This post is all about the best restaurants in Lyon you should not miss out on!

If you are visiting France for the first time, Paris is definitely a great place to start. However, in very close second position would be the city of Lyon. It is the capital of the Rhône Valley and depending on the year the second or third largest city in France.

I’m a little bit partial to Lyon, as I spent some time in the city for my studies.

It is known to be the gastronomic capital of France. So if you like food, Lyon should absolutely be on your list of best places to visit!

You can very easily access the city by train from Paris or Marseilles. So no excuses not to visit this food-loving city!

Here are some of the best restaurants the city offers to cover all budgets!

 

Best restaurants in Lyon 

 

Food specialties in Lyon

Lyon is so famous for its food that it has invented its own restaurant type: le bouchon. These are very simple, cozy, and traditional restaurants serving a generally quite hearty meal. Imagine wooden tables with white and red checkered tablecloths and sausages hanging from the ceiling. That’s a vibe!

The Bouchons restaurants are usually not very vegetarian-friendly places.

You’ll find those all across the city, though not all of them deserve your appetite.

One thing the Bouchons have in common is serving Lyon’s specialty dishes. Here is an overview of some of the items you’ll most likely find on the menu:

 

• Rosette de Lyon

Rosette is a type of dry sausage made out of pork meat and fat. This sausage is about 40 centimeters long and its preparation is quite regulated. To make a rosette sausage you use different parts of the pork (ham, shoulder, loin, and belly). The animal has to be raised in the Lyon region and the manufacturing process follows some strict specifications.

This is usually one of the components you would find on a sharing platter. It is to be enjoyed with a nice glass of wine. You could also enjoy it on its own at the start of a meal.

 

• Quenelle de Brochet

This is probably my favorite from this whole list, and to be fair it is not that special or delicate of a meal. On the contrary, in fact, I would say this would be the perfect winter meal.

It’s a fishy dough ball in the form of a small log. On its own, the quenelle is not super fishy tasting. However, it is usually served with a crayfish bisque sauce. You could have it boiled and served with the sauce or you could have it baked in the oven. Texture wise it’s very soft.

This is a main course in a Bouchon restaurant.

 

• Saucisson brioché

If dry sausage is not really your favorite you could try the saucisson brioché. Imagine a deliciously warm and rich brioche bread in the middle of which you’ll have a warm pork sausage.

In a restaurant, they would cut you a slice as a starter.

 

• Tablier de sapeur

The name of this dish does not really give you a clue about what it is. This is a tripe dish (more specifically called “grass double”), which is marinated in white wine, breaded, and fried.

To be honest I’ve never tried this dish. I’m not big on tripes. If you are feeling adventurous and/or if you like tripes, this one is for you!

 

• Praline rose 

This is probably Lyon’s most iconic food item: the pralines roses!

They are sugar-coated almonds or hazelnuts. The sugar is tinted with pink food coloring. You can eat them on their own, or have them in a more elaborate form.

Bakers in Lyon have found many ways to use the pralines roses. The two most iconic ways are in tarts and in a brioche bun.

My preferred way of eating them is in a brioche. You’ll find those mostly in bakeries.

I find the tart too sweet. In any bouchon restaurant you’ll for sure find the praline rose tart on the dessert menu. give it a go!

 

• Cervelle de canut

The name of this dish is a bit misleading (it translates to Canut’s brain). It is in fact not brain at all. It’s cottage cheese, with herbs, salt and pepper, olive oil, and vinegar.

You can enjoy this dish with some delicious bread as a starter for a picnic or as a cheese course in a restaurant.

 

• Bugnes

Bugnes are sweet treats, traditionally eaten around mardi gras (in February).

It’s quite a simple recipe: fried sugary dough topped with powdered sugar. You can usually find two sorts of bugnes: the crunchy bugnes or the soft bugnes. You can usually find those in bakeries.

Now that we’ve had a look at some of the best dishes Lyon has to offer, let’s take a closer look at some of the best restaurants in the city.

 

The best restaurants in Lyon

Food is really at the heart of Lyon. There are many restaurants in the city. You can find something very nice to eat for many different budgets.

 

• Paul Bocuse’s restaurants

If there is one chef that Lyon is known for it has to be Paul Bocuse. He has had 3 Michelin stars for 53 years (which considering how difficult they are to get and to keep, is quite the feat!). He has had many distinctions throughout his career and is known for his very traditional French food.

Being from the Lyon region, he opened several restaurants both in Lyon and close to Lyon.

 

• • Auberge du Pont de Collonges

This 2-starred Michelin restaurant is located in Paul Bocuse’s hometown of Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or. It is located about 30 minutes to the north of Lyon, accessible both by car and public transport.

This is probably the best place to get a feel of Paul Bocuse’s cooking. You’ll find all his classics (like the gratin of crayfish tails or the famous Valery Giscard d’Estaing truffle soup).

This is a gastronomical restaurant…with the according price range. There are set menus ranging from 220€ up to 330€ per person. They will give you a good overview of all the traditional dishes. It could get more expensive if you choose your courses à la carte.

As with many restaurants like this, and if you really want to make sure you get to experience it, it is best to book your table in advance. You can do so on the restaurant’s website.

Website: https://bocuse.fr/en/

Address: 40 quai de la Plage, Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or, 69660, France

 

• • The Paul Bocuse brasseries

If Michelin-starred restaurants are not your thing, but you would still like to enjoy the local cuisine: check out the Paul Bocuse brasseries!

