The coffee shop culture has truly arrived in Geneva, with many places dedicated to providing perfectly blended coffee opening in this exciting, cultural city over the past few years.
Boréal Coffee Shop
Cafe, Coffee, $$$
Priding itself on truly fantastic coffee, Boréal Coffee Shop does not disappoint, with an enormous choice of excellent brews prepared using a range of different techniques, including cold-drip and filter V60 to extract the very best taste from the beans. Its range of seating also caters to everyone, whether you’re looking for a quick shot of caffeine by the counter or a long leisurely afternoon on a sofa. What’s more, the drinks are well complemented by a good range of sumptuous sandwiches and cupcakes.
Using the method of straight roasting, Mokafe produces aromatic, great-quality coffee that wafts through this small, comfortable establishment. A lovely spot for a drink and a quick snack, with its intimate, welcoming environment, this café provides a genuinely memorable coffee experience along with some delicious sandwiches.
Enjoy a bagel and a cup of coffee at Birdie Food and Coffee | Courtesy of Birdie Food and Coffee
Be careful not to walk straight past the well-hidden Birdie Food and Coffee, a café that provides simply delectable drinks. Always serving premium arabica coffee from mainly single origins and using a range of methods to prepare it, along with baristas who really know what they’re talking about, this is a place for those who really love their beans and brews. Complement your cup of coffee with a freshly made bagel, wrap or pastry.
Located in the heart of the pleasant Pâquis district of Geneva, Viverra Coffee serves java that is sourced directly from the Mountain Province, just north of the Philippines. The machines here are also authentic, with manual preferred over automatic. The café is also a haven for culture lovers, hosting regular art exhibitions and containing a range of books that are free to browse.
Venture just a few minutes’ drive out of Geneva’s centre to Happy Days Coffee, an American-style diner. The decor leaves no question about its influences, with the space with dripping American memorabilia and colourful booths. Head here for thick milkshakes in a variety of flavours.
Café Remor opened in 1921 | Courtesy of Café Remor
Conveniently located in the heart of Geneva, Café Remor was one of the city’s first ice-cream shops when it opened in 1921, and has since evolved into a vibrant and animated establishment. It serves a range of tea, coffee and even cocktails (as well as its famous ice cream). One can really get a feel for its extensive history thanks to the traditional decor and crowds of local patrons.
Situated in a second-hand bookshop that houses an impressive selection of around 11,000 titles, Les Recyclables café is a veritable paradise for literature and coffee lovers. Patrons can enjoy a tea or well-blended coffee in this intimate, bohemian setting, as well as a good range of full meals throughout the day or a few alcoholic drinks in the evening.
Part of the equally chic Italian restaurant Le Réservoir, Le Café de la Presse is a great spot for a classy drink. A vestige of another era when newspaper offices used to populate this district, this café may no longer be the haunt of journalists, but it still carries the same stylish, professional ambience about it. Open every day, it is perfect for either a morning coffee or an evening tipple.
True to its name, Cottage Café really is a lovely traditional cottage; one that transports patrons to another time with its nostalgic, cosy decor and romantic views. Located in the beautiful park of the Square des Alpes, just on the banks of sparkling Lake Geneva, this café is a great place for a well-brewed coffee or a spot of tapas.
