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

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.

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.