Wild summer at La Réserve
The scene is set: a sleek Ferrari purrs near the entrance of La Réserve Genève Hotel & Spa, its glossy red paint catching the summer sun. A bold L sticker on the windshield suggests a learner driver, but the confident rev of the engine and smooth acceleration tell a different story.
Arches of tranquility — pure bliss awaits.
The roof retracts, revealing the driver soaking in the Geneva sunshine, shades on, ready to roll. Summer has arrived, and La Réserve is buzzing.
Inside, Jacques Garcia’s design weaves a playful safari vibe, with golden monkeys and wooden elephants bringing an unexpected charm to the refined atmosphere. It’s a hotel where even the décor knows how to have fun.
La Réserve transforms with the seasons, and in summer, it truly comes alive. The star attraction? The motoscafo, a gleaming wooden motorboat straight out of an old-school Bond film. It ferries guests between the hotel’s private dock and Geneva’s city centre, making the usual taxi or tram ride feel utterly mundane. One minute, you’re sipping an espresso on the terrace; the next, you’re gliding across the lake like a 1960s movie star.
Wellness… or Aperitifs?
Before diving into an evening of indulgence, I decide to be virtuous – just for a moment. My aching back demands attention, so I check out the hotel’s wellness offerings. A pre-dinner yoga class seems like a good idea, and soon, I find myself in the stylish gym, stretching away my sins under jellyfish-shaped lamps. The floor-to-ceiling windows frame a lush garden, and for 90 blissful minutes, I convince myself that this is exactly what my body needed.
Emerging lighter and looser, I pass guests lounging with spritzes in hand, laughing under the golden glow of early evening. A little voice inside me questions my life choices – perhaps that should have been my warm-up? But as I roll my shoulders and feel the tension melt away, I know I made the right call.
Morning indulgence, perfectly served.
A Spa That Raises the Bar
La Réserve's Spa Nescens defies the ordinary. The seamless blend of indoor and outdoor pools invites you to swim under the open sky or within the serene confines of the spa. The health-focused Café Lauren, adorned in soothing pastel hues, offers a light and informal lunch among soft white chairs and olive trees. Various training rooms bathed in natural light house an impressive array of equipment: a boxing area for those looking to unleash their inner Rocky, state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, and floors marked with patterns for functional exercises and games. Overhead, hanging bars challenge you to elevate your workout – literally. It’s a playground for wellness aficionados, and also a place to both meet and be seen.
A Dinner Worth Writing Home About
Dinner at Le Tsé Fung – Switzerland’s only Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant – feels like stepping into a different world. Red velvet interiors, a terrace glowing under soft lanterns, and a crowd that knows its fine dining. At the next table, watch collectors animatedly discuss their latest finds, while elegant couples toast to the night ahead.
Curious about the magic behind the menu, I ask a waiter what makes this place so special. Moments later, I find myself in the kitchen, where Chef Frank Xu orchestrates a kind of delicious ballet. The air is thick with the scent of spices, the clatter of woks, and the quiet intensity of a team working in perfect harmony. Every dish that lands on my table feels like edible art. I mentally bookmark this place for a return visit – next time, with my husband, so I can impress him with my insider knowledge (and, let’s be honest, steal half his meal).
ʻWhere a Ferrari purrs at the entrance and even the décor knows how to have fun.ʼ
Lost in the grandeur of art and architecture.
A Chocolate-Fuelled Geneva Adventure
No trip to Geneva is complete without diving into its legendary chocolate scene. At Du Rhône Haute Chocolatier, I find myself not just eating chocolate but making it – crafting my own bar from a luscious cascade of melted cocoa, under the guidance of experts. Apparently, this is Winston Churchill’s and Grace Kelly’s favourite chocolate, which makes me feel slightly more sophisticated about inhaling an indecent amount of pralines. The next morning, I swap chocolate for a bit of movement and jog to La Jonction, where two rivers – the Rhône and the Arve – collide in a mesmerising display of colour. One is a clear, dazzling turquoise; the other, a milky, sediment-rich beige. It’s nature’s own abstract painting, complete with a soundtrack of rustling leaves and birdsong. Geneva, you really do know how to put on a show.
Service That
Sets the Standard Returning to my room, I find it almost transformed. Despite my efforts to keep things tidy, the housekeeping team has elevated it to an art form. Cables are neatly arranged, a cushion for my feet awaits by the bedside, and every surface gleams with perfection. It’s as if they’ve anticipated needs I wasn’t even aware of, delivering a level of service that’s both unobtrusive and impeccable.
The Perfect Send-Off
On my final evening, I linger on the terrace, watching the motoscafo approach the dock, the lake shimmering in the fading light. The air hums with conversation and soft lounge music, while the whimsical décor – lions and tigers, floating butterflies– reminds me why this place feels so effortlessly cool.
La Réserve isn’t just luxury; it’s playfulness wrapped in elegance. La Réserve Genève isn’t just a hotel – it’s a summer state of mind. And one that, long after you’ve checked out, lingers like the gentle ripple of the lake at dusk.
Words Beatrice Lessi
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