I usually go to L’Auberge du Cheval for their Sunday brunch, which consists of a buffet with a wide variety of yummy things. And it’s all you can eat. It’s better to make a reservation, as it’s quite popular. They now have it on Saturday as well! 

I also go there from time to time for a drink and some tapas. They have good quality wine and there is a wide range of tapas. They always serve fresh food and products from the season.

L’Auberge du Cheval Blanc means the Inn of the White Horse. It’s a real tavern full of treasures. The place is a bit hidden in Carouge. It’s not only a cozy place to have a drink or a meal, but they also organize concerts in their downstairs room (Le Box) on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays.

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L’Auberge du Cheval Blanc | Bars, Music, Restaurants | Brunch CHF 30
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 11:00 – 01:00

Among the good terraces Geneva has to offer, this one is probably the less known (of which I know, at least, for obviously I wouldn’t be able to tell you about the ones I don’t know!).

You access “la Barje” (it means “crazy woman/girl” in french slang, and plays with the phonetic proximity to “berge” which means “(river)bank”) either by the stairs of the Coulouvrenière bridge, or by crossing a little bridge found right before the old powerhouse.

You’ll arrive on a place surrounded by the Rhone. It’s very calm, with an old caravan in the middle. That’s the bar. You can get many different local drinks – a Calvinus (a Genevan beer), natural apple juice, or whatever you want – and can even eat homemade pie.

The concept of the terrace is to promote the associative life in Geneva: to offer summer jobs for young people, to promote the cultural scene in Geneva by organizing events, and to show it is possible to run a place with solidarity principles. The project also has ecological ambitions, using for instance compostable dishes.

Aside from its great ambitions, the bar is a nice place to go to. The people are very sympathetic, and the place is refreshing when the temperatures are too high. You can even wet your feet in the Rhone!

Check out the website for special events!

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La Barje | Bars, Music, Relaxing | Calvinus Beer CHF 4.00
Promenade des Lavandières | Plainpalais
May – Oct 11:00 – 23:00 daily

You like singing but you never dare to do it in public (unless you are drunk) as you have a poor voice… You want to escape from the Geneva atmosphere and spend a night in the heart of Asia?… You like underground bars and new adventure… Go to Philippine Assia!!!

This is place is unknown from most people in Geneva. You will plunge yourself into a really kitsch atmosphere, last time I went there were tens of little hearts sticked on the walls…

If you come during the week and early enough, you’ll have the place and the microphone for yourself. I have noticed that the place was becoming a bit more busy recently though. On the week-ends, a DJ plays from around midnight and the place turns to a disco. We go there a couple of times a year with different friends and always have a lot of fun!

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Philippine Assia | Bars, Music
Square Pradier | Les Pâquis
Tue – Sat 20:00 – 02:00

Most people agree, there is a lack of clubs in Geneva. Anyway, parties are organized in various locations. One of them is Uptown, a cinema that became a spot for shows and parties.

You dance in front of a cinema screen, sometimes with projections. According to the parties seats are used for wardrobe… an interesting place! I have enjoyed really good music there but there is a lack of people and atmosphere on the dance floor most of the times I went. As the place is quite expensive to rent, the organizers often overprice the entrance ticket…

Check the website for more information, some parties are not mentioned on this website though.

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Uptown | Bars, Cinemas, Music
2, rue de la Servette | City center
Various check website

L’Aiglon, you love it or hate it!!! This bar is located in the heart of the red light district and has a mix of gay and straight people. Some days, the bar is quite calm… The day after, you can see people dressed up, dancing on the tables or on their knees on the floor!

At night, the music gets louder and louder as the time goes by… and the people get wilder and wilder…

I have not been often to l’Aiglon recently. Nevertheless I still like it at lunch time with the meal of the day for CHF 17.00 with appetizer and dessert, good value for Geneva!

