Bars & cafes – All our local tips

The “Alhambar” is certainly not an insider tip anymore – the place if famous enough to figure in the Lonely Planet guide! But famous or not, I love the fancy decoration of the bar which has been described as ‘retro-futurist’.

The restaurant is open for lunch during the week and serves brunch on Sunday. In the evening (from 17:00), the trendy place becomes a ‘night bar’ with themed music nights (see programme). Depending on the event and the DJ there is a small admission fee to pay but most nights are free.

I like the Alhambar for a drink after work when it is still fairly quiet and I can chill out on one of the dark red couches. If you come a bit later (from 22:00, depending on the day) you better like crowds!

Once the lights are dimmed and the DJ’s get to work, the place fills up quickly and you will have to fight in order to get a seat!

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Alhambar | Bars, Restaurants (Lunch)
Rue de la Rôtisserie 10 | Vieille-ville | +41223121313
Mon 12:00 – 14:00, Tue – Wed 12:00 – 14:00 & 17:00 – 01:00, Thu – Fri 12:00 – 14:00 & 17:00 – 02:00, Sat 16:00 – 02:00,
Sun 11:00 – 00:00

Restaurant during the day, bar at night, this trendy spot in Carouge is worth a visit. I love the interior design with its changing light and colours but the place has far more to offer: A great terrace, good food, friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere. All kinds of people come here to have a good time and you will be served with a smile.

For lunch there is a choice of two freshly cooked and promptly served “plat du jour” (dish of the day) and they also offer different salads. In the evening you can enjoy a variety of tapas and an extensive choice of wine by the glass.

Sunday between 11:00 and 15:00 is brunch time. Geraldine’s buffet is mouth-watering and the “all-you-can-eat” formula makes sure nobody goes hungry. You will find different kinds of bread, cheese, eggs, cold meat, quiches, fruit and cereal.
Those who love Sushi should not miss Sunday evening from 18:00 to 22:00 when you can try a home-made variety of them.

For live music at the weekend, check out “Le Box”: The association in charge of the bar’s small auditorium organizes concerts on a regular basis and promising artists get a chance to show their talent. The programme can be found on their website.

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Auberge du Cheval Blanc | Bars, Restaurants | Sun brunch CHF 22.00
Place de l’Octroi 15 | Carouge | +41223436161
Tue – Wed 11:30 – 01:00, Thu – Fri 11:30 – 02:00, Sat 12:00 – 02:00, Sun 10:30 – 01:00

Les Bains des Paquis is one of my favorite place in Geneva, located right on the lake!

Kids, adults, old people, whites, blacks, latinos, rastas, artists, bankers, elegant swans, ducks who charm you to have some bread… Everybody lives in a perfect harmony in the Bains des Paquis. Only the sparrows show no respect stealing food from every-one’s plate!

The cheese fondue is back!!! Enjoying a champagne fondue in the “cabane” of Bains des Paquis” is an unique experience! You will definitely like the warming atmosphere of the place unless you want to have a quite romantic dinner. Ask for the “Religieuse”, once you finish the cheese… A recommandation: come early to eat, the place is closing before 21:30.

Other beautiful moments at Les Bains des Paquis:

…A breakfast from 08:00 with a fresh juice and some Swiss specialities : bircher & Cenovis that you share with ducks and swans as the place is still not too crowded

…For lunch, a colourful meal of the day from CHF 12.00 only, for sure the best value of Geneva.

Bon appétit!

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Bains des Paquis | Bars, Relaxing, Festivals & events, Restaurants (Healthy)
Quai du Mont-Blanc 30 | Les Pâquis | +41227381616
08:00 – 21:30 daily

Looking for something that you will not find in any guidebook? Fancy a snack or a drink? You will have to make your way to Rue de la Ferme, a small side street somewhere between Plainpalais and Carouge.

Squeezed in between the post office and a hairdresser you will see a sign: “Bigoudi 13″. This small, convivial tapas bar is highly appreciated by the locals and although it looks very discreet from the outside, it is an extremely popular place! It is run by two women, Muriel and Laura and they serve delicious home made food, always fresh and according to the season.

There is a daily menu for lunch and in the evenings you can try their tapas, salads and soups. Don’t miss the juices and cocktails! Everything is served in a friendly atmosphere, making you feel as if you had been invited to a friend’s place for a drink or a bite to eat!

