NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
by Vivian Holding
2017 has been an amazing year for Geneva’s restaurant and café scene – with well over 20 new eateries opening in the city in the past 12 months. It’s exciting to see a wider choice of cuisines now available ranging from Indian, Peruvian, Mexican, traditional French, Nordic, American, Italian, Thai, Japanese, Fine Dining as well as some great new healthy eating options too.
We’ve made it our New Year’s resolution to try out as many new places as we can from the following list (and re-visit some we’ve already tried out and loved). We’re sure it will be one resolution we’ll definitely stick to!
So if you have grown tired of eating in the same old places and want to try somewhere new, why not make it your New Year’s resolution too and give at least one of them a try – we’d love to know what you think of them.
*main photo Fiskebar, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel (Hotel de la Paix)
ALMA
6 rue Henri-Blanvalet, 1207 Genève
Modern Peruvian fusion restaurant offering delicious Latin American sharing dishes – guacamole, empanadas, fried seafood (see photo), ceviche as well as main course meat and fish dishes. Their impressive sounding cocktail list include some killer Pisco Sours and Mojitos. This, combined with great restaurant interior design and a cool and funky atmosphere, make this one a definite go-to.
Click here for their Facebook page.
BLACK TAP
Cours de Rive 6, 1204 Genève
The NYC company now set up shop in Rive, serve some of the most impressive looking and seriously instagrammable crazy shakes we’ve ever seen. Famed for their craft burgers, fries and beer too, they are a great place for all day dining as they are open all day from 11.30am-11.30pm (until 10.30pm on Sundays).
Try out one of their milkshakes – we’d love to hear if you managed to conquer one alone!
Click here for their Facebook page.
LE BOLOGNE
11 rue Necker, 1201 Genève
A new gourmet bistro close to the train station in the Saint-Gervais area of the city, with chef Florian Le Bouhec in charge of the kitchen (former chef of L’Artichaut and the Café de la Paix). Offering brasserie style cuisine inspired by French classics from Monday-Friday. Book in advance for this fine dining restaurant for a special occasion.
CHEZ CALVIN
Rue du Nant 2, 1207 Genève
Fabian and Guillaume share their deep passion for gastronomy and the art of entertaining at Chez Calvin, which is located in the old town hall of Eaux-Vives. A traditional Genèvoise brasserie with a modern touch, serving seasonal local cuisine and fine local wines. We love the sound of their truffle and parmesan chips with three sauces – a must try we think!
Click here for their Facebook page.
CHOU
Rue des Eaux-Vives 79, 1207 Genève
Patisserie and coffee shop Chou, with its sleek scandi style will be one of the first on my list of new places to try out – forget the January diet I say! Choux buns (using the same pastry as an eclair) filled with different flavoured fillings both sweet and savoury are on offer, as well as soups, coffee, tea and other cakes.
Chou also sell boxes of their delicious buns – perfect for that dinner party gift or to test out in the comfort of your own home!
Click here for their Facebook page.
EL CATRÍN
7-9 rue Richemont, 1202 Genève
Mexican restaurant El Catrín bring the flavours of Mexican street food to Geneva. Tacos, tortas and tostadas using corn tortillas are served filled with chillis, vegetables, fruits and local meat. Fresh and delicious cold drinks and of course the well known traditional Mexican cocktails Tequila, Margaritas and Mezcalinas are on offer at this modern but authentic and lively place.
Click here for their Facebook page.
FABBRICA PASTA
10 rue Charles Humbert, 1205 Genève
Fresh and delicious homemade pasta is made daily depending on the inspiration of chef Enzo Cianci. Traditional Italian desserts with a twist and Italian/Swiss wines make this cosy industrial styled restaurant a definite one to try.
Like the sound of tortellini with squid ink and a prawn and crab stuffing or girasoli with a mushroom and crème fraiche filling? Yes us too!
Click here for their Facebook page.
FISKEBAR
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel (Hotel de la Paix), 11 quai du Mont-Blanc,, 1201 Genève
We’ve been waiting for a Nordic restaurant to open in Geneva for quite some time now and finally Fiskebar has arrived. A new Nordic-fusion concept and the first of its kind in Geneva – bold flavours and fresh seafood as well as local organic seasonal ingredients are offered in either their fine dining restaurant or in their more casual raw kitchen counter and high table communal seating area.
Set in the Ritz Carlton Hotel, overlooking the lake and Mont-Blanc bridge – a definite place to try out for a very special occasion.
GRANOLA
15 Adrien Lachenal, 1207 Genève
A new address to get your health fix with a fresh and modern design, fantastic friendly service and super healthy and delicious breakfasts or lunches to eat in or take away. Try the protein bowl made with free range chicken, homemade guacamole, organic broccoli, rice, pine nuts and red berries – super nutritious and filling – we loved it!
Click here for their Facebook page.
INDA BAR
Fresh, inventive and flavourful contemporary indian food is served in this beautifully decorated restaurant in Eaux-Vives. Restaurant founder Morad El Hajjaji and his team are on hand to guide you through the menu – a selection of sharing plates that are magically created in the tiniest of kitchens. Vegetarians are well catered for here too and their cocktail list is fresh and inviting.
Try one of their naan breads – the best I’ve ever tasted. I’d highly recommend the ‘Train to Mumbai’ cocktail too – made with gin, cardamom, lychee, ginger, raspberries and cranberries.
Click here for their Facebook page.
