NESTLED AWAY on the shores of Lake Léman lies La Réserve Genève – a five-star city resort hotel boasting ten acres of luscious parkland.
Despite only being a seven-minute car drive from the airport, the hotel feels intimate and secluded from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. From its picturesque views over the Alps to its gentle lakeside ambience, stepping into La Réserve’s lobby immediately relieves any stress and tension from one’s wearied mind.
La Réserve Genève
Designed to emulate the style of an African game reserve, the hotel’s interiors are traditional yet subversive.
Wooden panels line floors and walls in an eclectic display of texture, whereas wildlife photography by the acclaimed Denis Asch adds an artistic accent to the hotel’s winding corridors and foyer. Meanwhile, the African game lodge aesthetic continues through La Réserve’s subtle leopard print carpeting and delicate giraffe-shaped table-side sculptures.
Room at La Réserve Genève
With 29 suites and 73 rooms, La Réserve is private and quiet, yet its four restaurants highlight the hotel’s buzzy, welcoming atmosphere. My room featured its own terrace with sunbeds and a view over the magnificent lake, elevating the sense of tranquillity I felt upon first entering the hotel. An ideal place for a mid-afternoon sunbathing break, a casual lunch or an evening sundowner.
However, for those wanting to enjoy a quintessential La Réserve lunch, a visit to one of the hotel’s dining venues is a must. In particular, Le Loti – the hotel’s restaurant and bar – is full of exciting culinary specialities. With every dish being freshly made and utilising locally sourced ingredients, Le Loti’s expansive menu has an option for even the fussiest of diners.
Le Loti
In particular, its Milanese accompanied by grilled broccoli and truffle and lime vinaigrette goes down a treat. However, it’s the restaurant’s sweet dishes which undeniably shine. Expertly crafted by La Réserve’s pastry chef Pierre-Alain Rouchon, Le Loti’s Swiss chocolate lava cake finds a balance between richness and elegance, making for a great denouement to any meal.
Meanwhile, the hotel also houses Le Tsé Fung – the only Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant in Switzerland. With a menu curated by the esteemed Frank Xu, Le Tsé Fung showcases the best of Cantonese cuisine.
Le Tsé Fung
That being said, if one prefers to spend their days lounging by the pool, soaking up the Swiss sunshine, the hotel’s Pool Bar offers light lunch bites, smoothies and cocktails for glamorous Dolce Vita-inspired living. As an additional surprise, this year the hotel has introduced private poolside cabanas which come fitted with deckchairs, bathrobes, hats, Spa Nescens products, cocktails and fruit.
Similarly, Le Café Lauren is a delightful lunch venue for those having just visited the hotel’s indoor swimming pool located in Spa Nescens – La Réserve’s 27,000-square-foot well-being destination. Prior to exploring Le Café Lauren’s menu, I tried one of Nescens lauded ultimate metamorphosis facial treatments.
Spa Nescens Indoor Pool
Combining diamond dermabrasion with high-frequency ultrasound, microcurrent, LED therapy and oxygen diffusion, the treatment left my skin feeling rejuvenated and radiant – a much-needed revival following my flight and early morning wakeup.
The Nescens brand emphasises maintaining one’s youthful complexion through the medical and scientific expertise of the Centre for the Prevention of Aging at Clinique de Genolier in Switzerland.
Additionally, the spa has just introduced three new wellness journeys including Mind Escape, Performance and Women-Holistic, each made to target holistic self-care and to boost physical and mental well-being, With each product in the Nescens range formulated under the supervision of Prof Jacques Proust, it’s evident that visitors to the hotel’s spa are in good hands.
For an extra boost of vitality, guests can also stop at Le Café Lauren for a healthy bite to eat. Open from 12 pm to 3 pm each day, Le Café Lauren offers light, refreshing options such as a gazpacho served with strawberries and mozzarella icecream, a vegetable curry with wild rice and chickpeas, cold-pressed juice and protein-rich health shakers.
Le Café Lauren
With so much to explore within the hotel’s grounds, it’s easy to stay tucked away in La Réserve’s haven of repose. But Geneva’s countless attractions are hard to ignore. From botanical gardens and museums of horology to historical cathedrals and the famed Jet d’Eau, the city is no disappointment.
La Réserve Boat Transfer
Fortunately, the hotel has the most stylish way of reaching the city centre. During the summer months, La Réserve’s elegant motoscafo boat whisks guests away to the city from the hotel’s private pontoon docks every hour – as long as the weather permits it.
Intertwining unparalleled hospitality with sparkling surroundings, La Réserve is an ideal escape for solo travellers, couples and families alike.
by Sophie Richardson
To book a stay please visit here. Prices for a deluxe room start at around £635 per night.