Restaurants

Casual

• La Paire - Family-friend’s café with a cozy & fun atmosphere (delicious food!!). 15-20 minute walk along the lake from hotels or buses.
• Les Armures - Swiss dining in a historic setting in the Old Town, Swiss specialties, fondues, nice and cozy setting, close to the hotels
• Le Relais de L’Entrecôte - Famous for their one menu: steak-frites with secret sauce (no reservations), downtown
• La Buvette des Bains - Seasonal lakeside eatery with fresh, simple dishes and stunning views of the jet d’eau, one of the best fondue, outside seating by the lake. Also, a spot to swim with the locals
• Café du Soleil - Historic establishment renowned for its cheese fondue, housed in Geneva's oldest building.
• Taqueria los Cuñados - Vibrant spot in Eaux-Vives serving Mexican tacos and margaritas.
• Café des Négociants – A charming brasserie in Carouge
• Khora – Greek

Fancy

• Atelier Robuchon at The Woodward Hotel - Michelin-starred
• Bayview by Michel Roth - Elegant dining with panoramic views of Lake Geneva

Bars

Eaux-Vives Area & Carouge

• Les Frangins – Operated by a friend of Eugenie & Will; craft gin drinks created with proprietary gin
• Maison Balki - Handcrafted cocktails and a lively weekend atmosphere.
• Sauvage - Wine bar serving with Spanish-inspired tapas and natural wines.
• Yvette de Marseille - Mediterranean vibes with a terrace.
• Bottle Brothers - Cocktail bar
• Alma - Relaxed bar
• The Hamburger Foundation - Local beers and burgers in a casual setting.
• Le Chat Noir - Multi-level venue with craft cocktails, live music, and late-night dancing.
• Le Verre à Monique - Vintage-inspired bar
• Rooftop 42 - Rooftop bar with panoramic views of the city and lake.

Old Town (Place du Bourg-de-Four)

• Café La Clémence - Historic café with one of Geneva's best terraces for people-watching, old town, close to the hotels
• Le Café Papon - Oldest café in Geneva with a beautiful summer terrace

Nightlife

• Village du Soir - Converted industrial complex featuring multiple bars, food stalls, and dance floors.
• Audio Club - Electronic music venue with international DJs
• Le Zoo - Alternative club in the art district with diverse music programming

Shows

• Grand Theatre de Geneve - Geneva hosts high-quality lyrics and choreographic productions
• Victoria Hall - Elaborately-decorated concert hall built in the 1980s for philharmonic orchestra and opera
• Also many theatres, such as La Comedie or Theatre de Carouge for plays in French
• Arena de Geneve - pop concerts

Shopping

• Rue du Rhône - Luxury shopping street
• PlainPalais Flea Market - Wednesday and Saturday morning market for antiques and vintage finds.
• Globus Department store - Next to Ruby Claire hotel
• Bongenie - Upscale department store for clothes
• Manor - Popular Swiss department store for souvenirs and essentials.

Chocolates/Pastries

• Laderach - Close to the hotels, more a chain but very good
• La Bonbonniére Chocolaterie - very good chocolate, tea room, and workshops
• Martel Chocolatier - few locations, chocolates, pastries (try Carac!), and sandwhiches
• Auer - Close to the hotels, only one boutique
• Rohr - Close to the hotels, speciality Les Poubelles de Geneve
• Coop (supermarket) - Next to Ruby Claire hotel, nice selections of chocolate on the first floor, Cailler is delicious and is not exported!

Activities

Water & Nature

• Bains des Pâquis - Iconic lakeside bathhouse for swimming, saunas, and sunbathing with locals.
• Baby Plage - Family-friendly beach area with shallow waters and picnic spots.
• Parc des Eaux-Vives - One the oldest and oldest Garden of Geneva, the18th century Manor house dominates the hill and has one of Geneva's temples of fine dining and a rooftop.
• Botanical Gardens - Over 16,000 plant species and beautiful lake views.

Cultural Experiences

• Vieux Carouge - Farmers' market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, nice little town with shops, arts, and restaurants with trendy terraces. Favorite spot for residents. From downtown, take the tramway 12 or 18 to Carouge or taxis to the place du Marche, Vieux Carouge 10-15 minutes from the hotels.
• Old Town Walking Tour - Discover hidden courtyards, historical landmarks, and secret passageways.
• Patek Philippe Museum - World-class collection showcasing the art of Swiss watchmaking.
• CERN - Book a tour of the world's largest particle physics laboratory (reserve well in advance).
• United Nation
• International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (CICR) museum

Outdoor

• Lake Cruise - Sightseeing boats offering beautiful perspectives of Geneva and surrounding mountains. Can book ones for dinner – highly recommend! (book on CGN). Departure is at Jardin Anglais (5-10 mins walk from hotels)
• Bike Tour - Rent city bikes and explore Geneva's extensive cycling paths along the lake and river.
• Paddle Boarding - Rent equipment at the lake and enjoy views of the Jet d'Eau from the water.

Day Trips/Mini Trips

• Annecy, France (45 min drive, also can train) - "Venice of the Alps" with picturesque canals, a crystal-clear lake, and charming old town.
• Yvoire, France (30 min drive, also can train) - Medieval village on Lake Geneva with flower-lined streets and artisan shops. Can also take a boat there!
• Lausanne, Switzerland (45 min train) - Olympic capital with vibrant arts scene, beautiful cathedral, and lakefront promenades.
• Gruyères, Switzerland (1.5 hour drive) - Charming hilltop town famous for its cheese, with a medieval castle and HR Giger museum.
• Lavaux Vineyards (1 hour drive) - UNESCO-protected wine terraces with tastings and stunning lake views.
• Lauterbrunnen/Wengen/Grindelwald, Switzerland (3 hour drive/train rides) - The heart of the Swiss Alps with breathtaking mountain scenery and outdoor activities.
• Montreux, Switzerland (1-hour train) - Elegant lakeside city with Mediterranean flair, famous for its jazz festival and Chillon Castle.
• Chamonix, France (1-hour drive) - Alpine adventure hub at the foot of Mont Blanc with year-round mountain activities.

Transportation

• Public Transit - TPG trams and buses cover the entire city
• Mouettes Genevoises - Yellow water taxis crossing the lake, included with transit pass.
• Bike Sharing - Genève Roule offers affordable bike rentals throughout the city.

Instagram Account: Geneva Bucket List Account (genevabucketlist)