THE BEST HALAL RESTAURANTS IN GENEVA
by Alexandra Belz
Whether you’re looking for homemade pita with houmous, fresh falafel, baba ghanoush or a satisfying shawarma, you will not struggle to find decent halal food in Geneva. This includes five-star luxury, a cosy neighbourhood option or cheap take-aways.
STREET BEIRUT
This is a cosy and small place – good for a quick lunch, late dinner or if you wish you can order online and have the food delivered to your hotel room via www.eat.ch, depending on the hotel policy of course.
The fresh Lebanese, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Food and vegetarian and vegan options (gluten free available too) on the menu are all worth a try (we love the vegetarian or Lebanese platter for around CHF18) and the staff are very welcoming and service-orientated. You feel as if you’re in a street café in Beirut, which makes it authentic, but it can be a bit noisy. It’s a great option to pop in for lunch when you’re visiting nearby galleries or the Patek Philippe Museum.
WHERE
Avenue du Mail 2
1205 Geneva
📞 0041 (0)22 320 76 74
Booking via website
MORE INFO
Opening hours: Mondays-Saturdays 11:45- 23:00
Sundays 11:30- 18:00
INDABAR
Offering a modern twist on Indian food, this restaurant offers interesting Indian dishes, many to share, and an amazing array of cocktails (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
IndaBar scores top marks for decor, styled in a cosy modern way with a punchy navy, yellow and cream colour scheme – quirky mirrors, wire hanging pendants, brass light fittings and the cutest little wooden clipboard menus.
Former chef of the Rasoi at the Mandarin Oriental, Kuldeep Rawat’s dinky open kitchen complete with tandoor oven miraculously creates beautifully prepared and presented sharing dishes. We tried and loved chicken cooked three ways, prawn tempura, vegetable samosas, garlic naan bread and a mint and pomegranate raita.
Vegetarians needn’t worry about menus options as the IndaBar takes great care of non-meat eaters with their veggie main courses such as tandoor roasted paneer, mixed sweet peppers and onions and spicy veggie samosas with chickpea curry
WHERE
23 rue Henri Blanvalet, 1207 Genève.
MORE INFO
Telephone: 022 700 7950.
OPENING HOURS
Tuesday to Saturday, noon and evening.
KASBAR
No boring tagines here! Instead, there are tasty sharing plates (with the option of having main plates as well) to welcome you to the flavours of Morocco, right here in Switzerland. Expect a modern twist to Moroccan food. The décor has nice touches with deep emerald plush seating coupled with gold details. Low gold lighting, wicker chairs, hanging plants and mirrored walls allow you to be transported to another world. We can recommend the chicken and vegetable brioautes (similar to samosas) and the stewed lentils with harissa. We also try the smoked eggplant zaalouk, the beetroot salad with argan oil and the assortment of Moroccan breads. Unfortunately, the last time we visited this restaurant, the service was not as attentive as it should have been. The portions are small and not cheap, but the food is very tasty.
WHERE
23 rue Henri Blanvalet, 1207 Genève
MORE INFO
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 6.30-12am
Sundays and Mondays, closed.
Telephone: 022 736 2746
YO’MO LOUNGE
This hidden gem is a family-owned restaurant and was established in 2007. Its healthy, authentic and delicious Lebanese cuisine has been uplifted with Mediterranean and European touches. Its cosy and warm atmosphere invites you to stay long after you’ve finished your meal.
Most dishes are available for take away and you can rent the venue for a private event. A beef, chicken or meat platter cost around CHF36.
WHERE
Rue Pierre Fatio 1
1204 Geneva
📞 0041 (0)22 735 3076
Booking via www.lafourchette.ch or website
MORE INFO
Opening hours: Mondays-Saturdays 12:00- 14:00 and 19:00-22:00
Sundays closed
CHEZ FOUAD
Another great Lebanese restaurant with a fabulous location in Eaux Vives is Chez Fouad, located in one of the oldest and most prestigious buildings in Geneva (Maison des Paons, built between 1902-1903 and recently renovated to its former glory) Before entering the restaurant on the ground floor, look up at the 5-storey building and discover the amazing stonework on the facade.
