DESTINATION FOCUS • March 2018
Six reasons to visit Geneva
With its renowned museums, spectacular dining scene and waterfront hotels, Geneva is much more than a gateway to the Alps and well worth exploring over a long weekend, says Swiss-based travel writer, Caroline Bishop
Global eats
A truly international city, Geneva’s population is 40 per cent non-Swiss, a fact increasingly reflected in its diverse restaurant scene. Try contemporary Italian at La Bottega (pictured above); Nordic fusion at the new Fiskebar or Indian tapas at Inda-Bar. If you’d rather warm up with local traditional cuisine on a winter’s day, the cosy, wood-panelled restaurant within hotel Les Armures in the Old Town is a good bet for fondue and raclette.
Cross-cultural
The Red Cross Museum will likely leave a lasting impression on any visitor. Its permanent exhibition details the work of the international humanitarian organisation since it was formed in Geneva in 1863, including one heart-wrenching exhibit that showcases its efforts to reunite family members separated by war or crises.
Eaux yes
It doesn’t look anything special in the daytime, but the Eaux-Vives neighbourhood comes alive at night thanks to the bars and restaurants along Rue Henri-Blanvalet. Book ahead for ceviche and pisco sours at Peruvian restaurant Alma (pictured above), before heading to Atelier Cocktail Club where mixologists rustle up inventive concoctions in an unpretentious, laid-back atmosphere. Saunter back to the area on Sunday morning for brunch and a Bloody Mary at popular Marcel.
Get marketing
In town, covered market Halle de Rive is a lovely place to pick up fresh bread, cakes and cheeses. Or take a tram to the pretty Carouge district (pictured above) for its Saturday market, where people come to hang out and chat as much as shop. If you’re not too full from sampling local produce have lunch at nearby Le Flacon – its contemporary European dishes may have earned it a Michelin star, but it remains a down-to-earth sort of place.
Skate date
Stop by Bastions Park in winter to take a turn on the temporary ice rink (pictured above). It’s free to use and skates can be hired for a small fee. Warm up afterwards at the café in the park or stroll over to nearby Remor, a Geneva institution that’s known for its ice creams, but also does delicious pastries and decent coffee.
Float to sleep
There’s no shortage of luxury hotels strung alongside Geneva’s lakeshore, but for the best view of all, book into the Float Inn, a B&B on board a catamaran moored in the harbour close to the Jet d’Eau, Geneva’s famous fountain. Prefer to bed down on dry land? Hotel Tiffany (pictured above) in the arty Bains district offers funky rooms in an art nouveau building.
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