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Bigoudi 13 | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants
Rue de la Ferme 9 | Plainpalais | +41764223535
Mon – Tue 10:00 – 00:00, Wed – Fri 10:00 – 01:00

Café Art’s is closed to La Caravane passe in les Pâquis. It’s a very nice café: amazing vertical lightening, great interesting paintings (there are exhibitions from time to time), nice jazzy music… At the back of the room, you’ll find comfortable couches, near which a huge bookcase is located.

It’s not rare to see parents and their children sitting in “the reading room” while the father is reading his newspaper and children comic books chosen from many nearby. A lot of different objects are placed in the café, such as mirror, type-writing, old books, lamps that make this place so particular in the so chic Geneva. A wi-fi connection is available in the entire café.

As each self-respecting café, their cappuccino is awesome, their renversé is inimitable and their hot chocolate the same as when we were kids. At lunch, the basilica tortellinis is my favourite and the white beer so good. You can finish with a slice of cake, and that always helps when you spend a few hours there to work for college, or to read a good book!

It’s as if you’re no longer in Geneva, but rather in the famous Café St Germain in Paris!

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Café Art’s | Bars, Restaurants (French) | White beer CHF 6.00
Rue des Pâquis 17 | Les Pâquis | +41227380797
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 02:00, Sat & Sun 08:00 – 02:00

You can never predict what you’ll live at l’Aiglon! One day, the bar is quite calm… The day after, you’ll see people dressed up, dancing on the tables or knees on the floor!

Most customers are 30 years or older, men for the most part. You might have your food with a crazy man or a prostitute at the table next to you as the bar is located in the heart of the red light district.

I like going to Aiglon at lunch time. You’ll the meal of the day for CHF 17.00 with appetizer and dessert!I have heard that the food is not so good at night but I have never tried. Bon app!

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L’Aiglon | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Restaurants (french) | meal of the day € 17
Rue Sismondi 16 | Les Pâquis | +41227329760
Open Mon – Sat, Dj from Thu – Sat 22:00 – 02:00

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L’Usine is one of the last spot of the alternative culture in Geneva. Some people want to see it closed, but thanks to a lot of faithful support, it is still here!

They organized a lot of different activities, as it is divided in different parts. There are two rooms for the concert and parties (le Kab or PTR downstairs and the Zoo upstairs). Each of the rooms each one having a bar inside, so you can have a really cheap beer while dancing inside. There is one bar called le Moloko, where you can have an excellent Picon beer; a theatre, a cinema called the Spoutnik, and a space for contemporary art exhibitions.

My best parties were definitely at this club! The concerts are great: I saw Nada Surf there for example. As the room is not really that big, you feel very connected to the group. As for the parties, there are always a lot of young people between 16 and 28 that are always in a good mood. Of course, some of you might be disturbed by the teenagers who go there, but I think if you are with a bunch of your friends and just want to have a good time, you should definitely have a look at it! The All Styles parties in the PTR are my favorites because you will find yourself dancing on very old and famous records. The electro parties and drum’n bass sessions are cool as well and always take place in the Zoo.

Sometimes, they open the entire building for a night, so you have the possibility to go either to the PTR or the Zoo. You will pay once and you will be able to listen to some electro upstairs and some all styles downstairs. That’s always a great mix! The Electron Festival will take place between April 1st to 4th! For more information, click on the website link: http://www.electronfestival.ch/2010/

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L’Usine | Bars, Music | Entry From CHF 5.00
4 place des Volontaires | Plainpalais | +41227813490
Thu – Sat 22:00 – 05:00 (depends on the period of the year)

La Clémence is the bar I would take every visitor to.

The first reason would be its location, right on the Place du Bourg-de-Four. This is the most strategic point of the old town, near almost everything, like the shopping streets or the cathedral.

I wouldn’t be able to say if I prefer it in the morning with an espresso, a croissant and the newspaper, after work with a fresh beer, or in the evening, before going out.

When the weather allows it, the terrace is set up and a massive crowd invades the place. You can get a grasp of the popularity of la Clémence by seeing the nearest bars – which are even more than near, just beside la Clémence as you can guess on the photo – half empty (I insist, not half-full) while it’s legendary competitor is overwhelmed by clients.

