5 Best Restaurants in Rive Gauche (Left Bank), Geneva

This Genevois institution serves up regional dishes—sausage and sauerkraut, roast venison and spätzli, and the namesake pigs' feet—in a traditional brasserie setting. The crowd can be noisy, and table service can occasionally be a tad gruff, but locals and tourists keep streaming in. The terrace is great for people-watching.

The "Années Folles" decor—green-and-white tiles, mustard-yellow ceilings, warm wood—and busy waiters in ankle-length aprons channel Paris. Local diners of all stripes come to tuck into hearty portions tartares of beef or fish, filet de boeuf (steak), and heaping platters of seafood. The dining room expands onto a delightful summer terrace at the foot of the Vieille Ville.

Situated in the heart of the Eaux-Vives neighborhood, Khora is a lovely homage to Greece with whitewashed walls adorned with tasteful blue accents that invoke a sense of Aegean island architecture. The menu showcases an array of authentic Greek dishes like homemade tzatziki, grilled octopus, and spanakopita, and creative cocktails like the Athenian Spritz and a Greek-forward wine list continue the tribute.

A robust Swiss menu has made this Vieille Ville institution a magnet for local street sweepers, foreign heads of state, and everyone in between. Before tucking into a fondue or raclette (melted cheese served with small potatoes in their skins, pickled pearl onions, and gherkins), order a starter of air-dried meat cut paper thin—a specialty of the canton of Grisons. Other choices include Schübling (sausage) or veal strips in cream sauce: both come with sinfully delicious Rösti, a buttery cake of grated potatoes. In the summer you can sit outdoors and soak up the Old Town's historic vibe.

Tucked into the Confédération Centre shopping mall is an eclectic collection of locally developed restaurants with choices that range from ramen to rotisserie chicken to Greek fare. Sando, a Japanese-inspired burger joint serving smashed burgers marinated in teriyaki and topped with daikon and miso bacon, is a standout. Restaurants surround a central bar pouring wine, beer, and cocktails.