Founded in 1865 by the Mayer family, the Hotel Beau-Rivage remains a rare gem in Geneva as a truly independent, family-owned luxury hotel. Over the decades, this iconic waterfront property has served as a silent witness to history, famously hosting the signing that birthed Czechoslovakia and welcoming legendary figures from Empress Elisabeth of Austria to Elizabeth Taylor.
The hotel’s architecture perfectly captures 19th-century opulence, featuring gilded accents, crystal chandeliers, and rich heritage decor. While it retains its classic aristocratic charm, the interiors have been thoughtfully renewed by French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. A unique technical tidbit is that the building was home to Switzerland’s very first elevator back in 1873.
Guests can enjoy a highly refined culinary experience at *Le Chat Botté*, the hotel’s Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant. For a more relaxed experience, the atrium offers a beautiful space to unwind, and many of the suites provide stunning, unobstructed views of the iconic Jet d’Eau fountain and the sparkling expanse of Lake Geneva.
Location-wise, it is positioned right on the Quai du Mont-Blanc. You are just a short walk away from the city’s famous Flower Clock, the lush Jardin Anglais, and the historic Old Town with its towering St. Peter’s Cathedral. Whether you are strolling along the lakefront or exploring the nearby banking district, the Beau-Rivage provides a sophisticated, historic home base in the heart of Switzerland’s most international city.
Expert reviews
“Boasting an evocative setting where the Rhône meets Lake Geneva and offering exceptional views across the lake to the Swiss Alps, the Beau-Rivage is a 19th-century jewel.”
“Founded in 1865, Beau-Rivage Genève is one of the rare luxury hotels in Switzerland that’s managed by the direct descendants of its founder. History and innovation run deep here — the hotel has hosted a long line of royals in the 19th century and also debuted Switzerland’s first elevator in 1873.”
What guests liked
- Friendly staff
- Memorable stay
- Top location
- Excellent Wifi
- Comfortable beds
Location
Recent guest reviews
9 April 2026
Exceptional
31 March 2026
Exceptional
9 March 2026
Exceptional
5 March 2026
Construction was annoying with main elevators out view from my room was terrible
Great location
Currently a total construction site
5 March 2026
Exceptional
2 March 2026
Very good
23 February 2026
Very good
17 February 2026
Poor
Renovation works inside the building are disturbing
5 February 2026
Exceptional
21 December 2025
Classic. We had a city view suite, the room was stunning and large, clean with everything you could need. The staff are
21 September 2025
Exceptional
29 August 2025
Exceptional
17 August 2025
Pleasant
Location and cleanliness
Under renovation, not worth the value with all the facilities closed
14 August 2025
Exceptional
31 July 2025
Exceptional
31 July 2025
Exceptional
20 July 2025
Fabulous
2 July 2025
Exceptional
27 June 2025
Good location comfortable luxury stay with major disappointmenton hotel facilities closed off due to major construction.
Very good location. The service was excellent. The bedroom in the junior suite was very comfortable.
Under construction renovation with much of hotel closed so limited facilities. Bathroom in junior suite was small.
21 June 2025
Exceptional
7 May 2025
Don’t go there, unless you have historical passions and ambitions to satisfy.
Absolutely perfect, friendly and amazing stuff!!!
Renovation is poor and smelly, facilities are poor, bathroom has no sanitary shower, no mosquito webs etc, etc, etc… breakfast in the restaurant reminds the years of hunger and desolation (I have never had such a poor and small breakfast in my life). And this all for shameless price!
15 July 2024
Passable
The breakfast was a normal breakfast , nothing special but fresh and tasty, the balcony where you have breakfast looking at the lake and the staff is very nice and friendly. Most staff is very professional and friendly.
I travelled from abu dhabi to geneva and chose this hotel due to the reviews. The breakfast reviews said that it was the best breakfast they had. My room was a lake view room. It was extremely hot when we were handed the room. I am not exaggerating but outside was cooler. I came at a morning flight so i wanted to stay and relax a little before i went out but i had to wait for the room to cool but it was only to find out acs were not working. I checked in morning at 10, i stayed a little, left the room to allow cooling. i came back afternooon to charge my phone but i heard ac made loud noise and did not cool. So i called reception and they said we will send someone twice but no one came so i left to go out again. I messaged through booking.com and requested an explanation. I told them i will check out tomorrow and they changed my booking immediately but did not reply my messages asking for an explanation. I checked other hotels for the next day. Because i was so tired it was a two night stay all together so i thought i will stay one night and move out to another hotel the next day. But i came back to the hotel to find the ac noise very disturbing and the room didn't cool, it was hot outside, hot humid in the room it was a horrible experience and i was very very tired, i dont know why but extremely tired. I wanted to relax but unfortunately i had to call reception because my messages was ignored on booking.com After arguament they sent a technician who came in listened to ac and said we need to change your room. Something that could have been done since check in was not done. Messages and phone calls ignored? This is very very very wrong. Problems happen but you need to solve them immediately! I regreted choosing this hotel over four season. I cancelled my reservation there. But they dont have a spa or a proper gym here also. They said maybe in two years. Hopefully. You need to have it. So overall price wise i find others much better.
13 June 2024
Not coming back
Location , great room , reception was wonderful
Breakfast was bad , not worth the value Fruit salad smells onions, services really bad
27 April 2024
Exceptional
Service, friendly staff
Nothing
26 April 2024
No complaints for a 5 star Swiss hotel .
Location is excellent with staff being very polite and attentive to ones needs . Excellent communication . My son dropped my credit card in cafe lobby and I was immediately contacted by concierge that the card was found Good value compared to nearby luxury competitors . Cafe and Restaurant are a up to standards for a luxury hotel. Most discerning guests should be happy with hotel .
