If you’re planning your first trip to Geneva, Switzerland, you may be surprised to find out that authentic, local restaurants are surprisingly hard to come by. While wandering through the narrow alleyways of the Old Town and the bustling streets of the New Town, you’ll come across countless Italian, Indian, French, Chinese, Ethiopian, and fast food places. But Swiss restaurants in Geneva seem almost impossible to find!

Trying the local food is one of the best things to do when visiting a new place, but Geneva certainly doesn’t make it easy. To help make planning your trip a little simpler, I ate my way through the city’s local dining scene, keeping track of the best restaurants in Geneva that serve Swiss food. 

Whether you’re in the mood for creamy fondue, crispy potato rösti, or sweet meringue, these restaurants will satisfy your Swiss food cravings. 

The 11 Best Restaurants in Geneva for Authentic Swiss Food

1. Buvette des Bains

Ask a local about the best restaurants in Geneva, Switzerland, for fondue, and the name “Buvette des Bains” is bound to get a mention. Nestled on the end of the pier in the Paquis district, this distinctive restaurant has a cozy cabin-style interior with wood-burning fires as well as a wonderful outdoor area where you can dine while gazing at Lake Geneva. 

A single serving of cheese fondue is absolutely huge here and easily enough for two people to eat. It comes with the most incredible freshly baked bread. But if you’re looking for something a little extra, you can also order a plate of cold cured meats that includes slices of horse! 

2.  Cave Valaisanne-Chalet Suisse

A family-run establishment that’s now in its third generation, Cave Valaisanne-Chalet Suisse is one of my favorite Geneva restaurants if you’re in the mood for fondue but you want to try something a little different. 

This welcoming spot serves nine different types of fondue! The black truffle version is my favorite. But if you’re not a fan of truffles, I recommend the three-cheese fondue – the flavor is deliciously intense and complex without being overpowering.

Here you can choose between two dining rooms. I recommend Chalet Suisse. Its bright red tablecloths, faux antler chandeliers, and exposed stone walls give it a charming rustic feel.

3. Auberge de Saviese

Established back in 1970, Auberge de Saviese is one of the best places to eat in Geneva if you’re looking for Swiss food that won’t blow your budget. Despite its central location just steps away from Lake Geneva, the restaurant offers a fantastic value-for-money two-course set lunch menu that’s much cheaper than surrounding restaurants.

The specials change every day, but you can expect to find dishes like steak with shallots, seafood risotto, and raclette cheese over potatoes – lots of simple, yet incredibly delicious local dishes. If the set menu doesn’t win you over, the a la carte choices include the likes of homemade röstis, fried cheese fritters, and grilled veal sausages.

4. Le Bistroquet

If you’re planning a date night while you’re away, Le Bistroquet is one of the top restaurants in town for a romantic evening out. Gourmet Swiss dishes like chestnut and sage soup with a celery cake and walnut crumble, fresh scallops with peanut praline and vanilla, and catch of the day with a vegetable aioli and an Asian broth grace the menu.

What makes this restaurant a winner is the presentation. Each plate looks like something you’d expect to see on the wall of an art gallery, not something you’re expected to eat. If you can let go of your instincts, you’ll be rewarded with a flavor sensation that doesn’t end until you exit through the door. 

5. Les Armures

Set inside a spectacular 17th-century building in Old Town, Les Armures invites you to experience Swiss dining in a way that suits you. One of the coolest restaurants in Geneva, this must-visit spot boasts centuries-old period rooms where local specialties can be enjoyed, as well as charming alpine chalet zones where you can dig into hearty raclette and fondue. When the weather’s fine, a temporary outdoor terrace is also created on the street.

Les Armures boasts a sensational wine cellar with a huge selection available by the bottle, carafe, and glass. Wine is the recommended drink pairing for rich dishes like fondue and raclette (it’s said to aid digestion), so enjoy! 

