Authentic Lake Fish Cuisine in Geneva – Restaurant L’Hôtel-de-Ville

Written/Compiled & Reported by Liu Jiawen | Source: Monocle Editorial Team

 

Since Geneva has close cultural ties with France, it naturally has refined tastes when it comes to food. Especially as Geneva is located near a large lake, fresh lake fish has become a local specialty. In the Old Town of Geneva, it’s not difficult to enjoy local authentic cuisine—just pick almost any restaurant and sit down. Nearly every one of them has a history of over a hundred years. This historic restaurant, sharing its name with the Town Hall, has been a gathering spot for officials’ lunch breaks for centuries, so the deliciousness and meticulous preparation of the dishes go without saying.

If you want to sample the best of Geneva’s local cuisine in one go, we recommend ordering the CHF65 set menu. This five-course meal includes appetizers and dessert, and the second course, Filets de Perches (perch fillets), is a must-try dish in Geneva. The perch is freshly caught from Lake Geneva, sliced, pan-fried in butter, and served with lemon slices and herbs. It’s tender and sweet, leaving you wishing there were more than just three pieces.

Next came Geneva-style sausages and traditional spicy stewed pork chops, which instantly satisfied the appetite whetted by the perch fillets. The final dessert was also special—pear mousse served in tulip-shaped soft biscuits with a pear liqueur flavor, wrapped outside in a nest-like layer of pulled maltose threads, offering a visually modern art-inspired presentation.

 

Restaurant L’Hôtel-de-Ville

Address: Grand-Rue 39, 1204 Geneva

Phone: +41-22-311-7030

Website: www.hdvglozu.ch