I don't think the UN cafeteria is available for just anyone - you need a badge. But there is a cafeteria in the Red Cross which is at the museum entrance. That should be available to anyone.

Hello Nelly,

same as Zonker I believe access to the UN cafeteria is restricted, but you can always drop by the Visitor's Entrance and enquire... maybe they can let you in...

otherwise..... as you walk from Ariana 'up' -to your right- towards the UN (Visitor's entrance), there is the Ecole Hoteliere de Geneve with its restaurant "Le Vieux Bois"

I understand that they organize nice lunch buffets and at 'reasonable' prices... if anything can be reasonable in Geneva:-))

Best of luck with your rehearsals! & bon appétit!

Sary

The Red Cross Museum's Cafeteria is open to the public. Foodwise is actually quite ok. Book in advance if you need a table for 10 people. There is also a very small cafeteria in the Ariana (serves salads and quiches et. al). With a very nice view on the balcony/terrasse !

Thanks to all of you Zoncker, Sary and Matisse,

We work only on Mondays when the Ariana is closed to the public and for that the cafeteria is not open.

But, we will go to the Red Cross Museum, it's the nearest place.

I hope you will be in Geneva on 6th of August. We will read the whole Belle du Seigneur written by Albert Cohen during the whole night, even outside at Ariana!

Nelly

Vote for the UN cafeteria )))

Access to UN territory is restricted and therefore cafeteria itself is not open to public.
You can't just stop by the gate and ask for the badge. Without legal notice the only way to get in is with a guide tour. 

The ‘Vieux Bois’ restaurant of the Hotel School is indeed very good, but what the School considers to be a ‘moderate price’ is not to everyone’s pocket.

That said, the restaurant is a pleasant venue for a treat – birthdays, Mother’s Day and similar.  It’s also very popular with well-heeled delegates to UN and other meetings, so it’s best to book in advance.

The cafeteria of the Ecumenical Centre (World Council of Churches) is also open to the public and prices are really reasonable with salads and vegetarian dishes always available, ditto wine by the glass.

However, it’s 5-10 minutes’ walk further up the road, past WHO and then to the left, and it, too, can be crowded when WCC delegates are in town.

Well, when you think what a rambling building the ‘Palais’ is and the extensive grounds that surround it, UNOG probably has to be super-protected.

Think too of all the different nationals going in and out.  Whoever you are, wherever you come from, you could be a target for someone who has a grudge against your country, your government.

It’s a different world from the days when people could walk into the building, have coffee at the bar, buy stamps at the Post Office, use the loo (I’ve seen folk washing their feet in the basins!), admire the view from the terrace in front of ‘La Salle des pas perdus’ and then stroll past the lawns and out through the main gate on to place des Nations.

It’s interesting that in those days the local population didn’t often visit, believing they needed special permission to do so.

A different world, but no more peaceful than today nor happier: just different.  But that’s life.  Nothing lasts for ever.