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L’Aiglon | Bars, Music, Restaurants (French) | Meal of the day CHF 17
Rue Sismondi 16 | Les Pâquis | +41227329760
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 02:00

Palais Mascotte was in 2008 the newest popular club in Geneva. 3 years after its reopening (it had been closed 9 years) the place is still a good alternative in the Paquis if you are with a group of friends, if you like 80′s music and do not expect to drink too much (as small beer costs now CHF 9.- !!). This club with a touch of cabaret is located in the center of the little red light district of Geneva on the “famous” Rue de Berne. The entrance is free from Monday to Wednesday, CHF 10.- on Thursday and CHF 15.- Friday and Saturday night.

If you arrive early (before midnight) you will be able to enjoy some shows. Then, tunes of the 80′s are played all night on two floors. 

You’ll also find a restaurant on the first floor of the palais that opens at 19:00.

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Palais Mascotte | Bars, Music, Restaurants (French) | Small beer CHF 9
43, Rue de Berne | Les Pâquis | +41227413333
18:00 – 05:00 daily

What would be Geneva without Les Bains des Paquis?

Les Bains des Paquis is definitely my favorite place in Geneva, located right on the lake in front of the Jet d’eau!! I go to this place a couple of times a week! 

I soon as I get there I forget the stress of the city, especially when I swim in the lake  after a sauna-hammam session (CHF 20.-, or CHF 150 for 11 sessions, women only on Tuesday). Swimming naked in the middle of Geneva, what a great sensation!

After the sauna session, a really good fondue is waiting for you (CHF 22.-). It will be difficult to resist with its smell… The fondue is one of the best of Geneva, famous because it is made with Crémant instead of white wine (it is lighter!). 

The place is lovely in the morning too with a breakfast from 08:00 to 11:30 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.

Ideal for lunch too: a colourful meal of the day from CHF 12.00 only, for sure the best value of Geneva.

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Bains des Paquis | Bars, Music, Relaxing, Restaurants (French) | Meal of the day CHF 12
Quai du Mont-Blanc 30 | Les Pâquis | +41227381616
08:00 – 21:00 daily

Halles de l’Iles is a typical place to go before going clubbing. It has a beautiful location right on the river, relatively cheap drinks and live electronic music with local DJ’s. In summer, I prefer the relax atmosphere of La Barje next door but Les Halles de L’île definitely worth a visit though!

You have another alternative in the neighborhood now, le bateau-lavoir that just opened last night!

When the bar opened, the bartenders were not always nice and efficient and could be quite rude. You had to wait for ages before being served at the bar. Nevertheless, the service has been improving the last few months.

This place is ideal to have a brunch on Saturdays: all you can eat buffet for 25 francs. (40 francs on Sundays). It is better to make a reservation in advance to have a table with a nice view!

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Halles de l’Ile | Bars, Music, Restaurants | Beer CHF 4.00
1, place de l’Ile | City center | +41223110888
Mon – Wed 08:30 – 01:00, Thu – Sat 08:30 – 02:00, Sun 08:30 – 00:00

FMR stands for Funky Monkey Room, and the name definitely fits the place!

The restaurant has a good variety of things like bagels, nachos, burgers, salads and more. 

The bar often has DJ’s who play some groove, funk, soul and hip hop. On Thursdays they have special shows. It’s quite different from any other place in Geneva. I have been to some great parties there. The crowd is atypical and fun!

They have paintings or pictures on the wall, often by Swiss artists. And you’ll find some random objects everywhere, which make the place even more funky. They have very comfy sofas and yummy cocktails.

It’s open every day except Sunday so if you are bored in the middle of the week, this is a good place to hang out, even though obviously it gets more crowded on the weekend. It is closed to a big concert venue (Palladium) so it’s also a good hangout place before or after a concert there. 

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FMR | Bars, Music, Restaurants (American) | Cocktail from CHF 20.00
Rue du Stand 9 | Plainpalais | +41763743982
Mon – Fri 09:00- 02:00, Sat 17:00 – 02:00