The Insider's Guide to Geneva

Architect Bénédicte Montant lets us in on the city's secrets as featured in our downloadable Wallpaper* Guide

Geneva architecture studio 3BM3 was set up by Bénédicte Montant and Carmelo Stendardo in 2000 and they have designed the new Sécheron station and the public spaces in Hôtel Président Wilson among other projects. Montant lives in Lancy, where she likes to dine at Café Zinette.

"It’s an old restaurant now run by two excellent chefs," she says. If she’s got some free time, she spends the afternoon exploring arty Plainpalais and Jonction, or heads to Rive, the shopping district between the Old Town and Eaux-Vives, to browse the fashion and accessories at Charivari (Rue d’Italie 8) and stock up on fresh produce and local delicacies at Halle de Rive (Boulevard Helvétique 29).

Montant often has lunch at La Ferblanterie (Rue de l’Ecole-de- Médecine 8), which has "the best quiches in the world", and spends Saturday mornings at the Puces de Plainpalais fleamarket. On sunny days, she might treat herself to breakfast at Bains des Pâquis, and in the evening meet friends for drinks at Cottage Café (Rue Adhémar-Fabri 7) or on the terrace at La Clémence (page 24). She also highly recommends L’Adresse, where she can indulge her love of fashion and quality cuisine in the same venue. Montant adds: "The best thing about Geneva is that you can walk, cycle or take the boat everywhere. And the mountains and countryside are so easily accessible."

We hope our preview has given you an idea for a new year city break. You can find out about the places mentioned above - and more - by downloading our Wallpaper* City Guides here.