If you want to wake up in the Old Town, Les Armures is the address. The hotel occupies a historic residence on the Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre, beside the Arsenal and a minute from St Pierre Cathedral, at the top of the hill where Geneva began. The building dates back to the 17th century, and its character has been carefully preserved: exposed beams, cut stone, vaulted cellars and fragments of old walls appear throughout, combined with the comforts of a five-star hotel. There are just 32 rooms, which makes it intimate and quiet, and each is individually decorated, mixing period features with modern bathrooms and air conditioning. Below the hotel, the Restaurant Les Armures is a Geneva institution in its own right, serving traditional Swiss and French cooking with local specialities and a broad wine cellar, while the rustic carnotzet in the cellar is the place for cheese fondue and raclette. A gourmet breakfast starts the day, and there is a bar and a terrace on the square in fine weather. Notable guests over the years have included presidents John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton. It feels like staying in a private house in the oldest part of the city, with the cathedral bells as your alarm clock.
Location and getting around: the hotel is at Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre 1, at the summit of the Old Town. The cathedral, Maison Tavel and the Place du Bourg-de-Four are all within two or three minutes, the Parc des Bastions and the Reformation Wall about five, and the lakefront, the Jet d’Eau and the shopping streets of Rive ten minutes downhill. The Old Town streets are steep, cobbled and partly closed to traffic, so arriving by taxi with luggage is easiest. Buses and trams run from Place Neuve and Rive, and your free Geneva Transport Card covers them.
Rooms: rooms are cosy rather than vast, full of character with beams and stone, and some look over the Old Town roofs. Ask for a quiet side if you are sensitive to bells or terrace chatter.
Who it suits: couples, history lovers and travellers who want the Old Town on their doorstep, as well as anyone who has come to Geneva partly for fondue.
Good to know: parking is available but the Old Town is awkward by car, so ask the hotel how to arrive. Pets are accepted. Book the restaurant if you want to eat there on a weekend evening, as it is popular with locals and visitors alike.
Why stay here
- ✓Historic building with beams and stone walls
- ✓Restaurant with Swiss and French cuisine
- ✓Carnotzet for fondue and raclette
- ✓Gourmet breakfast
- ✓Bar and terrace
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓Parking
- ✓Pets accepted
Good questions
Where is Hôtel Les Armures?+
It is at Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre 1, at the top of Geneva’s Old Town. St Pierre Cathedral is about a minute’s walk away.
Does Les Armures serve fondue?+
Yes, the hotel’s restaurant serves traditional Swiss and French dishes, and its carnotzet specialises in fondue and raclette. Book ahead for weekend evenings.
Can you drive to Hôtel Les Armures?+
Parking is available, but the Old Town streets are narrow and partly closed to traffic. Ask the hotel for directions, or arrive by taxi.
