La Clémence: the café on Place du Bourg-de-Four
On Geneva's oldest square, La Clémence is the Old Town's terrace café, from breakfast to midnight. It is named after the great bell of the cathedral.
The verdict
La Clémence is the café of Place du Bourg-de-Four, Geneva's oldest square. It is named after the great bell of Saint-Pierre cathedral, two minutes away.
Its Google rating of 4.1 from nearly 800 reviews is that of a square café: you come for the terrace, not for fine dining.
Things to do there
A coffee in the morning before the cathedral, a beer at the end of the day, a drink late at night. The terrace is the best seat from which to watch the Old Town go by.
Our advice
Sit on the terrace in the late afternoon, when the square fills with students and regulars. For a proper meal, the square has other addresses, including Chez ma Cousine.
Read on: Where to eat in Geneva without breaking the bank and Fondue in Geneva and Geneva specialities.
Sources: the establishment's website, Geneva Tourism, Google Maps (address, rating and reviews checked on 23 October 2026). Distances are walking estimates.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the café called La Clémence?
Is La Clémence open in the evening?
Aurélie Chappuis
Aurélie grew up in Carouge, in a family of watch regulators, and has followed the watch fair since it moved to Palexpo. She knows which days the streets of Plainpalais empty out, and at what time the lakeside hotels are fully booked. She only recommends a place if she has walked in through the public entrance.
