At the Table in the Flon District

Posted on

23 June 2023

La Canoche – Bondi empanadas

Natural wines and artisanal Argentinian empanadas come together quite well here. Served on attractive enameled plates, these empanadas come in a dozen versions ranging from meat-based, tuna or vegetarian. All are made with local ingredients: they can be enjoyed voraciously at the counter or while sitting on the terrace.

La Canoche – Bondi empanadas, Rue des Côtes-de-Montbenon 5, Tuesday-Wednesday 11:30 am-2:30 pm and 5 pm-10 pm, Thursday 11:30 am-2:30 pm and 5 pm-11 pm, Friday-Saturday 11:30 am-2:30 pm and 5 pm-midnight

Mexicana Grill

Fancy some tacos to celebrate a strike? After a first location on Rue Centrale, Mexicana has opened a second taquería in the Flon bowling alley, featuring their well-stocked tacos and quesadillas.

Mexicana Grill, Bowling du Flon, Rue des Côtes-de-Montbenon 22, Tuesday-Thursday 6 pm-midnight, Friday-Saturday 6 pm-1 am

Vaga Bon Café

Would you rather browse vintage furniture or sip a specialty coffee? Why choose when you can do both? Located in the heart of a flea market, Galerie du Port Franc, Vaga Bon Café serves a variety of coffees roasted in the Lavaux region.

Coffee Lab par Vaga Bon Café, Rue des Côtes-de-Montbenon 14, Monday-Friday 9.30 am-6.30 pm and Saturday 10 am-6 pm.

The Green Van Company

Prior to the opening of their restaurant in Le Flon, open seven days a week, this burger chain roamed the region’s festivals and events with a retro-green Citroën van. The name has stuck. The recipes are mostly based around local and seasonal ingredients and can be customized as desired.

The Green Van Company, Rue du Port-Franc 8, Sunday-Thursday 11 am-10.30 pm and Friday-Saturday 11 am-11 pm

Forbici

At the eastern end of Flon on the M2 metro side, this large Italian restaurant is renowned for its pizzas with puffy pasta edges that can be cut with…scissors (just for the record, forbici means scissors in Italian; the founder’s father was a tailor). There are generous portions, oven-baked or fried pizzas for pizza lovers, and plenty of terrace seats for sunny days.

Forbici, Place de l’Europe 9, Monday-Thursday 11 am-midnight and Friday-Saturday 11 am-1 am

Street Cellar

The sign out front reads, “GLOU GLOU GLOU”. There’s no doubt that this wine bar is not only committed to serving good food, but above all to serving good drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. The barrels on the walls are filled with local vintages with funny names carefully selected by the team, and you can enjoy their famous gourmet creative hot dogs or other small dishes to share.

Street Cellar, Rue du Port-Franc 2, Monday 5 pm-11 pm, Tuesday 11:30 am-11 pm, Wednesday-Thursday 11:30 am-midnight and Friday-Saturday 11:30 am-1 am.

Tartares & Co

Next door to Street Cellar and open seven days a week, this friendly location, originating in Geneva specializes in raw dishes: beef or fish tartars, ceviche, carpaccio or salads, there’s something for every taste. There are also small dishes to share for appetizers, to whet the appetite before your tartare.

Tartares & Co, Rue du Genève 7, Monday-Sunday 11:30 am-11 pm

Cipriano Wine & Ham

Delicious charcuterie platters, cheeses and antipasti accompany aperitifs at this vast location, with its lively atmosphere and Italian spirit. Piadinas, paninis, tartars and bruschettas to share are also on the menu, while on Sundays you can come for a brunch with savoury waffles.

Cipriano Wine & Ham, Rue du Port-Franc 11, Monday-Wednesday 7:30 am-midnight, Thursday 7:30 am-1 am, Friday-Saturday 7:30 am-2 am and Sunday 11 am-midnight.

Wawa’s Asian Kitchen

Specializing in Vietnamese cuisine, this small local restaurant next door to Green Van dynamically serves generous dishes both onsite and to take away. From phở noodle soups and bò bún rice vermicelli salads to garnished rice dishes, there’s more than enough available to take your taste buds on a trip to Southeast Asia.

Wawa’s Asian Kitchen, Rue du Port-Franc 8, Monday-Saturday 11:30 am-2:30 pm and 6 pm-10 pm

Istanbul

Boasting a vast terrace facing the MAD club, (it is always packed when the weather’s fine), this address offers a wide choice of Turkish specialties for carnivores and vegetarians alike. The plates are (very) generous, and the kitchen serves mezzés, shawarma, börek and other pidés (Eastern cousins of pizzas, elongated and with slightly raised edges) non-stop, seven days a week.