Point Cardinal

Feel like a breath of fresh air and getting out of the town centre? This Cottage by Serge Labrosse (who also gives cookery lessons in Geneva) is just the ticket. An elegant, contemporary vibe sets the scene for artfully presented dishes based on painstakingly selected ingredients by a chef who has knocked around a bit…, without forgetting the pretty terrace in fine weather and very convenient private car park. Whether you prefer traditional fare or more modern creations, there is something for everyone.

This lovely old-school bistro ticks all the boxes when it comes to good vibes. It has been tastefully refurbished to showcase features such as its original tiling, wooden banquette seating, mirrors on the walls, a large chandelier fashioned out of old copper pans and a small service counter. As for the food, chef Clément Thellier has designed a short, savvy menu that makes your mouth water with its well-crafted and beautifully presented dishes: sweetbreads en barigoule, bacon crisps, split peas with bacon; beef tenderloin, toasted bread, pan-fried foie gras, mini vegetables and potato emulsion

Master Genevan watchmaker, François-Paul Journe, and former star chef, Dominique Gauthier, orchestrate a gourmet symphony that is fully equal to their respective reputations in this swish, upmarket bistro. In a setting depicted by wainscoting and a wooden coffered ceiling, diners are treated to culinary masterpieces such as giant prawns roasted in kadaif and delicately enhanced with citrus fruit and basil, Simmental beef in Voatsiperifery pepper or a tempura of Vallorbe frog’s legs with spinach and a light frothy garlic-spiked mousse. In addition to a relaxed, buzzy atmosphere, you can also ex

The iconic Four Seasons hotel, Geneva’s oldest luxury hotel (1834), dripping with pilasters and frescoes, is the setting of Il Lago, or Lake Geneva’s classy remake of the dolce vita. The kitchen team offers high-flying Italian cuisine, with the odd Mediterranean accent, rich in aromas, subtlety and delicacy. The quintessence of fine dining.

It quickly becomes clear that this friendly, buzzy venue is light years from your average Thai eatery. Everything is made from scratch with fresh, first-class ingredients and the flavours are both refined and rugged. Examples include fried rice balls with pork (Laab Nem Tod) and fried rice with crab and spring onions (Khao Pad Pool), without forgetting the starters that are ideal to share. The friendly, casual front-of-house team sets the tone and in summer, a few tables are laid on the pavement. A word to the wise: booking is essential, even at lunchtime!

On the shores of Lake Geneva, the luxury Woodward hotel boasts a fine dining restaurant that is the epitome of classy decadence. Diners are seated in an interior, tastefully appointed in dark wood and vivid reds, at high tables or at a counter overlooking the open kitchen to sample a tasting or a vegetarian menu or one of the “small plates” available from the à la carte lineup. Service courtesy of a charming, devoted team! The lunch menu is a steal.

In the heart of Eaux-Vives, Tosca is the epitome of Tuscan elegance. Chef Ivan Baretti, born and bred in Florence, who trained at Arpège in Paris, works only with top-notch Italian ingredients, to which he adds a subtle contemporary edge. The stylish interior mingles frescoes, antique books and velvet upholstered armchairs, while the food sings a finely tuned ode to the Mediterranean. The high-flying culinary cast stars slow roasted pork or a medley on a clementine theme that showcase the chef’s consummate mastery and attention to detail. The perfect place for lovers of cucina italiana, with t