6. Bistrot du Lion d’Or

Looking for where to eat in Geneva for a unique dining experience? Make reservations for Bistrot du Lion d’Or. This underground restaurant is set inside a beautiful vaulted cellar, giving it a magical, intimate atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else in the city.  

I recommend ordering the discovery menu and adding on the wine pairing. You’ll be treated to a four-course meal made up of one appetizer, one fish course, one meat course, and one dessert carefully selected by the chef. 

If that’s too much for you, there are some sophisticated sharing dishes, too. The butternut and cardamom malakoffs (fried cheese balls) are sublime and pair wonderfully with a crisp white wine.

7. Café du Soleil

One of the oldest restaurants in Geneva, Café du Soleil is estimated to be around 400 years old. It’s located opposite the Petit-Saconnex church and has a charismatic outdoor terrace that makes you feel like you’re having a leisurely lunch in a park. 

Here you’ll find a lavish menu loaded with Swiss classics like local cheese tarts, roasted salmon steaks, raclette cheese ravioli, and cured meat platters from Valais. While the a la carte menu is incredibly tempting, most people visit Café du Soleil for the chance to try the incredible fondue. 

It’s made with several different types of cheese, giving it a complex, deep flavor. It’s served with some crusty bread for dipping that comes with unlimited refills.

8. Swiss Chalet

You wouldn’t expect to find one of the best restaurants in town at the airport, but just wait until you try Swiss Chalet. This cute restaurant is decked out like a wooden ski lodge, complete with flickering fires, faux fur rugs, and skis hanging on the walls as decorations.

Here you’ll find all the food you’d expect to find at a ski lodge, too, like bubbling pots of fondue, big juicy steaks with fries, giant Swiss sausages with potatoes, and incredible salads loaded up with goat cheese and bacon. The raclette is the best thing to order here – it’s amazing and comes with cured meats, pickles, potatoes, and even more cheese. 

Swiss Chalet is located in the arrivals lounge, so if you’re starving after you first land in the city, you can head straight there. 

9. Cafe Papon

Cafe Papon is one of the best places to eat in Geneva if you’re looking to try something new. This beautiful restaurant boasts an outdoor terrace that’s ideal for when the sun is shining, as well as a gorgeous indoor dining room with a spectacular vaulted ceiling. While the design is eye-catching, it’s the menu that will really grab your attention.

Dishes like horse steak with roasted potatoes, veal breast with mustard sauce, beef cheeks with caramelized onions, and bone marrow with potato chips all feature on the menu. If that’s too far out of your comfort zone, you’ll find some more common dishes, like sea bass with pumpkin, raclette cheeseburger, and vegetable ravioli on the menu, too.

10. Restaurant Edelweiss

Hidden away inside Hôtel Edelweiss, Restaurant Edelweiss is where to eat in Geneva for some seriously good fondues. Known simply as Restaurant Edelweiss, this fabulous restaurant creates classic Swiss dishes using the finest local products available. 

The meat fondues are incredible here. You get raw chunks of beef to cook yourself in bubbling hot oil before dipping them in a selection of sauces and devouring them.

There’s traditional Swiss music playing in the background to create an authentic ambiance, but don’t be surprised if you think you hear yodeling every now and then! It adds a little extra “oomph” to the evening and will make you feel like you’re in the middle of the Alps.

11. Les Curiades

When it comes to fine dining, Les Curiades is one of the coolest restaurants in the city. This historic restaurant has been serving delicious Swiss food since 1850 and continues to amaze hungry diners with subtle flavors, remarkable textures, and jaw-dropping presentation. Following a farm-to-table ethos, the menu changes every couple of months according to seasonal ingredients.

Most dishes are inspired by traditional recipes from Geneva. But each season, the head chef creates a number of exotic specials inspired by his international travels. I definitely suggest you leave room for dessert and order the cheese selection. Your server will appear with a trolley loaded with 30+ different cheeses for you to choose from! 

There you have it! The 11 best restaurants for authentic Swiss food. What’s your favorite restaurant in Geneva?