| Geneva
is located in the south west corner of Switzerland,
Close
to the French border and surrounded by the Swiss
Alps. A modern, affluent city split in two by
the Rhône, Geneva is home to the European
headquarters of the United Nations, the World
Health Organization and the International Red
Cross.
Dining
Out
— With more than a thousand restaurants in the
city, you can eat and drink your way around the
world in Geneva – at a price. The most visible
establishments might give you the impression that
you could afford nothing more adventurous than
a baguette, but Genevois café culture is alive
and well, and inexpensive diners do exist.
If you’re prepared to splash, you could dine as
grandly in Geneva as in Paris, London or New
York. Be sure to try...
- L’Ange
du Dix Vins
- 31 Rue Jacques Dalphin, Carouge (022/342 03
18). Much-loved little place, with warm Provençale
ochre-and-sky-blue decor and cuisine to match.
A convivial atmosphere in both the restaurant
and less formal bistro adjacent fits precisely
the relaxed appreciation of good food and wine,
overseen by a chef “qui oppose au snobisme de
la gastro les magies chaleureuses du restau”.
Daily specials around Fr.23, full menu Fr.60,
truffle menu Fr.110. Closed Sat & Sun.
- Le
Béarn
- 4 Quai de la Poste (022/321 00 28). Geneva’s
premier establishment, supremely elegant and
with lavish and inventive cuisine earning plaudits
from those in the know. Menus are from Fr.50,
but most meals probably won’t remain in mere
double figures. Closed Sat & Sun & mid-July–Aug.
- L’Esquire
- 7 Rue du Lac (022/786 50 44). Gourmet French
cuisine in the unlikely surroundings of an Eaux-Vives
backstreet. The place is also a gallery for
local artists, and pleasant decor and respectful
service aids peaceful digestion of the foie
gras and filet mignon de veau. Lunch is Fr.35,
evening menus Fr.65–85. Closed Sat lunch &
Sun.
Nightlife
-Geneva’s nightlife is unlikely to set your pulse
racing. As far as popular culture goes, the city
suffers from a major image problem both abroad
and inside Switzerland, and few bands or DJs come
visiting. There are endless venues catering to
visiting businesspeople and wealthy locals – formal
dinner-dance, yawn worthy cabaret, and vast quantities
of strip-shows and hostess bars – but aside from
checking out the handful of alternative arts venues,
it’s not easy to find what young Genevois get
up to … often because they’ve vanished up the
road to the cutting-edge clubs in and around Lausanne
instead."
Get a map to Geneva showing the city landmarks, streets,
museums hotels and restaurants. You can even zoom
in it in the Adobe Acrobat version.
Hotels in Geneva and more - Some of the worlds best. |