None .
4 April 2024
The most unforgettable hotel we ever have
Amazing service
Clean private and with lots of history
29 March 2024
Exceptional
Thw staff were very kind and helpfull.
24 March 2024
Perfect stay in a beautiful city
It is probably one of the best hotels in Geneva. The staff is polite and very helpful, everything is clean, there is a great view on the city and the breakfasts are the best ones I ever had in a hotel. Everything you need is available, including even a separate dog menu!
Probably the only complaint I can have is weak shower head pressure. It's in no way critical, but if that was fixed, I would say the hotel is as perfect as it gets.
4 March 2024
There are better options
Nice breakfast, new rooms and helpful staff
There is noise coming from outside the road, even during the early hours of the morning, even with the windows closed.
23 January 2024
The maid stole $3,000 from our nightstand. Hotel of thieves, never stay there!
nothing
The maid stole $3,000 from our nightstand. Hotel of thieves, never stay there!
21 January 2024
Exceptional
Absolutely perfect. Great rooms amazing service and cleanliness. Wonderful staff the best hotel in geneva.
Nothing!
18 January 2024
Amazing
Everything was amazing
N/A
2 January 2024
Exceptional
Beautiful hotel, location was amazing and staff was second to none!
1 January 2024
Very nice experience.
Well located, beautiful historic property.
30 December 2023
Bad
I was not expecting such unprofessional and borderline trashy behavior of staff from one of Genève’s most prestigious hotels. It seems like the housekeeping staff specializes in theft rather than cleanliness. To begin with, my friend and I found a piece of black lingerie underneath the sink of the bathroom in our room upon arrival. The piece of clothing was forgotten by a previous guest, and was clearly ignored by the housekeeper who took care of the room (proof of their inability to properly complete their job). That is just a minor detail, since the real problem occurred when I got robbed of 3,000 US Dollars by a housekeeper. When the management found out about the missing money, they stated that they are investigating it and that they “trust their housekeeping staff” claiming, that housekeeping couldn’t possibly do such thing. We soon learned that the situation was not being investigated whatsoever, as the management simply shifted the blame on us, claiming that we should’ve placed the money in the safe instead of the drawer (contradicting their own statement regarding “trust”). After a few hours of uselessly going back and forth, the concierge offered to take us to the police station. I found this to be suspicious, as the incident occurred at the hotel, which obligates the staff to call the police into the hotel (instead of suggesting we go to the station). Eventually, I had the police come into the hotel and I then filed a report. Being placed in a dirty room for CHF1200 a night and getting robbed was not what I expected. The staff members not only failed to compensate in any way, I did not hear a single apology for what had happened. I am never the one to write reviews, or, especially, involve authorities in disputes or such matters. However, this particular incident could not be resolved in a polite manner due to the staff’s inability to cooperate. Therefore, it cannot be ignored. Below I’ve attached parts of the police report.
19 December 2023
Pleasant surprise
The room was spacious, clean, and breathtaking. The staff were accommodating and eager to help. The food is the best in Lausanne.
Nothing
16 December 2023
Exceptional
Everything
Nothing
14 November 2023
Elegant and luxurious
Elegant, sophisticated, historic, professional service standards yet warm, welcoming ambience
17 October 2023
Exceptional!
It’s tradition and elegance .
Nothing
29 September 2023
Exceptional
Location and absolutely top quality Staff were friendly and went above and beyond in every way!!
6 September 2023
Unless the room size and location can be substantially improve we will wait another 25 years.
The Hotel is the one I have known 40 years ago, although not in the past 25 years. The public rooms, the bar, the terrace for breakfast and the staff are excellent. Ambiance quiet & discreet. Other than the staff, breakfast on the terrace on a warm summers day was the highlight.
Our room was not good. Very very small and the view described as "city" meant back, loading dock, truck parking not acceptable. No value for money.
2 September 2023
Will definitely go back
Perfect location, clean, professional staff,
2 August 2023
So so
Location
It’s outdated. The hotel needs a refurbishment
30 July 2023
Expensive, but a very pleasant stay.
The room ( A suite) the view and the fantastic beds.
I cannot tell you much more because we only spent a few hours and one night at the hotel.
23 July 2023
Comfortable but needs modernising
Good concierge
Needs refurbishing
18 July 2023
Room was terrible. The rest of the hotel was above average and so was the service
Location
The room I got 205
12 July 2023
Amazing, comfortable stay for our family
The staff, accommodations, view, proximity, everything was exceptional. We would love to visit again and were sad to leave.
5 July 2023
Good location
Prime location, helpful staff.
Long stairs at the entrance made it difficult to enter for elder people.
26 June 2023
Exceptional
Good location clean hotel
Price so high
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Fruits (additional charge)
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Family rooms
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Soundproof rooms
- - Car hire
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Designated smoking area
- - Shuttle service (additional charge)
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Business centre (additional charge)
- - Fax/photocopying
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Express check-in/check-out
- - Currency exchange
- - Luggage storage
- - Concierge service
- - Private check-in/check-out
Activities
- - Fitness centre
- - Hiking
- - Fitness
- - Walking tours (additional charge)
- - Bike tours (additional charge)
- - Themed dinner nights (additional charge)
- - Live music/performance
Entertainment & family services
- - Babysitting/child services (additional charge)
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Trouser press (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Parking
- - Parking garage
- - Electric vehicle charging station
Transport
- - Public transport tickets
Accessibility
- - Wheelchair accessible
- - Toilet with grab rails
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key access
- - Key card access
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
- - Access to health care professionals
- - Face masks for guests available

More photos

8 June 2026
Fabulous