Geneva tips by locals | Spotted by Locals city guide » Restaurants

L’Auberge du Cheval Blanc – A real tavern

Sylvie Meynier — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:24:00 +0000

Image by sylvie Meynier

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

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Qu’importe – Excellent wine bar

Sylvie Meynier — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:51:54 +0000

Image by Sylvie Meynier

The full name of this place is actually a quote by Alfred de Musset: “Qu’importe le flacon, pourvu qu’on ait l’ivresse” (Whatever the bottle, it does not matter as long as you have drunkenness).

This bar is a big one, with lots of space, which makes it nice and spacious even when it’s crowded. It’s more like a cozy lounge. It has beautiful old furniture and a wonderful fireplace. It’s ideal to relax in one of their big sofas after work. In summer, you can also enjoy their huge terrace. It’s located in Carouge, so it’s nice to go after a stroll in the neighborhood.

I usually go there after work sometimes as they serve very good wines, and not only famous ones. For food they make local tapas, Swiss style. They also have dish of the day (plat du jour) at lunch time.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Qu’importe | Bars, Restaurants | Wine from CHF 4.00
Rue ancienne 1 | Carouge | +41223421525
Mon 17:00 – 00:00, Tue -Thu 11:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 02:00

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ô Calme – Feeling at home

Sylvie Meynier — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:51:50 +0000

Image by Sylvie Meynier

I am a big fan of Carouge, a lovely neighborhood a bit outside Geneva, where you can find a a lot of interesting little craft shops. Carouge also has an interesting architecture, beautiful buildings with arcades, fountains, and many cozy cafés.

One of my favorite place is Ô Calme, its name says it all. It’s a very nice place to have a calm and quiet moment. And the initials stand for Comme A LA Maison, meaning ‘like at home’. It’s ideal to relax. In warm days it’s even better as they have a great terrace behind, in a courtyard under the trees.

I try to go there regularly for their brunch (on Saturday or Sunday) but you can’t make a reservation and it gets crowded very quickly, so you have to get there early. It’s a first comes first served policy basically! They also make quiches and soups, and you should definitely try their homemade cakes!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
ô Calme | Coffee & tea, Restaurants | Bunch CHF 30
Rue Ancienne 36 | Carouge | +41223012220
Tue 10:00 – 16:00, Wed – Sun 10:00 – 18:00