The Ritz Carlton Hotel de la Paix Geneva

Situated in Geneva’s most prestigious address, The Ritz Carlton Hotel de la Paix embodies the finest in Swiss hospitality with a proud history that spans over 150 years. This five-star establishment commands prominent views on the shores of Lake Geneva and is the place to see and be seen. Offering four luxurious suites, one which pays homage to Grace Kelly, and eight elegantly dressed room types, there’s really not one room that wouldn’t please the discerning traveler. 

The lobby

Name: The Ritz Carlton Hotel de la Paix

Location: Geneva

Address: Quai du Mont-Blanc 11, 1201 Genève, Switzerland

Accommodates: 2 children and 2 adults

Type: Garden View, 1-bedroom Suite.

Best for: Couples, business travellers and families that prefer an upscale environment smack in the centre of Geneva

Kids activities: Pastry-making classes

Highlights: Surprising our children with balloons, tent and amenities as well as the pastry-making class

Visited: 2023

The lovely personalised welcome that we received by the team

Come summertime or wintertime, The Ritz Carlton Hotel de la Paix is the ultimate choice of hotel for those looking for the finest in five-star hospitality coupled with a prominent location, exquisite dining experiences and timeless rooms kitted out with modern hardware and luxurious amenities throughout. It’s a property that respects privacy whilst anticipating the needs of its  guests -  it’s no surprise that the hotel has many regulars that choose to stay here simply because they’re not just used to the stellar service, but they’ve become attached to it. 

The Room

Our stay consisted of two memorable nights where we had the opportunity to relax in our Garden View, 1-bedroom Suite. This particular suite is perfect if you’re traveling with children - it offers a separate spacious study/sofa area which during the evening, transformed into our son’s own bedroom, a large master bedroom with enough space for the kids to play and “run around” in, and a separate walk-in closet that sits parallel to the ensuite bathroom. With ample amount of space, the suite provided a luxurious comfort in a timeless and elegant setting that is both contemporary and stylish. We adored the small yet distinct details such as the full bottled refillable Diptyque toiletries, the little treats laid out for our kids upon arrival, the welcome amenities and even the turndown service, whereupon each evening, little Swiss chocolate bars are lovingly bestowed atop the pillows along with a little note from the staff who attended to the room that evening. The defining moment of our stay happened when the team knocked on our door and surprised our children with a multitude of balloons as if they received their very own personal welcome to the hotel - it’s these great gestures that leave an imprint and a lasting impression not just on the children but equally, the parents as well. Sometimes, at five star properties, the children become the afterthought. However, they’re just as important as the adults and need to be wowed and entertained in their own way. The Ritz Carlton Hotel de la Paix pays complete attention to the children and offers them a welcoming and memorable time that will leave them feeling elated to stay. 

The master ensuite bedroom

The hallway

The kids thrilled with the surprise balloons

The team welcomed the kids with their own biscuits - a nice little gesture that we appreciated

Dining

During our first evening, we dined at the hotel’s main restaurant, the Living Room Bar & Kitchen. Offering exceptional lake views of Geneva and Mont Blanc, this is a smart casual restaurant that serves an all day dining menu. It’s also the ideal restaurant to dine at with children if you simply want to stay at the property for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We highly recommend ordering their Risotto Mantecato cooked in Parmesan Wheel - not only is it showstopping, it is mouth-wateringly delicious. The Risotto is prepared in front of you - a large Parmesan Wheel is carted out and a waiter effortlessly scrapes layers of parmesan from the wheel until he or she is satisfied with the amount to add into the risotto. Before that, a fiery pan of vermouth is poured into the parmesan wheel (the show stopper) and then carried into the risotto for an altogether rich and luscious dish. This is particularly a dish for cheese lovers as it is rather heavy. The desserts at the Living Room Bar & Kitchen are exquisite and we were thrilled that our children had the opportunity to undergo a pastry-making experience with the hotel’s head pastry chef. 

Rissotto Mantecato in the making

Breakfast is always a treat here

Activities

Heading down to the hotel’s main kitchen was an eye-opening experience for us - we were able to see first-hand what it was like in a professional kitchen and the great team effort and camaraderie that exists on the other side of hospitality. Our children were taught to create the hotel’s signature French Toast, where they had fun whipping cream, cracking eggs and dipping the homemade brioche into the mixture. Needless to say, their creations were gobbled down in an instant. Besides the pastry making classes, there are other activities for children including a chocolate making workshop and in the summertime, fishing, kayaking, and even sailing. During the winter months, the hotel offers ice-skating, dog-sledding, skiing and snowboarding - what could be better? 

Pain Perdu in the making

Making meringue!

With the Head Pastry Chef

Whatever the season, The Ritz Carlton Hotel de la Paix is a welcoming, stellar property that is perfect for the discerning traveler who enjoys traveling in style and wants to enjoy lake views and perhaps a brisk stroll along the promenade. For families, this is an ideal hotel if you prefer that five-star service that offers sheer comfort, activities for the kids, prime location and wonderful rooms and suites to match.