about
ANNE
Anne was born in Holland, however, it's only one of the many places she calls home. Moving to the island of Curacao when she was two years old, then to Rio, where we met, and after that it was off to Paris for twelve years. Anne studied Hospitality, at Boston University and joined the Four Seasons in 2012.
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After joining the Four Seasons, Anne had the opportunity to move to Geneva for four years, and it is where a big part of her heart will always remain. Now living in the United States again, she sneaks off to visit any chance she gets. Here are her answers to my questions and the inside scoop to life in Geneva.
Depends on how active I want to be; on an active day, me and my best friend will first meet for breakfast at our favorite spot, Granola, and get the avocado toast. We hop on the 8 Bus - the public transportation in Geneva is absolutely amazing, easy to use, clean, safe and tourist friendly, tpg.ch. 30 minutes later, the bus drops us off right by the French border. We hop out and start our hike up the Salève. The hike takes about 2 hours! It’s a really good butt burner as it’s straight up. Once you get to the top, the views are unbeatable. You see all of Geneva right below you, it’s my favorite spot to get away from the ‘craziness’ - something we all need once in a while, right? The best part is that in the fall and winter, when you get to the top there’s a little hut where you can buy hot wine! For anyone that doesn't want to hike, there is also a cable car that goes up to the top.
1. It is your day off work, how do you spend your free time?
On a lazier day, I love nothing more than to grab my bike and ride along the river and find a random rock to lie on with a book. The lake is the most beautiful and peaceful spot, the water is unbelievably clear. I lie on my rock, and when I get overheated, I just jump right in! It’s in these moments that I think to myself, as I look over the lake, you see the sailboats, the Jet D’eau in the distance and the crystal clear water, what better city is there?
This one is really tough. Fall is the best for day hikes in Megève (only a forty minute drive). Along the way of your hike you will undoubtedly fall upon a random chalet where they are selling their own homemade honey and jams - best we’ve ever tasted.
Winter is the best for day ski trips, without a doubt the best ski resorts are all located within car or train distance from Geneva.
2. What's your favorite season? Why?
Spring is the best for long runs along the lake - need to start working on that summer body.
Summer is the best for EVERYTHING. If you live in Geneva, you do not want to be away for Summer. All the terraces open, there’s an open air club, Les Voiles, no one seems to be working...ever! Rosé all day is seriously a thing here. The weather is perfect, you have the breeze from the lake, you can go wakeboarding or paddle boarding before work, what more do you need? If it was Summer 100% of the time, I would never, ever leave Geneva.
The Town of Gruyères. It is a day trip outside of Geneva. Talk about the perfect Swiss town with rolling green mountains and an old castle .. this is it to the T. The best thing to do is rent a car, first stop at the Cailler Chocolate Factory - yes, at the end you get to sample all the chocolate. Now once you have your chocolate base, you take the car and drive up the rolling hills to the medieval town where the Gruyères cheese comes from. Be sure to go to restaurant Le Chalet, the best cheese fondue you will ever have. Talk about a swiss experience… and remember with cheese fondue you should never drink water -this hardens the cheese in your stomach, leading to a stomache ache, so best to stick to wine.
3. What famous place is worth the hype?
Montreux! This picture perfect Swiss town is only a 45 minute train ride outside of Geneva, with trains going very regularly.. ( I realize I have used the term ‘picture perfect’ again but you will understand once you get to these spots). Even the train ride is just stunning and breathtaking, make sure you get a window seat, your face will be glued to the window. And what better time to go then the world renowned Montreux Jazz Festival… this is something that should be on everyone’s bucket list! You feel like you are walking around in a festival wonderland, you will find yourself asking ‘ Is this real life’?
4. Coolest day trip you can't miss?
Either Bains des Paquis or Hotel de Ville. Hotel de Ville you feel like you are in a true old age Swiss restaurant. They have amazing beef tartare. Bains des Paquis is really where the locals go. In the winter they have long picnic tables setup for Fondue and wine nights, what’s better than that? The best part, it is SUPER cheap - for Geneva standards, reasonably price for the rest of the world. In the summer, they have either a breakfast or lunch daily special that you can eat as you dangle your feet in the water staring right at the Jet D’eau.
5. What's your favorite restaurant for local food?
In the summertime, start with a bottle, or four - you never have just one bottle of rosé at Nico & Co, and then head over to Les Voiles, an open air club that opens in the summer right on the lakeside, for a night of mingling and dancing under the stars.
6. Where would you go for a Bougie night out?
7. If you had the choice between cheese fondue or chocolate fondue what what it be?
Cheese fondue 1000%
This cannot be a question. Nothing beats a summer aperitif, with a glass of rosé along the river in the open air - Nico & Co is my favorite spot, cool music, right along the river. But then again, nothing beats agood après ski after a long day of skiing, or not, especially at Farinet in Verbier where the roof opens, they have live music, and everyone seems to forget what is socially acceptable. Make sure to wear clothes that can get drenched in beer.
8. If you had the choice between summer aperitif or après ski what would it be?
Hard to narrow it down, if you want to do something unforgettable these two options will undoubtedly sweep him or her off their feet. In the summer, the Hotel La Réserve,located right outside the city, opens a ‘Summer Lodge’. This is an open air lounge set in their beautiful lakeside garden right next to their pool - as an outside guest you unfortunately do not have access to the pool. The best part is they can pick you up by boat in the center of Geneva complimentary. And of course this is not just any boat, this is a beautiful, elegant Motoscafo, just like in Venice.
9. The perfect date would be...
Second option.. start with drinks on the rooftop of The Four Seasons Hotel Des Bergues, at Izumi, definitely the place to be. The views and vibes are unbeatable, you truly feel like you are on top of the world with live music, delicious cocktails. After drinks, hop in a cab and head over to Auberge D’Onex. This is an Italian restaurant, located about 20 minutes outside of Geneva. Valentino, who is the Italian grandfather you never knew you had, has created an unbelievably delicious, cozy - very expensive, intimate space. He still walks around every night taking orders and yelling away in Italian. In the wintertime, there’s a fireplace inside, and in the summer time there’s a beautiful little garden in the back with open-air seating. When you arrive there are pots - yes, pots of olives and tomatoes on the table, chunks of parmigiano, the most delicious plates of pasta you can dream of, a wine card that makes you want to order one of each, and a dessert trolley. They come by and place pots of candy all over the table, any craving you have..voila! What better way to finish off your meal than with an after dinner drink and a sugar high?
Depends what you are looking to get out of the city. If you are coming purely for Geneva, I would say four days. If you are coming to also do some day trips a week or maybe even eight days. Then again you can also just come for three days, spend them wakeboarding, drinking rosé on the lake and partying at night - my kind of three days. But if you want to explore there are some really cool museums like the Patek Philippe museum, you do not need to know about watches or be a super fan. A lot of people also come through in winter on their way up to the mountains and just spend two days in the city which is also plenty. In the winter it is a little bit more limited and less exciting as it does get cold. Summer is golden hour all the time.
10. How many days should someone visit for?
