Cheese Fondue In Geneva: Best Restaurants To Try

Fondue is a popular traditional food in Switzerland, especially during the cold winter months. It is usually not served during the summer, from May until October. Fondue is a special kind of cheese, melted in a big pot with candles or a burner underneath to keep it warm. It is typically served with French bread, meats, and salad. Here are some of the best places to eat fondue in Geneva, Switzerland.

Where to eat cheese fondue with a view

There are several restaurants in Geneva where you can eat cheese fondue with a view. Here are some options:

La Buvette des Bains at Les Bains des Pâquis

La Buvette des Bains is a unique restaurant located on the Bains des Pâquis peninsula, surrounded by Lake Geneva. It offers magnificent views of the jet d'eau fountain and promenade, along with a warm atmosphere featuring a big wooden fireplace. Their fondue is famous for being made with "crémant" (sparkling wine) and is a local favourite. It's a great spot for children as well, with many young families dining there. Fondue nights are very popular in the winter, and reservations are highly recommended.

Le Gruyérien

Le Gruyérien is a restaurant named after the famous Gruyere cheese. It serves fondue all year round and offers a large variety of fondue types, including traditional moitié-moitié (half Gruyere and half Vacherin cheese) and fondue with goat cheese. The restaurant has a chalet-style interior with cow motifs, creating a cosy and friendly atmosphere. It is located in Chêne-Bougeries, and there are also locations in Plainpalais and Cornavin.

Café du Soleil

Café du Soleil is a popular spot for locals to enjoy fondue. It is located just a few minutes by car from the United Nations headquarters and is known for its delicious homemade fondue. The restaurant has a cosy and homey atmosphere and offers generous servings of cheese-oriented dishes. They also have gluten-free bread available upon request. Reservations are recommended, especially for dinner.

Restaurant Les Armures

Restaurant Les Armures is housed in a 13th-century building in Geneva's Old Town. It is known for its authentic Swiss fondue and other traditional dishes such as raclette, dried meat platters, and perch from the lake. The dining rooms feature low wood-beamed ceilings, tiled floors, and exposed brickwork, creating a charming historic setting. In the summer, you can dine on their outdoor terrace.

Restaurant Edelweiss

Restaurant Edelweiss offers a truly Swiss experience with its traditional Swiss cuisine and fondue. The restaurant has a cosy, alpine-inspired atmosphere, and you can enjoy live folk music while savouring your meal. It is a great choice for a date night or dinner with friends.

Best cheese fondue for a fancy date night

Café du Soleil

This authentic Genevan bistro first opened over 400 years ago and is a local favourite. It's located a few minutes by car from the United Nations headquarters and is known for its delicious homemade fondue. The price-quality ratio is great, and gluten-free bread is available on request. Fondue starts at 24 Swiss francs.

Les Armures

Les Armures is housed in a 13th-century building and is Geneva's oldest café. The historic backdrop and Old Town charm make this fondue experience even more delightful. Fondue starts at 26 Swiss francs, and you can even dine outside on the patio during the summer.

Le Gruyérien

Named after the world-famous Gruyère cheese, Le Gruyérien serves fondue all year round. The restaurant has a traditional Swiss environment with chalet-style furnishings and cow motifs. The staff are friendly, and the service is speedy, but booking ahead is recommended.

La Buvette des Bains

La Buvette des Bains is a unique restaurant situated on the peninsula of Bains des Paquis, surrounded by Lake Geneva. The fondue here is famous for being made with "crémant" (sparkling wine) rather than white wine, giving it a more delicate flavour. The restaurant has a warm atmosphere, with a big wooden fireplace, and offers beautiful views of the lake. It's a good place for children, too.

Auberge de Savièse

Auberge de Savièse calls itself the Fondue and Raclette specialists of Geneva, and the fondue here is delicious. Try the tomato fondue or the goat's cheese fondue, which is also lactose-free. The fondue-filled bread is also highly recommended.

Top-rated cheese fondue spots in Geneva

Geneva is known for having some of the best fondue in Switzerland, so it can be hard to choose where to go. Here are some of the top-rated spots to get your fix of this Swiss delicacy.

