Where to stay in Geneva - Auberge Communale Genève

After having spent 6 months in Geneva, it was time to pack up my bags and leave for my six-month Erasmus adventure in Madrid. I may have slightly miscalculated my length of days in terms of rent so I ended up by having to book a hotel for the last couple of days of my stay, however it only resulted in positive as it allowed me to discover a hidden gem. The Auberge Communale de Carouge is a quaint little hotel barely advertised on the Internet, therefore luckily for me, I found it by spending six months passing in front of it on my way to and from my residence in Carouge.

This hotel is probably the closest thing to feeling at home. Situated in the heart of the Italian quarter of Carouge, the owners really managed to create a perfect, feel-at-home boutique hotel with 13 differently decorated rooms. The thing I adore about this hotel is that each and every room has its particularity, and has been individually decorated to reflect the arts of the Carouge district. These include the Fashion room, the Design room, the Theatre room, the Sculpture room and the Watches room.

I stayed in two of the Rooms, the Sculpture room and the Watches room and the distinctive decorations are what make this hotel a real gem, as it is clear that a lot of attention and care has been put in each and every detail. The Sculpture room is a smallish room with a white wooden bed and white wooden cabinets and a window facing Rue Ancienne. The Room of watches however is a more spacious, industrial and contemporary looking room with a metal wardrobe and a window overlooking Rue Ancienne. Each room has a kettle, complimentary tea, a television, a hairdryer and free Wi-Fi.

The group of Italian owners value authenticity and tradition, and in fact bring these values straight from Italy with their top-quality restaurant Vicolo 39. It is through their passion for food that Vicolo 39 serves high quality, sophisticated food using the finest Italian sourced and local ingredients. My favourite dish of all time was the Risotto with porcini mushrooms, sausage and scamorza cheese. The dish was bursting with sublime flavours and the addition of scamorza cheese made dish an absolute delicacy. The Grilled octopus with green sauce and mashed potatoes are also absolutely delicious and a perfect option for a light evening meal. The restaurant also offers Kids Menus, therefore slightly smaller and less complex portions. The desert menu could not be any more traditional. They have Tiramisù, Panna Cotta and Neapolitan Rum babá to name a few.

This Hotel is also perfect for an afternoon aperitivo in the sun, sitting in their outside terrace. Accompany the usual Italian Aperol Spritz or Campari Spritz with a selection of Italian cold cuts or a classic cheese board.

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