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For years Geneva's restaurants dished up menus heavily reliant on French, German, and northern Italian fare. Increasingly, there's a more international spin to the city's dining scene with Japanese, Peruvian, Indian, and Nordic cuisine popping up with fanfare. Tapas-style grazing menus have become as common as those offering five-course meals, and signature restaurants run by well-known chefs as prevalent as casual burger joints.
Although dress-code days are gone, casual elegance is the rule of thumb. Hours for meals generally remain noon to 2 pm and 7 to 9:30 or 10 pm; pubs, bars, and clubs satisfy hungry night owls. And yes, after the stores close on Saturday afternoon, Geneva's city center is virtually dormant—and most, but by no means all, restaurants close. That's because the Genevois spend their weekends eating at country inns and village cafés.
Geneva restaurants (and bars and clubs) are all nonsmoking. Some are now charging for the carafe d'eau (tap water). Since it is not local custom to take small children to better restaurants, amenities (and welcome) may be poor if you arrive with babies in tow. Tipping? Local diners may leave the change as a gesture when they leave, but tipping for exceptional service is up to the customer and is still the exception, not the rule.
This Genevois institution serves up regional dishes—sausage and sauerkraut, roast venison and spätzli, and the namesake pigs' feet—in a traditional brasserie setting. The crowd can be noisy, and table service can occasionally be a tad gruff, but locals and tourists keep streaming in. The terrace is great for people-watching.
A mix of traditional French café furniture and contemporary design, this upscale spot is popular, particularly during the summer months when the terrace allows diners to enjoy the highly picturesque streets of Carouge. The menu is either à la carte or prix fixe. Wine is taken seriously here, and there is a handsome cellar where the waitstaff is more than happy to help you make your selection—groups of up to 10 can even arrange ahead to eat at the cellar's refectory table.
Situated in the heart of the Eaux-Vives neighborhood, Khora is a lovely homage to Greece with whitewashed walls adorned with tasteful blue accents that invoke a sense of Aegean island architecture. The menu showcases an array of authentic Greek dishes like homemade tzatziki, grilled octopus, and spanakopita, and creative cocktails like the Athenian Spritz and a Greek-forward wine list continue the tribute.
This charming brassiere adorned with stone walls, rustic wood tables, and dark green accents is an inviting and warm spot to tuck into. Traditional fare crafted from locally sourced produce includes chateaubriand, pork ribs, and risotto. The wine list features an array of Swiss, French, and Italian wines. In the warm weather, a terrace offers outdoor seating.