If it’s too cold to be outside, just enter the tiny bar: you’ll enjoy the charming wooden banks and stools, the old-fashioned atmosphere and the conversations with the regular barflies! Let’s just hope it won’t lose its charm by losing the smoke (the new non-smoking law is now in force)…

My favorite bar, by far!

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La Clémence | Bars | Beer CHF 4.20
Place du Bourg-de-four 20 | Vieille-ville
Sun – Thu 08:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 08:00 – 02:00

La Demi Lune is a bar-restaurant located in the Old Town, closed to the Place du Bourg de Four and La Clemence (check the La Clemence article).

It is a nice spot filled with comfortable couches at the back, high tables and chairs in the center and a little room to eat.

Their cocktails are great (you should try the Demi Lune cocktail!). Their meals are really good : among others you can choose from tandori chicken, spring rolls and hamburgers…

The staff is young (students mainly) and the music is quite jazzy most of the time, although you can hear some french music and others from time to time!

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La Demi-Lune | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (International) | Hamburger CHF 15.00
Rue Etienne Dumont 3 | Vieille-ville | +41223121290
Mon – Wed 10:00 – 01:00, Thu – Fri 10:00 – 02:00, Sat 16:00 – 02:00 , Sun 16:00 – 01:00

La Ferblanterie is right in front of the Cafe du Lys (check the Cafe du Lys article) and a good alternative if this one is too crowded, which is usually the case at night.

In the summer, there is a lovely tiny terrace at the back, where you can enjoy the sun, which is better than sitting outside by the street.

I just love how they decorate the place, with old pictures on the walls, tables and chairs in wood. You feel like you’re in in a kind of house where you become a part of the family. The music is always nice, getting you in a very good mood. The staff is helpful and very funny (and pretty!).

You can eat great and cheap sandwiches, paninis and other home made snacks, with a beer (picon beer is one of my favorites).

It is also a great place to find tips for exhibitions and concerts, because there’s a spot inside devoted to announcements with many leaflets and flyers! Of course, it is not the only place in Geneva where you can find flyers, but it is always good to know where you can find them!

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La Ferblanterie | Bars, Snacks | Beer CHF 4.00
Rue de l’Ecole de Médecine 8 | Plainpalais | +41223209042
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 01:00

This great bar is located near Le Coup de Girafe (check the Le Coup de Girafe article) in front of the primary school of Lea Eaux-Vives. It is easy to get there by bus, since bus 2 and 6 can take you there (bus stop: Vollandes).

I really enjoy going there for cocktail time and hang out for a couple of hours with my friends. They have one of the best list of wines (especially red ones) and if you don’t know which one to pick, the nice staff will help you in your choice depending on your tastes.

They can also serve you amazing cocktails and at night. Your drinks will come with olives, which will make your drink more delicious! What I particularly like in this bar is that the staff are really passionate about their job, so they will make their customers discover new wines each season.

They will serve you delicious plats du jour during the lunch break and they always pay a particular attention to fresh products. You can also have their fresh salads if you prefer, which is also very good.

The music is really nice, and since the bar is from now on a non-smoking place (as every other bars and restaurants in Geneva now!), it is even more pleasant to have a drink there.

During the summer, they open a little terrace at the back of the bar, which will allow you to make the most of your time under the sun, while enjoying a nice Spanish wine. Divine!

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La Suite 115 | Bars, Restaurants (French) | Glass of wine from CHF 5.00
61 rue du 31 décembre | Eaux-Vives | +410227861115
Mon – Wed 07:00 – 00:00, Thu – Fri 07:00 – 02:00, Sat 17:00 – 02:00

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 amazing place is located in Rue de L’Ecole de Médecine in Plainpalais, a street where there are a few great bars on its two sides. It has been built, as the legend says, by three excited friends after a bet that they made. The music is always nice. Of course, the cafe is peaceful and quiet during the morning and the afternoon and is much more crowded I would say starting 06:00pm. I spent some of my most unforgettable nights there…

It’s really close to Uni Mail (see the unimail article), that’s why so many students come running to this place to enjoy their drinks, especially at night. For lunch, they always serve some delicious and original meals, and their student-formula is really attractive.

