays during the month of August.

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Café du Grütli | Art & culture, Cinemas, Theaters, Restaurants | Main from CHF 30
Général Dufour 16 | Vieille-ville | +41223215158
Mon – Thu 08:00 – 00:00, Fri 08:00 – 01:00, Sat 16:00 – 01:00, Sun 10:00 – 22:30 (Aug closed on Sun)

I brought Spanish and Argentinean friends to various spots in Geneva in the last summers; their favourite place has been Le Bateau!!! Dancing in an authentic boat with an amazing view of the lake and the “Jet d’eau” is a moment!!!

Unfortunately we’ll have to find some more months as there are not many parties in winter. For the program, check the website. Do not miss the overground festival that take place end of August, you will probably see me there as I go almost every nights!

In summer… you can also eat the meal of the day starting from 12 frs.  I enjoyed various  “raclettes” with some beautiful sunsets! As few people knew that we could eat on this boat, I often had the deck for me!

Le Bateau is not only a restaurant or a party place but also a social association. The goal of this association is to receive adults who are in a difficult personal or social situation.

Check the website to have more information (in french only)

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Le Bateau | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Snacks, Festivals & events
Quai Gustave Ador | Eaux-Vives | +41227360775
Events only

This museum is a place I like to go to when being outside isn’t that attractive. It offers various ethnographic expositions; most of the time even two different themes are exhibited at the same time.

There is always something special about seeing real live art pieces, but I think the impression is even greater with this type of collection. These objects are so exotic for many, the organizers are forced to put them in context, to set up a whole scene. It turns a simple visit into an interactive trip and I’ve rarely been disappointed when back home.

There is an exposition on music as it was recorded and brought to our part of the world by certain musical lovers and amateur ethnographs. The reflexion then turns to forms of expressivity of emotions in music and the conditions for authenticity. For a quick overlook, check out the webpage.

Then, starting January 2010, you’ll go on with the visit and admire Buddhist representations of Kannon, a divinity of the buddhist pantheon.

Tip: All museums are free on every first Sunday of the month in Geneva, take this opportunity!

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Musée d’Ethnographie | Art & culture | Entrance CHF 5.00
Blvd Carl-Vogt 65 | Plainpalais | +41224184550
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00

Geneva has many parks but my favourite is Parc des Bastions. Students, families, tourists and locals – people from all walks of life come here to chill out.

The park used to be Geneva’s first botanical garden until the end of the 19th century and it is still an extremely popular place. If you take the slightest interest in Geneva’s history, you can admire the Reformation wall, a rather impressive monument, erected in 1909 in honour of the founders of Protestantism.

Bring your food and drink and have a picnic or enjoy the terrace of the pavilion-restaurant. The park is full of statues and fountains and has over 50 varieties of rare trees. The giant (life-sized) chess and checker games right at the main entrance are a popular meeting place all year round and those who are travelling with a laptop may appreciate the wireless hotspot of the park.

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Parc des Bastions | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Place de Neuve | Vieille-ville
24 hours daily

The first Swiss museum to be devoted to the fine arts, the Rath Museum displays large temporary exhibitions organised by the Art and History Museum. After one entire year of renovation works, the Museum reopened, so it is a good opportunity to admire it!

Built as a gift to the people of Geneva by two sisters, Jeanne-Françoise and Henriette Rath, and inaugurated in 1826, the museum was conceived as a “Temple of the Muses” embodying both French taste and the Italian style.

The museum currently exhibits international as well as Swiss art. Over the past decade it has housed more than 60 thematic and single-artist exhibitions. Special emphasis has been laid on archaeology and ancient art on the one hand (e.g. “Treasures of Islam”) and on modern and contemporary art on the other (”Bram van Velde”, “Markus Raetz” retrospectives, etc).

More recently, attention has been paid to the Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler, with an exhibition on his Swiss landscapes has been created.

Most of the time, the exhibitions last between four to six months and visits with a guide take place on a particular day. They are very interesting, because they are made by a specialist of the masterpieces presented.

From March 31st to August 15th, 2010, the temporary exhibition “This is a Swiss Drawing (1990-2010)” is on. It focuses on contemporary drawings and the existence (or non-existence) of links between drawing and Swiss culture. The exhibition welcomes the works of forty artists from the different linguistic regions. Visitors are invited to discover the different branches of the medium, its deployment ranging from paper supports to digital technologies (vectorial drawing), its methods of installation and interventions.

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Rath Museum | Art & culture | Entrance CHF 10.00
Place Neuve 2 | Plainpalais | +41224183340
Tue & Thu – Sun 10:00 – 17:00, Wed 12:00 – 21:00 – Closed on Mondays

When visiting a city, some people like visiting churches… I personally prefer visit soccer stadiums and hanging out in the universities! It plunges me back into a great time I had at the University of Geneva, especially in Unimail!

First of all, if you want to look like more “Genevois” do not pronounce UniMail like “mailbox” but like the french word “maille”!!! You are now ready!

The modern UniMail is located in the heart of the lively Plainpalais at one block of the Plaine de Plainpalais. The construction of this university is one of the main reasons of the flourishing bars in the neighbourhood : Calamar, Café du Lys (see this article) Ferblanterie etc.

If you’re lucky you will find free and delicious food as there is quite often a buffet after some conferences or workshops! Anyway, you can always join the rest of the students in one of the two cafeterias in the day time.

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Unimail | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks
Boulevard du Pont d’Arve 40 | Plainpalais | +41223201704
All year around (sometimes a badge is required to open the door)