My Geneva Lunch Restaurant Picks for Every Palate

Before I write about my favorite terrace eateries, I thought I’d share some restaurants that are good for lunch in every season. Every Geneva lunch restaurant on the list has been selected for its great ambiance, excellent cuisine, balanced meal selections, friendly service, and good quality/price ratio. Most also have a daily special for around 20 Swiss francs. So do it up on your lunch break and give one of them a visit. Bon appetit!

Les Philosophes: A Next-Generation Brasserie

An unexpected juxtaposition of styles creates a unique, modern feel at this Geneva lunch restaurant: white marble tables, bistro chairs and 20’s-inspired wallpaper rub elbows in this adventurous brasserie in the Plainpalais neighborhood.
The menu sticks close to home, offering brasserie classics like beef tenderloin, seafood, and a tartar plate.
Expect to spend: 20 Swiss francs for the daily special; lunch menus vary by main dish, plus a pasta of the week and salad of the week. A great choice for any palate!
Getting there: 5 Rue Prévost-Martin, 1205 Geneva – Phone: +41 22 320 54 77
More information: www.lesphilosophes.ch

En Faim ou Soif: Health Food That’s Delicious, Too

Originally a small stand known for its fresh-squeezed juices, En Faim ou Soif has expanded to include a sit-down area, making us health-conscious girls very happy indeed. This chic canteen with super-friendly staff is perfect for lunch with the ladies.
Its gracious owner and founder, Doronn Ophir, is always on-site making sure everything is running just so.
Health food takes on bold flavor here, and it makes all the difference: everything is homemade, the ingredients are incredibly fresh, and the food is simply delicious.

My favorites: Quinoa salad with hummus, cream cheese and avocado on toast, coconut ginger pumpkin soup, fresh green juices blended right in front of you; also, carrot cake with nuts and an irresistible chocolate marble cake (gluten-free and baked by the owner’s sister).
Bonus points: En Faim ou Soif uses local organic products with the GRTA label (Genève Région-Terre Avenir, a cantonal guarantee for fresh, 100% local produce).
Expect to spend: 15-20 Swiss francs
Getting there: 4 Chemin Neuf, 1207 Geneva. Reservations not accepted, except for the all-new Sunday brunch. Phone: +41 22 700 60 63
More information: www.enfaim.ch

BG Café: Friendly Vibes, Geneva View

With a view of the rooftops from the 4th floor of department store Bon Génie, the BG Café boasts a large, light-infused locale, a diverse menu, and terrific service.
If you’re downtown and looking for a delicious Geneva lunch restaurant, this is your place.
On the menu: fish, meat, salad, pasta, risotto, club sandwiches, etc.
Bonus points: daily special for 23 Swiss francs.
Getting there: 34 Rue du Marché, 1204 Geneva – 4th floor of the Bon Génie department store. Phone: +41 22 818 10 27. Reservations preferred, as they often fill up at lunchtime.
If they’re full: try going up two flights. The cozier Wild Girl’s Deli on the 6th floor might have space available. Their menu includes scrambled eggs, avocado toast, an açai bowl, salad, and more. Note: they don’t take reservations.

Le Sesflo: Do Business at this Geneva Lunch Restaurant

This revamped version of Le Sesflo got everything right, from its new open-kitchen décor to the inspired cuisine of chef Serge Labrosse to the small terrace for good-weather days.
The menu is based on Mediterranean influences and includes dishes like swordfish steak and grilled octopus.
My favorites: Flash-fried fillet of bass; olive, tomato and basil with crisp risotto and zucchini. Also good: their meats, salads, and (especially) risottos. The service is attentive and warm. This restaurant in the Champel neighborhood is well worth the trip.
Expect to spend: 22 Swiss francs for the daily special.
More information: www.sesflo.ch
Getting there: 16 Route de Florissant, 1206 Geneva – Phone: +41 22 789 06 65
Good to know: Serge Labrosse’s other restaurant, La Chaumière, in Troinex, was awarded a Michelin star.

Le Lyrique: A Vibrant and Elegant Brasserie

Just a stone’s throw from the Grand Théâtre, this historic Geneva lunch restaurant with its large terrace, columns, and high ceilings is the city’s oldest restaurant-brasserie (Le Lyrique opened in 1881, and its walls are protected by heritage registry). It was recently renovated by an Italian architect whose team of artisans had worked on the Sistine Chapel ceiling restoration.
For lunch, diners can opt for the brasserie or the restaurant; the latter also has a terrace that’s open during the summer.
They serve classics like beef tartar, Zurich-style minced veal, and filet of beef with Béarnaise sauce, but there’s also fish, pasta, and even a vegetarian menu that includes quinoa salad.
The service is friendly and unobtrusive.

Expect to spend: variable. The “business lunch” menu for 35 Swiss francs includes a starter and dessert. The daily special is 20 Swiss francs, or you can order individual items off the menu.
More information: www.cafe-lyrique.ch
Getting there: 12 Blvd du Théâtre, 1204 Geneva – Phone: +41 22 328 00 95

Eastwest: A Classy and Cozy Island of Calm

The restaurant for boutique hotel Eastwest is a cozy, calm refuge from the hustle and bustle of downtown.
The ambiance is elegant and understated. In the summer you can dine on the patio: a small haven of calm, complete with the ripple of flowing water. The food is exquisite and impressively presented (asparagus, Burrata cheese, sashimi, Molârd rib steak, and more.)
Expect to spend: a fabulous lunch menu (starter plus main course) for 32 Swiss francs lets you choose among the weekly specials.
Getting there: 6 Rue des Pâquis, 1201 Geneva – Phone: +41 22 708 17 17. Reservations recommended as tables are limited.
More information: www.eastwesthotel.ch

For other great restaurants in Geneva: read Le Colibry’s reviews

If you’re still hungry: refer to Le Colibry’s list