The food is not half bad too… All ingredients are directly imported to bring the lovely flavours and spices from Lebanon to your table. You have a wide variety of hot and cold mezzes and main courses to choose from, but leave space for the amazing desserts. Chez Fouad recently started a street food restaurant around the corner at number 6 Rue de la Mairie – called Fouad Snack. You can eat in or enjoy takeaways. What’s on the menu? Lebanese stalwarts such as Shawarmas, chicken or beef in a sandwich or served on a plate for around CHF10; even manoushé is served.
WHERE
Avenue Pictet-de-Rochemont 7
1207 Geneva
📞 0041 (0)22 700 9976
Booking via website
MORE INFO
Opening hours: Mondays-Saturdays 11:30- 14:30 and 18:30-23:30
Sundays closed
Fouad Snack is also open on Sundays.
BAROUSH
BAROUSH is a really fun evening out for a group of friends as it offers Arabian dance performances in a glamorous, yet not too formal atmosphere. The decadent red velvet and golden décor is gorgeously over the top.
The food is a mix of Lebanese, Moroccan and Middle Eastern with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
A Lebanese brochette of chicken, beef or lamb will cost you around CHF35 and a Moroccan couscous platter with chicken or lamb will cost you around CHF30.
A lamb tagine with prunes will set you back CHF38.
WHERE
Carrefour de Rive 1
1207 Geneva
📞 0041 (0)22 810 0202
Booking via www.lafourchette.ch
MORE INFO
Daily from 18:00-02:00
PARFUMS DE BEYROUTH
This is a great option near the main train station (Cornavin) for a quick bite to eat and a fabulous choice for takeaways. It is a very simple, yet very authentic place that serves Lebanese street food in its traditional way and at very reasonable prices (expect to pay less than CHF20 for a chicken or meat shawarma or kofte. Fast, cheap and tasty. Reasonable service too. Also a big plus is that the restaurant is open just about any time you feel like eating. You can also choose to have your meal delivered to your hotel room via Smood.ch.
WHERE
Rue de Berne 18
1201 Geneva
📞 0041-(0)79 659 5859
MORE INFO
Opening hours: Mondays-Sundays from 11:00- 02:00
MORE INFO
On their website
CHEZ SAMI
This is your lovely neighbourhood Lebanese restaurant, which is welcoming for couples or groups with its warm wooden interior. At Chez Sami you can enjoy a variety of fresh hot and cold mezzes, followed by main courses featuring traditional Lebanese food. You’ll find all your favourites here: houmous, falafel, mezzés and mixed grill. In summer enjoy sitting on the terrace. The staff are all very friendly and accommodating and the average price per person à la carte is around CHF45.
WHERE
Rue de Fribourg 11
1201 Geneva
📞 0041 (0)22 901 0333
Booking via www.lafourchette.ch
MORE INFO
Opening hours: Mondays- Fridays 11:45- 14:30 and 19:00-23:00
Saturdays 19:00- 23:00
Sundays closed
ARABESQUE
If you want to spoil yourself in a luxurious setting, try this Lebanese restaurant where the typical and authentic dishes have a modern twist to them. It is located in the 5-Star Hotel President Wilson. Prices range from CHF18-24 for starters, mains are from CHF38-48 and deserts cost around CHF14 or you can enjoy a set lunch or dinner menu from CHF49-79.
For mains you can choose between many favourite options such as lamb brochettes for CHF42, a grilled half chicken marinated in lemon and garlic for CHF38 or sesame-seasoned beef shawarma for CHF40.
WHERE
Hôtel Président Wilson
Quai Wilson 47
1201 Geneva
📞 0041 (0)22 906 6763
Booking via www.lafourchette.ch
MORE INFO
Opening hours: every day from 12:00-14:30 and 19:00-23:00
