Le Pied de Cochon

Le Pied de Cochon is a Lyonnaise-style bistro at Place du Bourg-de-Four 4 in the Old Town of Geneva, Switzerland, on the Bourg-de-Four, the oldest square in the city. It is known for hearty meat cooking in the French tradition, with a warm interior and a terrace that looks onto the square. The name points to its signature, the pied de cochon, or pig's trotter, a classic of French bistro cooking that is slow-cooked, often breaded and grilled, and served with a sharp sauce. The menu also includes entrecôte steak and andouillette, the strongly flavoured tripe sausage that is a Lyonnaise and northern French staple and an acquired taste for first-time diners. These are robust dishes aimed at appetites for offal and red meat, and visitors who prefer milder food usually choose the steak. The dining room is warm and lively, with the sociable noise level typical of a busy bistro, wooden furnishings and a convivial crowd of locals and visitors. There is no dress code. Wines are French-leaning, with reds from Beaujolais and the Rhône valley, the traditional partners for Lyon-style cooking, alongside Swiss options by the glass. Prices are upper-middle for Geneva (rated $$$), with mains typically around CHF 30 to 50. The restaurant is generally open daily for lunch and dinner, though hours should be confirmed. Reservations are recommended for dinner, particularly on weekends and in summer when the terrace is in demand, while lunch is often easier to join. The location suits a meal that fits around a walk through the Old Town, the cathedral and the nearby Palais de Justice area.