The Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne hands its kitchen to Simon Quétineau after 17 years of Anne-Sophie Pic

The Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne has chosen French chef Simon Quétineau to succeed Anne-Sophie Pic at the helm of its fine-dining restaurant. Announced by the palace on 28 October 2026, the appointment takes effect in spring 2027, a few months after Anne-Sophie Pic’s final service on 31 December 2026, at this grand hotel on the shores of Lake Geneva.

A chef from L’Atelier Robuchon in Geneva

Simon Quétineau is currently head chef of L’Atelier Robuchon at The Woodward hotel in Geneva. He works there under executive chef Olivier Jean, in a restaurant that has held two Michelin stars since the 2023 edition of the guide. At the Beau-Rivage Palace, he will take charge of the fine-dining restaurant, which he joins in spring 2027.

Trained by Bacquié and Guérard

Before Geneva, the chef trained under Christophe Bacquié, holder of two Michelin stars, and the late Michel Guérard, the three-star chef who died in 2024. These are the two names the palace chose to highlight in its announcement when introducing the future chef of its restaurant.

A “Belle Cuisine” shaped by Lake Geneva

The Beau-Rivage Palace promises “a Belle Cuisine, where every gesture echoes the excellence of humble, demanding craftsmanship”. The project rests on tradition, transmission and creativity, and on a direct link with artisans and producers around Lake Geneva. The name of the future restaurant and the details of its menu have not yet been revealed.

Why is the palace changing chefs?

The palace explains its choice by a new culinary strategy, built around a resident chef who is on site every day. Until now, Anne-Sophie Pic’s cuisine in Lausanne has been run day to day by chef Jordan Theurillat. The decision not to renew her contract was announced at the end of March 2026.

Anne-Sophie Pic, 17 years and two stars

At the Beau-Rivage Palace since April 2009, Anne-Sophie Pic opened her first restaurant outside France here. Pic au Beau-Rivage Palace currently holds two Michelin stars and remains open Tuesday to Saturday until 31 December 2026, the date of her final service. We told the story of this address in our portrait of the Beau-Rivage Palace and its Michelin-starred restaurant.

168 rooms on the Ouchy waterfront since 1861

Opened in 1861 on the Ouchy waterfront, the Beau-Rivage Palace has 168 rooms and holds three Michelin Keys. Run by Benjamin Chemoul, it also brings together Café Beau-Rivage, the Japanese restaurant Kaigan, La Terrasse, a bar and a Guerlain spa. In Lausanne, see also the Royal Savoy hotel, and for the mountains, our pick of Swiss Alpine palaces.

For the night of 20 to 21 November 2026, the official booking engine showed CHF 640 a night for two in a Superior City and Garden View Room of 30 to 35 m², on a flexible rate without breakfast, excluding taxes and fees. With breakfast, the same public rate rose to CHF 730.