Staying in Geneva for a while and you want to know the best places to go out in the city? This guide to the nightlife in Geneva includes all the best locales in the city!
Entertainment venues, clubs, bars, and pubs are all included in this guide to the best places to go out in Geneva. Whether your idea of a fun night out includes dancing to a DJ or going to an opera, you’ll find a couple of great options in this guide to Geneva nightlife!
Table of Contents
Victoria Hall
Victoria Hall is a concert hall in Geneva and a great place to go out if you enjoy listening to classical music. If your idea of a fun night out includes dressing up, going to a beautiful 19th-century building, and listening to the likes of the Geneva Chamber Music Orchestra, this is the perfect spot for you.
The iconic Victoria Hall isn’t a good place just for classical music lovers. The concert hall often hosts some of the most iconic names from the world of opera, as well as famous jazz musicians. In terms of cultural events in Geneva, this is by far the best place to go out in the city.
Geneva Arena
Geneva Arena is a live music venue situated close to the Geneva airport. It’s one of the largest entertainment venues in the city, and it’s the place to go if you want to attend a concert in Geneva.
In addition to music concerts, the venue often hosts dance performances, shows, and many other events. Countless international pop stars have performed at the Geneva Arena, and it’s always one of the best places in the city if you just want to have some fun.
It’s worth noting that, because of the location, the arena isn’t exactly the easiest venue to reach. You can travel by bus or train from the city center, but it will take you about 25 minutes to get there by public transport.
Théâtre du Léman
Théâtre du Léman is a performing arts theater in Geneva. It’s situated in the northern part of the city on the lakeside promenade. The theater is a great place to visit for people who are into various cultural events since it hosts everything from concerts to plays.
This Geneva theater is situated in the Grand Hotel Kempinski building, which also houses several bars and restaurants. When you’re done with your play or show of choice, pop into one of the bars here to continue having fun, or just head back into town. The building is close to many other nightlife spots in the city.
Grand Théâtre de Genève
Grand Théâtre de Genève is the biggest and most important performing arts venue in Geneva. It is situated in the heart of town close to Victoria Hall, in an imposing 19th-century building that truly dominates the area. The building is impressive on the inside and on the outside, but the beautiful decorations and paintings inside make it a truly superb and unique venue.
The city’s most important cultural venue hosts only the most important performance artists. The theater is most popular for its annual opera and dance performances, which are truly a treat for lovers of the art form.
Bains des Pâquis
Bains des Pâquis is a public bath house in Geneva that turns into a sauna place over the winter. The place is most popular in the summer, whether it’s for swimming during the day, or for the excellent atmosphere in the on-site bar/restaurant at night.
Head to Bains des Pâquis in the evening if you want to have fun on Lake Geneva. The restaurant there not only offers excellent local food like fondue but also often hosts events and live music concerts. Concerts here will often start very early in the morning, so you can sing and dance while watching the sunrise!
Club Chat Noir
Club Chat Noir is a chilled-out bar in the heart of Carouge, a Geneva neighborhood a little outside the city center. If you’d rather not spend your time in the busiest parts of the city, a quick visit to the outskirts can be just as rewarding.
The bar boasts a myriad of drinks on offer and good food, and the club regularly hosts DJs and live music performers. It’s a great place to have fun, drink, and listen to hip-hop or trendy house music, but it’s worth noting that it’s a very popular place in Geneva.
The club is often packed on the weekends, and if you don’t make a reservation on time, your time at Club Chat Noir could be cut short.
Java Club
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Java Club is a disco club in the same hotel building where Théâtre du Léman is located. If you’re looking for a club with a huge dance floor and the best quality sound system in town, this is by far the best place in Geneva for you.
Dance the night away at this neon-lit discotheque to the sounds of popular DJs. The club is free to enter on nights when there aren’t any live performs, but everything inside is wildly expensive.
Think CHF 20 for a glass of mineral water, so maybe skip this place if you’re looking to have fun on a somewhat tighter budget in Geneva. Especially since the service isn’t really that great unless you’re spending big bucks at the place.
Mambo Club
Mambo Club is another disco club in Geneva, and this one is better suited for travelers who aren’t willing to spend a fortune to go clubbing in Geneva. It’s still pricey, but nowhere near as expensive as the Java Club.
Mambo is situated in the northern part of the city, and it’s most popular with people who enjoy dancing to R&B, salsa, and electro music. The club often hosts DJs, there’s a dedicated cocktail bar area and a pretty big dance floor where you can dance as much as you want. It’s not quite as polished as some of the other clubs in Geneva, but that’s just part of its charm.
L’Apothicaire Cocktail-Club
L’Apothicaire Cocktail-Club is in the center of Geneva, just outside the city’s old town. If you enjoy trying new things and you particularly like tasting innovative cocktails, you will absolutely love it at this cocktail club. The place is known for having possibly the best cocktails in the entire city, so definitely visit if that’s what you’re looking for.
The atmosphere at L’Apothicaire Cocktail Club is pretty great as well. The music usually isn’t too loud, the lights are dimly lit, and the service is friendly and pleasant. It’s a great place to visit if you want to chat over delicious drinks, but not the ideal locale if you just want to party and dance.
It’s worth noting that they serve food at the place, so you can grab a bite in case the cocktails start tasting a tad too delicious.
Lady Godiva Pub
If you’re looking to go out to a pub in Geneva, the Lady Godiva Pub is one of the best British-style pubs in the city. They’ve got beer, food, and huge TVs so you can watch sports events.
This pub is situated in the southern part of the city, so it’s a bit further away from the busy crowds of the city center. The location and style of locale also mean you can expect better prices than at places that are more centrally located, but it’s still a pretty expensive place by normal-people standards.
Lady Godiva Pub is a great place for groups of friends who want to have some drinks, chat, and eat some comfort food. It’s not the fanciest place to go out in Geneva, but if you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, you’ll absolutely love it here.
Le Baroque
If your idea of a night out includes a visit to one of the best restaurants in the city, then Le Baroque is a great destination for you in Geneva. It’s a popular international restaurant in the old town of Geneva, and it offers a modern take on the classic Mediterranean, Peruvian, and Japanese dishes.
That means pasta, fish, and guacamole. The food at this place is absolutely delicious, and there’s a lot of variety so you’re bound to find at least one dish that sounds good. The menu is quite experimental, featuring everything from Swiss staples like Edamer to international delicacies like lobster.
Also, it’s worth noting that this is the best place to visit if you like the idea of burning away calories by dancing. This is a party restaurant where you can listen to great music and dance after dinner, so a great place if you want to have an all-in-one night out in Geneva.
L’ Usine
L’ Usine is a modern cultural center on the bank of the River Rhone in Geneva. It’s situated in a converted factory, so the place has an industrial vibe. This is by far the best place in the city for people who want to listen to alternative music and have some rock and roll fun.
It’s worth noting that it looks a bit scary on the outside – the facade of the former factory is run down, but the interior is wildly different. Don’t be put off by the decaying exterior of the building and be sure to go inside if you’re looking to have a punk party in Geneva!