Café du Soleil

Located a few minutes by car from the United Nations headquarters, this homely establishment is known for its delicious homemade fondue. With generous servings and a cheese-oriented menu, Café du Soleil offers an authentic Swiss experience. The price-quality ratio is also great, and it is popular with locals rather than tourists. The restaurant is open until midnight (11 pm on Sundays) and reservations are recommended.

Bains des Pâquis

This public swimming baths and social meeting place is located right on Lake Geneva. In the summer, you can swim and lounge in the sun, and in the winter, you can take advantage of the sauna, Turkish bath, hammam, and massage services. Bains des Pâquis is also known for its fondue nights, where you can enjoy a fondue with a view. The fondue here is made with "crémant" (sparkling wine) rather than white wine, giving it a more delicate flavour. Reservations are a must.

Les Armures

Located in Geneva's Old Town, Restaurant Les Armures is housed in a 13th-century building and is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. The historic setting and traditional Swiss food make for a great night out, especially if you have friends visiting from abroad. The restaurant also has a patio for outdoor dining in the summer.

Le Gruyérien

Named after the famous gruyere cheese, Le Gruyérien serves fondue all year round, along with other dishes like meat or pasta. The restaurant has a chalet-style interior with cow motifs, and the staff are friendly and speedy. They offer a variety of fondue types, including the classic moitié-moitié (half vacherin, half gruyère cheese), a goat's cheese version, and a slightly lighter vacherin fribourgeois. Reservations are recommended.

Auberge de Saviese

Auberge de Saviese specialises in Swiss cuisine and offers a variety of cheese fondue and traditional dishes like snails and local sausage. The setting is old-fashioned, and the restaurant has received great reviews on TripAdvisor.

Traditional cheese fondue in historic settings

Geneva is known for its fondue, and there are plenty of historic settings in which to enjoy this traditional Swiss dish. Here are some of the best spots to savour a delicious, cheesy fondue in a piece of Geneva's history.

Les Armures

Les Armures is Geneva's oldest café, located in the heart of the Old Town. The restaurant is housed in a 13th-century building, with dungeons that date back to the 14th century. The Hall of Knights features watercolour scrolls and wrought-iron gates from the 17th century. The perfect setting for a fondue, the restaurant serves a boozy, rich, and moreish moitié-moitié (half vacherin, half gruyère cheese). They also offer raclette, dried meat platters, and perch plucked fresh from Lake Geneva. In the summer, you can enjoy your meal on the outdoor terrace.

Café du Soleil

This authentic Genevan bistro has been around for over 400 years and is a local favourite. Café du Soleil is known for its generous servings of delicious, homemade fondue and other cheese-oriented dishes. The price-quality ratio is excellent, and they also offer gluten-free bread upon request. Don't forget to leave room for dessert—the meringues with double cream from Gruyères are to die for!

La Buvette des Bains

La Buvette des Bains is a unique restaurant located on the Bains des Pâquis peninsula, surrounded by Lake Geneva. This public swimming bathhouse, built in the 1930s, is a popular social meeting place for people of all ages. In the winter, you can warm up with a fondue inside by the big wooden fireplace or take advantage of the sauna and Turkish bath. Their fondue is made with "crémant" (sparkling wine) instead of white wine, giving it a delicate flavour. Reservations are a must at this local institution.

Where to get vegan cheese fondue in Geneva

While cheese fondue is a Swiss speciality, Geneva has some great options for vegan cheese fondue, too.

Les Fondues du Bateau offers a unique dining experience on a boat, with vegan fondue on the menu, alongside whisky fondue and Flammkuchen. The only downside is that the boat only serves fondue and Flammkuchen, so it's not ideal if you're dining with non-fondue lovers.

For a more traditional setting, Le Gruyérien in Plainpalais has a large variety of fondue types and other Swiss dishes, such as Croûte au fromage royale. The restaurant is also well-rated for its vegan cheese fondue.

If you're looking for a restaurant with a view, Les Bains des Pâquis is a public swimming baths right on Lake Geneva. In the summer, you can swim and lounge in the sun, and in the winter, you can take advantage of the sauna, Turkish bath, and hammam. The Buvette's fondue nights are very popular, and they also offer a vegan option.

For a restaurant filled with locals, Café du Soleil is a great choice. The restaurant has a price-quality ratio and is always filled with locals, so it doesn't have a touristy vibe.

Geneva has plenty of vegan options, so you can enjoy Switzerland's winter tradition, regardless of your dietary requirements.

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