LE MARCEL
6 rue Dancet, 1205 Genève
Croque-monsieurs needn’t be just a French style ham and cheese toastie. At Le Marcel flavours such as their Le Croque de Bique – made with goats cheese, figs, walnuts and honey sounds divine. Served with a salad and washed down with a local beer or wine whilst enjoying a game of Boules in their indoor ‘piste de pétanque’ sounds like a fun and delicious way to enjoy an afternoon or evening. Also on offer are salads and desserts – we particulary like the sound of the ‘La Yoga Pants’!
Click here for their Facebook page.
RESTAURANT MARCEL
3 rue des Eaux-Vives, 1207 Genève
Restaurant Marcel in Eaux-Vives (not to be confused with Le Marcel above as they offer a completely different style menu here) will transport you to the USA with their large selection of American favourites – burgers, ribs, club sandwiches and salads and if there’s still room for dessert – cheesecake, apple pie and key lime pie.
A great place for groups as the menu is so varied and include some great vegetarian options too. Brunch on Saturday and Sunday runs all day with a slightly reduced menu (see their website for further details). We love that this place is open non-stop from Monday-Friday from 10am-11pm and at the weekends for brunch from 10am-7pm.
Click here for their Facebook page.
OSTERIA ZAZA
45 avenue de Champel, 1206 Genève
No need to go to Italy to experience authentic tasting Italian specialities when a piece of it has arrived in Champel. Osteria Zaza serves authentic Napolitan pizza and homemade pasta, as well as traditional patisserie by their Napolitan born chef Vincenzo. Their impressive looking bar serves some of our favourite drinks – prosecco, spritz as well as artisanal beer. Portions are generous, so go with an empty stomach.
Click here for their Facebook page.
PEPPER
rue du Conseil-Général 12, 1205 Genève
In the heart of Geneva, close to Place Neuve, Pepper is a fantastic new healthy eating restaurant that serves both breakfast and lunch Monday to Friday. Delicious soups, salads, poké bowls, sandwiches, tartines, as well as smoothies and juices are on offer, using products that are locally sourced and organic. A beautifully decorated place – a stylish monochrome colour scheme, broken up by fresh greenery in the form of plants in suspended macramé holders.
Try their soup of the day (pictured) – we had the parsnip which was a meal in itself.
Click here for their Facebook page.
LES PHILOSOPHES
5 rue Prévost-Martin, 1205 Genève
Discover creative and generous cuisine at this modern style brasserie serving traditional French/Italian style food with a twist. Chef Jonathan is passionate about working with fresh and seasonal produce, using local products from artisanal producers.
Why not try out their brunch on a Sunday?
Click here for their Facebook page.
SOI
6 rue du Prieuré, Genève
Bangkok style street food served as sharing style plates – grilled meats, Thai salads, tartares, soups and side orders. We tried the Kai Yang (half a grilled chicken marinated with lemongrass, coriander, sweet and sour sauce and a spicy tamarin sauce and their Som Tam Salad (papaya, cherry tomatoes, green beans, dried prawns and grilled peanuts) which we felt was enough for two to share. Fresh tasting food at a really great price.
Try the sticky mango rice, we shared ours and pretty much licked the bowl clean!
STEAK FISH & BEEF
9 rue Verdaine, 1204 Genève
Eat in or take away, the simple menu of burgers, steak and chips and fish and chips (yes fish and chips – hoorah!) are made from quality, local products with organic fruits and vegetables. Brits rejoice – fish and chips on a Friday could become a regular event again!
Can’t wait to see if their fish tastes as good as it looks!
Click here for their Facebook page.
TAQUERÍA LOS CUÑADOS
17 rue de Montchoisy, 1207 Genève
The most recently opened restaurant in Geneva, Taquería los Cuñados specialises in reasonably priced Mexican tacos and quesadillas. Located in the lively streets of Eaux-Vives this place is sure to be a huge success for the afterwork crowd to fill up before moving on to some serious drinking.
Click here for their Facebook page.
THREE KIDS
10 bis rue du Vieux-Collège, 1204 Genève
The newest bagel place in town run by three childhood friends. Choose from one of their very reasonably priced signature bagels (named after different areas of town – Genève, Eaux-Vives, Champel, Cologny, Grottes and Plainpalais on your choice of bagel (natural, sesame, poppyseed or garlic and parmesan). Their bagels are made from traditionally milled organic flour from Meinier and are absolutely delicious. Freshly made to order – they are honesty the best bagels I’ve ever tasted.
My recommendation – the Plainpalais (pictured) – chicken with a tartare sauce, melted Gruyère cheese, onions and lettuce on a seeded bagel.
Open lunchtimes only – Monday to Friday.
Click here for their Facebook page.
TOASTED
44 boulevard du Pont-Arve, 1205 Genève
When you look up the word ‘tartines’ in the dictionary, the meaning sums up perfectly what you get at Toasted – ‘a very fancy French open-faced sandwich, topped with spreadable ingredients. We tested them out last month – click here to see the article.
An interesting and varied choice of tartines are available, served in their cool industrial retro style restaurant or alternatively, they do take-away. Toasted at night becomes the perfect place for an afterwork apéro as it turns into more of a café/bar with wines from small organic producers, Belgian and German microbrewery beers as well as some fantastic cocktails being served alongside their tartines.
Look out for one of their musical brunches – all you can drink Bloody Marys, tasty food and great music make it a ‘must-do’ on a Sunday.
Click here for their Facebook page.
UMAMIDO
63 boulevard Carl-Vogt, 1205 Genève
A small selection of delicious looking Japanese ramen soups are on offer at Umamido, along with accompaniments of kimchi, pork buns and gyozas (Japanese filled raviolis). Exceptional ingredients – both Japanese and locally sourced, nutritious, healthy and above all flavoursome. Half sized portions for children are available. Reservations are not taken, so avoid the busiest times if possible.
Click here for their Facebook page.