Carouge Geneva – All our local tips

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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

Want to get a Mediterranean feeling on your Geneva trip? There is only one place for this: The food market in Carouge on Wednesday and Saturday morning.

Especially on Saturdays, the market is a must for locals. Colourful, convivial and lively are only some adjectives to describe the atmosphere.

You will find a variety of fruit and vegetables, flowers, home made bread, an impressive assortment of cheese and you can also buy a good bottle of wine or some honey. Many products are organic and produced locally.

After shopping, the locals gather in one of the cafés surrounding the “Place du Marché” for a coffee or a glass of red wine.

This market is a real institution in Carouge and it has existed for over 300 years. If you want to experience some genuine and colourful everyday life, this is the place to be.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Carouge Market | Shopping
Place du Marché | Carouge
Wed & Sat 07:30 – 14:00

To all chocoholics: If you are looking for the ultimate Swiss-chocolate experience, forget about “Toblerone” and indulge yourself at this chocolate café!

A leisurely tram ride will take you from town into Carouge, a quaint and small ”suburb” built in the 18th century by Turinese architects. The tiny chocolate shop, located at Place de l’Octroi, offers a fine selection of delicious, home made Pralinés. Spoil yourself to an assortment or treat your family and friends with one of the gift boxes (variety of sizes and packages available). Quality has its price (10 Fr. for a 100gr) but it is worth the spend!

The place is a little tea-room as well, so if you would like to have a break and a hot chocolate or enjoy your Pralinés with a cup of coffee you can sit down at one of the three tiny tables. In summer, the friendly staff will serve you on the terrace.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Chocolaterie de l’Arve | Coffee & tea, Shopping | 100 gr CHF 10.00
Place de l’Octroi 13 | Carouge | +41223434500
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 12:30 & 14:00 – 18:30, Sat 09 :00 -13:00

The history of the “Bio” goes back as far as 1929. It has changed names and owners many times and has even been at the heart of a political controversy a few years ago. The cause: The building, privately owned, was about to be sold and turned into a fast-food place.

Direct democracy can be a powerful tool and the inhabitants of Carouge used it successfully to save their cinema: They launched a petition, asking the local authorities to buy the building and in April 2004, people went to the polls and approved the project. Public funds as well as private donations made it possible to acquire and renovate the building and a foundation has been running the cinema profitably since then.

Cinema Bio is part of the independent cinemas of Geneva (see also “Les Scalas” -article) and they offer a variety of quality films from all over the world. There is a tiny café where you can have a drink before or after the showing and its terrace is appreciated by the locals in summer, especially after a stroll through the Carouge Market (see the Carouge Market article).

If you are interested, you can find a list of all independent cinemas of Geneva on this website.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cinema Bio | Cinemas, Coffee & tea | Mondays CHF 12
Rue St-Joseph 47 | Carouge | +41223015443
Check website for opening times

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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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

Calm stands for “Comme A La Maison” (meaning that you will feel like at home) and if you are looking for a coffee break in a really cosy place right in the heart of Carouge you should try this café.

If the sun is out, you may want to relax on their beautiful shady courtyard terrace. They serve soups, salads, home made quiches and cakes and they also have a good selection of tea and coffee. On Saturday and Sunday, the place is known for its brunch. If you want to  make sure to get a table, you better go early as they do not take any reservations.

The place has been criticized for being rather pricey (CHF 6.00 for a pot of tea and about the same for a slice of cake) and service is certainly not among the best in Geneva. But despite critics, I like this cosy hangout because a) Geneva is not exactly known for being a service-heaven and b) the cakes are simply delicious (try the apple crumble!).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
ô Calm | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Pot tea CHF 6.00
Rue Ancienne 36 | Carouge | +41223012220
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 18:00