On the go for a daytrip

On the spot or to take away, discover our selection of quality “on the go” eateries, to eat quickly and at any time.

Salads, piadina, burgers, pizza or even baos and poke bowls, here are our favourite gourmet spots for an invigorating break during a day of sightseeing or a shopping trip. Follow the guide.

Left bank, near the lake

Don’t miss Geneva’s burger institution! Just a few steps away from the lake, take a break at Hamburger Foundation, the local venue for all fans of the hot filled roll. With non-stop service until 10:30 pm, enjoy the famous Cheeseburger or Bacon Cheese, made with local produce. A few metres away, discover the trendy Marcel, a tasty venue to seek solace on winter days. Fish & chips, club sandwiches, Caesar salad, waffles… All of it is homemade, with love and generosity. And it’s open on Sundays! 

Looking to get away from it all? Head over to Molokai, the refreshing “poke bar” in Rue du Rhône, where you can design your own meal. With chicken, marinated tofu, salmon or dried meat, you’re bound to find the perfect mix. Try out Elua too, the other poke specialist in Rue des Eaux-Vives, which features such dishes as the Kapohaku, made with octopus, or the Wailea, made with sea bream. 

In a small alley in the heart of Eaux-Vives, on the charming wooden terrace or to take away, don’t miss En Faim. Enjoy delicious juices, wraps or the Hummus Bowl, the house speciality. Oriental, vegan or with chicken, a 100% healthy and tasty lunch. Finally, head for the Restaurant de la Plage, the brand-new spot with a panoramic view of the lake, not to be missed on any account during your stay in Geneva. Overlooking the lake, enjoy fast, fresh and seasonal cuisine, open 7 days a week until midnight.

Right bank, near the station

Enjoy the Dolce Vita at Mafalda, a family-run grocery-restaurant with transalpine flavours. On the menu, to take away or in the small room upstairs, you’ll be spoilt for choice between the daily pasta, the emblematic Panino or a slice of pizza. You’ll also fall for the homemade Tiramisu! If you’re more into salads, head to the neighbour, Elsalad, for a wrap or a bowl. The restaurant offers fresh, seasonal salads made from local produce. You’ll love the creative and generous recipes and also the “Monthly salad” with seasonal produce. Two other outlets are available in Geneva, in the Plainpalais and Villereuse districts, not far from the lake. 

With its non-stop service from 11 am to 11 pm, Lobster & Co will ravish your taste buds with its recipe for the emblematic Lobster Roll, a toasted brioche bread filled with Canadian lobster or snow crab… You’ll wolf it down! Try it with homemade Coleslaw or Truffle chips.

In the Rues Basses, while you’re shopping

A quick lunch between two shops? Here are our favourite addresses. 

Wraps, avocado toasts, burgers, salads and homemade sweets… all prepared fresh, with ingredients from the Geneva region and original recipes: welcome to Street Gourmet. You can order a delicious quiche of the day, prepared with market produce, or a generous “Healthy Bowl”, based on gravlax salmon or shawarma chicken. Alternatively, enjoy a real Roman pizza “al taglio” at Nero’s Pizza. Located in the Rue du Marché, at the entrance to the Globus department store, this place offers generous slices of pizza to take away, topped with produce imported directly from Italy. Margherita, Regina Bufala or Salame Picante, there is something for every taste. For burgers, head to Black Tap. Voted Best Burger in New York, the brand has set up shop in Geneva to the delight of all foodies. On the menu: burgers, sweet potato fries, salads… and the famous gourmet and colourful milkshakes. 

At the bottom of the Old Town, Threekids is the reference in terms of artisanal bagels. Organic flour from Geneva, seasonal recipes, and three childhood friends who welcome you in a friendly and dynamic atmosphere. The little plus: each bagel bears the name of a Geneva neighbourhood.

In the banking district

We love this brand-new burger place in the banking district: Shiso Burger offers original fusion recipes, inspired by Asian cuisine, with a bun cooked at low temperature. A first for a burger! And for vegetarians, the establishment has customised recipes based on tofu or Portobello mushrooms. Two doors along, Seed offers a healthy and seasonal take-away menu. Every day, you’ll find a soup and a special, alongside the menu (salads, sandwiches and savoury tarts). If you’re feeling peckish, you can order the Energy Balls with coconut and figs or mango.

In Plainpalais

For a quick, tasty and affordable meal, head to Toasted. Here, toast is king. The (very) tasty sandwiches are made with produce from local farms and are prepared fresh. As a bonus, the restaurant offers a few suggestions for organic wines and home-made chips. After a little stroll in the Parc des Bastions, go to Bao Canteen, the temple of gua baos, the famous little Taiwanese steamed sandwiches that locals love. A 100% street food canteen, on the spot or to take away. With tofu, wild shrimp or braised beef, let yourself be tempted! 

A 100% vegan venue? Try out EnVie, which offers delicious salads, burgers, hot dogs and pastries in the Plainpalais district. It’s colourful, generous and very tasty. Vegetable dishes like you’ve been dreaming of...

In Carouge and on the way there…

Planning a trip to the iconic Sardinian town? Here are a few key venues for a quick bite to eat on the way and once you’re there. In the Augustins district, don’t miss the little arcade with the singing accents of the southern Peninsula. The family-run Bischero Focacceria will have your taste buds tingling with its homemade Focacce and its Tuscan specialities in the form of sandwiches. You’ll also love the delicious Arancini and the comforting Parmigiana. A few steps away, jump to another continent at Mama Thaï, a Bangkok-style canteen where you’ll feel right at home. You can eat in or take away the very tasty Pad Thai, Papaya salad with prawns, Stir-fried beef with basil and even Banana-chocolate spring rolls.

Once there, head to Poke Me for a fresh meal and enjoy customisable poke bowls on the spot or to take away. The small arcade on Rue Saint-Joseph offers a colourful palette of typical Hawaiian recipes from Monday to Sunday, with non-stop service. On the charming Place du Temple, take a final trip to Italy with Ajò Ajò Piadineria. Here, it’s the piadina that’ll delight you. Well, not only. Treat yourself to the various homemade Focacce and the soups and salads of the day. The added bonus: there’s a terrace set up on the square for the summer.