Culinary Tour

The Living Room Bar & Kitchen at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva offers a delicious breakfast and a stunning view of Lake Geneva to enjoy while you eat. Whether you choose the American breakfast or an option from the a la carte menu, you’re sure to have a tasty start to your day with homemade dishes made with fresh and local ingredients. 

Cross the river to the charming neighboring town of Carouge, with its warren of small boutiques, artisanal producers and artists’ studios. The Mediterranean-influenced town became part of Geneva over 200 years ago but retains an entirely more relaxed and colorful demeanor than the main city. 

Enjoy lunch at the Michelin-starred Le Flacon, which is helmed by a young chef with prodigious talents. The chef’s choice tasting menu is highly recommended for the full culinary experience.  

Visit the largest art museum in Geneva, the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire. Originally opened in 1910, the museum houses an extensive collection from the Byzantine era to the 20th century with artists from Rembrandt to Cézanne represented. 

Occupying former artists’ lofts, L’Adresse is both a chic boutique and a well-reviewed restaurant in one space. Whether you want to shop brands like Diane von Furstenberg and Isabel Marant, or you’re looking for coffee on their greenery-laden terrace, you’ll find something to keep you lingering.  

For dinner, go to a restaurant without an address. Intensus is a traveling supper club, with a new private location for each dinner. Up to 10 people can go to each seating, and reservations are available online. Once you arrive, expect an inventive and intimate culinary experience. 

Picking your pastry of choice for breakfast at Eric Emery might be a challenge — in a good way. From the organic breads to the homemade jams to the traditional viennoiseries, there is so much to choose from that you might spend a little more time at the shop’s tea room than planned!

Tour the United Nations’ headquarters in Geneva, which is second in size for the organization only to that in New York City. The impressive building was completed in the 1930s, and guests can have a look at rooms like the large Assembly Hall and receive updates on the latest U.N. activities. 

It’s hard to fathom being so close to the Alps and not having fondue at least once! Les Armures is a classic in Geneva — the building alone is over 400 years old. You can dine alfresco on the large terrace on a traditional spread of cured beef platters and shareable pots of molten cheese fondue. 

Dive deeper into the city’s present with a trip to MAMCO, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which opened in 1994 and is considered one of the more ambitious contemporary art museums in the world. Check online for a list of rotating exhibitions. 

The area near MAMCO is one of the hippest in town, with a profusion of top-notch coffeehouses. Take a break at Café Paradiso or Birdie Coffee for a cappuccino or beer, along with pastries and snacks like avocado toast. 

This airy, clean-lined restaurant in the art-rich Plainpalais features a selection of fine art on the walls. Expect a seasonal menu that depends on what produce is in season, all executed in a simple but delicious way. Stay for a drink after dinner in Café des Bains’ small bar, filled with stools by the artist Max Bill.