Image by Delphine Rieder

La Mamounia Restaurant is THE place to be if you’re feeling cold and are looking for a good meal that will give you the illusion of traveling somewhere South.

Tajines and couscous are their specialties! I prefer the lemon tajine or the royal couscous which are just amazing! I never forget to take a few cups of mint tea which is perfect to accompany the dish. You can also take the meals to go, and thus bring a piece of Morocco with you at home!

I love the décor of the restaurant. At the entrance, there is a blue fountain which will make you think you are in a Medina Marrakech

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La Mamounia | Restaurants (Moroccian) | Main dish from CHF 15
Boulevard Georges-Favon 10 | Plainpalais | +41223295561
11:00 – 14:00 & 19:00 – 23:00 daily

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Image by Luc Berthoud

I go to this bar several mornings a week as it is only one block from my apartment. As they know me, I do not need to order, right away they bring me my coffee, a glass of water and some bread and jam while I read the newspaper… better than home!!

Most of the customers are over 50 years old (a lot of Spanish) but you’ll find a lot of students from the IES (social work school) if you come during their break (at about 9:30). The atmosphere can be quite loud when the bar is packed.

This bar is famous for its paella, that is served every Friday at lunch time. You won’t be hungry after it as the plate is quite big! It’s better to reserve before coming because the place can be quite packed.

At night, you can watch football games like the liga española or the Champions league..

See you there!

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Le Vieux Martin | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Spanish) | Coffee & bread CHF 4.50
31, rue Prévost-Martin | Plainpalais | +41223299102
Mon – Sun 07:00 – 23:00

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Image by Luc Berthoud

When visiting a city, some people like visiting churches… I personally prefer visit football 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 (check the Cafe du Lys article) Ferblanterie etc.

You can always join the students in one of the two cafeterias in the day time.

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

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Image by Delphine Rieder

Cafe Universal is one of my favourite restaurants in Geneva. If you like good meat, this is the place to be!

Established in 1903, Cafe Universal is a mix of classical cafe and American brasserie in a very modern style. You’ll surely feel at ease in this place where the decorating is really nice with lovely candles and a phone booth which I particularly love.

As for the food, the meat is delicious (try the morel sauce or the Tartar!) and is always combined with some vegetables and excellent fries. They also have good fish and excellent salads.

The staff is friendly, welcoming, and will help you in your choice, especially for the wines. They have a different menu depending of the season, but I’m sure you’ll find what you want! A spot that can’t be ignored!

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Cafe Universal | Restaurants (French ) | Main meal from CHF 30
bvd du Pont d Arve 26 | Plainpalais | +41227811881
Sun – Mon 12:00 – 14:00, Tue – Fri 12:00 – 14:00 & 19:30 – 22:30, Sat 19:30 – 22:30

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Image by Delphine Rieder

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

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Image by Delphine Rieder

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 café 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 6.00
7 rue de l’Ecole de Médecine | Plainpalais | +41223287826
09:00 – 02:00 daily

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Image by Delphine Rieder

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.

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 took place between last April, 2010. For more information, check the Electron festival website

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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)

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Image by Sylvie Meynier

Les Recyclables is a restaurant, a bookstore and place for concerts.

I usually go there for dinner when there is a concert going on as it’s mostly Central or South American musicians, which I love.

The menu is usually simple, which not too many options as they use fresh products from the season. But it’s always healthy and there is always a vegetarian option.

I don’t really use the bookstore but I find the concept great, I think we should have more places like this in Geneva: enjoy a coffee while choosing a book! They have quite a large amount of second-hand books to choose from.

They are all about fair-trade and sustainable development, which is another reason to hang out there and support them. They also exchange your old books for others, or for a coffee/cake at the café. It’s what they call ‘cultural recycling’, which I personally find fantastic.

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Les Recyclables | Bars, Music, Shopping, Restaurants (Intern.)
53, rue de Carouge | Plainpalais | +41223282373
Shop Mon – Fri 09:00 – 18:30, Sat 11:00 – 17:00 | Restaurant Mon – Sat 07:30 – 20:30

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Image by Luc Berthoud

Winter is coming… Few people dare to jump into the cold water… The Pont-Sous terre area is not dead though! A nice bar, opened in 2010, will welcome you: l’Ethno! This place is really spacious and colorful. 

New in 2011, some places to lie down have been created. In case of nice and warm weather, you will meet people chiling out with music, BBQ etc. This place is definitely moving and becoming really popular! 

If you are really crazy and do not fear the cold, you can even take your equipment (air boat – air mattress – buoy) and let the current lead you for a few kilometers! But be careful, the water get freezing when it mixes with l’Arve, the second river of Geneva.

Have fun!

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Pont Sous-Terre area | Bars, Relaxing, Snacks | Free
Rue des deux ponts 2 | Plainpalais
24 hours daily

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Image by Lorcan Meyfarth

This place, located at the bottom of the Parc des Bastions, is associated with winter in my mind. It’s the nice shelter after a freezing walk to University, the coffee-stop before going studying.

The atmosphere is quite old-fashioned, with the high roof, the old counter, the waiters in waistcoat and white shirt and the jazz music. You’ll be surrounded by the chess players trying to regain sensation in their fingertips before going back to try and beat their opponent (there’s a whole community of regulars you can’t even think about playing with, they’re way too strong…).

The Kiosque is also a restaurant for lunch and dinner, though too expensive for me. It’s supposed to be a very good kitchen, so if something on the menu has a ring to it, you should try it. Reservation is advised.

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Le Kiosque des Bastions | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (French cuisine) | Coffee CHF 3.50
Parc des Bastions | Plainpalais | +41223108666
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 00:00, Sun 09:00 – 17:00

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