At night, they have nice tapas with good beer from one of the longest and most diversified beer lists that I have seen in Geneva. From time to time, they have parties in there, where everyone is dressed up for the occasion.

The staff is always nice, helpful and funny. They also have a great selection of teas, coffees and craft syrups. You can finish up by having their succulent and famous chocolate cake, that will make you come back many times.

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Le Café du Lys | Bars, Snacks | Tapas CHF 5.00
7 rue de l’Ecole de Médecine | Plainpalais | +41223287826
09:00 – 02:00 daily

This tea room is located right in the middle of les Eaux-Vives, one of the most popular neighborhoods of Geneva. You can either have breakfast when you wake up, with delicious slice of bread or home-made cakes and tea selected among plenty, a big salad at lunch or some amazing tapas at night, with a good red wine.

If you go there in winter, you need to taste their home made hot chocolate, a real delight! I love their home made pies, especially their “apple upside-down”, as the slice is warmed and is served with some sugar cane sirup…

In the summer, a little terrace will welcome you, but you should definitely have a look inside, as the decor worth it. Indeed, couches, lamps, magazines, old radio, a big giraffe in one corner, make this spot a very intimate place where you will definitely feel like you’re in your grandparents’ living-room.

The staff is really great and the beautiful owner is always smiling! The music is always nice and from time to time, a singer comes when the night falls.

Enjoy!

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Le Coup de Girafe | Bars, Coffee & tea | home-made cake CHF 7.00
18 rue Maunoir | Eaux-Vives | +41227009632
Tue – Thu 07:45 – 00:00, Fri 07:45 – 01:00, Sat 10:00 – 01:00, Sun 10:00 – 17:00

Do you know the “marchand de vin”(wine merchant) drink? This is a mix of beer – white wine and lemon syrup. Sweet but strong!

Le marchand de sable” has made the marchand de vin its own speciality. It is one of the most famous in Carouge, a bar crowded with loud high school students.

Do not come here for a romantic date! Last time I went, I had to put up with loud heavy metal… Moreover, you can be disturbed at any moment by strange interactions between the tables. One day a girl even came to my table to offer me a blowjob against a beer… Anything can happen in this lively bar!

I have just heard that the style of the place has changed recently as there is a new owner. I have to check it out!

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Le Marchand de Sable | Bars | Marchand de vin € 5.00
Rue Vautier 4 | Carouge | +41223421075
Sun – Thu until 01:00, Fri – Sat until 02:00

If you miss the Shakespeare language and the pints of beers, head to the oldest and biggest English pub of Switzerland: Pickwick! It just celebrated its 40 years anniversary!!

This pub is located on the northeast end of the Paquis area; you’ll find it easily as it is on the main road (rue de Lausanne).

This pub is still appreciated by local soccer fans that meet occasionally for a Champions league or an international game. This place is full of screens that allow you to watch various games in the same time: poor neck!

Apart from soccer, Mr. Pickwick is well known for hosting live music and serves English classic food.

I almost forgot the most important… You’ll find a range of 11 different draft beers!

Cheers!

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Pickwick | Bars, Restaurants (English) | 5dl draft beer € 8.20
Rue de Lausanne 80 | Les Pâquis | +41227316797
10:00 – 02:00 daily

I’m a football (soccer) fan, especially interested in English football (Glory, glory Man United…) and I like to watch the games with a fresh pint of Guinness.

Luc already wrote about the Pickwick (check the Pickwick article), which has probably the best British mood for games, but it’s too far for me. Therefore, I go either to the Lady Godiva (see below), or to the Springbros, lost in the old town.

It has that ambiguous warm and gloomy atmosphere of the typical all-wooden Irish pub. The barmen – very friendly – speak English (meaning they might have some notions in French, but don’t like to show it!). Many customers speak English too, and so you forget quickly you’re in Geneva, and then remember vividly Geneva is an international city.

The main problem with the bar is that it opens at 17:00, which might be too late for some Premier league games. But they’re open 7 days a week until 02:00, and offer different themes for each day of the week when no game is shown. And of course, you can always play darts.

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Springbros. Irish Pub | Bars | Pint of Guiness CHF 7.50
Grand-rue 23 | Vieille-ville | +41223124008
17:00 – 02:00 daily