There are 4 in total, each representing one cardinal point: the north, the south, the east, and the west. Each brasserie will be the perfect spot to experience cuisine from the various regions of France. It’s like a culinary travel experience…but in Lyon!

I have been the most to the North Brasserie. It is the most central and the food is just very good. They also have a set menu (a little less than 40€ per person) if you are not sure of what you should get.

Website: https://www.maisons-bocuse.com/en/our-brasseries-lyon-paris-annecy/

 

• Michelin star restaurants

Lyon being a very gastronomical city, has of course many Michelin-starred restaurants. Here are two that you might want to consider eating at!

 

• • La Mère Brazier

This restaurant is named after the woman who is considered to be one of the founders of the Bouchon restaurants in Lyon. She is also one of the first female chefs to have gotten 3 Michelin stars back in 1933!

Today it’s chef Mathieu Viannay who is looking after this culinary institution since 2008. The chef loves to work with seasonal ingredients and local produce. Nonetheless, he has kept some classics, such as the artichoke and foie gras in honor of the Mère Brazier.

You can find both a lunch menu and dinner menu in this restaurant or you choose your meal à la carte. Price-wise, it is quite steep: 95€ for the lunch set menu and up to 340€ for the diner set menu if you go for the wine pairing.

Website: https://lamerebrazier.fr/

Address: 12 Rue Royale, 69001 Lyon

 

• • Restaurant Takao Takano

This is another 2 Michelin-starred restaurant but with a Japanese twist coming from its head chef: Takao Takano.

Every piece of fish or meat is cooked to perfection and you can experience a more modern cuisine. The cheese plate is quite wonderful if you are a cheese lover!

The nice thing about this place is the relaxed atmosphere. You don’t feel the burden of history: everything is very sleek and minimalistic. This makes for a fine dining experience.

Website: https://www.takaotakano.com/

Address: 33 Rue Malesherbes, 69006 Lyon

 

• Higher end restaurants

Lyon is not limited to Michelin-starred restaurants. Here are my top recommendations for restaurants that are on the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to budget.

 

• • Les Trois Domes

The Trois Domes is the restaurant at the top of the Sofitel Bellecour Hotel. This is the perfect place to have a panoramic view of Lyon. It’s even more special at night!

This is a French restaurant, so you’ll find some classic dishes like foie gras, various meat dishes, and cervelles des canuts.

You can choose the set menu for 82€ per person or à la carte (this would be no less than 100€ per person).

Website: https://www.les-3-domes.com/en

Address: 20 Quai du Dr Gailleton, 69002 Lyon

 

• • Le Bœuf d’Argent

This restaurant recently changed ownership. The new chefs and owners are planning to revamp this historical restaurant into a wonderful French-Italian restaurant. They are serving homemade and excellent food and are even hoping to one day get a Michelin star.

The chefs are working with local products and are offering different types of set menus: a vegetarian tasting menu, an Italian travel menu, or a classic tasting menu.

The set menus can up to 120€ per person.

Website: https://restaurant-le-boeuf-d-argent.com/en

Address: 29 Rue du Bœuf, 69005 Lyon

 

• • Culina Hortus 

It’s not always easy to find a good vegetarian restaurant in a meat-loving city. Here is the restaurant you need to know about: the Culina Hortus!

Looking at the space first, you get to enjoy your meal in a very designed and minimalistic environment, very wood-forward and natural.

The objective of Chef Thomas Bouanich was to open a fully vegetarian gastronomical restaurant. Great care is going into the selection of the produce for your meal, but also in the wine list.

There is only one set menu for the whole table, for lunch (45€) and dinner (75€).

Website: https://www.culinahortus.com/

Address: 38 Rue de l’Arbre Sec, 69001 Lyon

 

• Bouchon

You’ll find many Bouchon restaurants in Lyon, but they are not all worth it. There are many tourist traps. So here is a list of more typical Bouchon restaurants you need to check out!

 

• • Daniel et Denise 

This is really what a Bouchon restaurant should be: a very warm and simple restaurant with great traditional food. The chef Joseph Viola wanted to have great quality food but keep the simplicity of the Lyonnaise cuisine. You should definitely go for the pâté en croûte au ris de veau et foie gras.

The great thing is that the Chef has 3 restaurants in Lyon (Crequi, Saint-Jean, and Croix-Rousse), so depending on where you are in Lyon, you might have the opportunity to go and experience this great place.

The Michelin Guide has awarded many distinctions to Chef Joseph Viola over the years.

Website: https://danieletdenise.fr/

 

• • Le Musée

This is a really tiny restaurant, so be sure to book a table if you want to eat here! Also to get into the restaurant you need to enter the adjacent building’s entrance and turn left after a few meters.

Again, you’ll find a very traditional set up of wooden tables with red and white checkered tablecloths. It’s like a museum because you’ll get the feeling that time stood still. On the menu, you’ll find some very traditional French and Lyon dishes. You won’t find a vegetarian option on the menu.

This is a very affordable restaurant: up to 27€ for lunch and 31€ for dinner.

Address: 2 Rue des Forces, 69002 Lyon

 

• • Bouchon Tupin

This is another great option to experience a Bouchon restaurant. It is quite a popular place, so be sure to book a table in advance or you might have to eat someplace else.

The great thing is that the menu is quite short, which is usually a great sign in a restaurant. Most of the items on there will be traditional Bouchon food (quenelle, cervelle des canuts or tarte aux pralines roses). However, you might also find some more original meals if you want a change of pace.

There is a great menu for 32€ for a 3-course meal.

Website: https://www.bouchontupin.com/

Address: 30 Rue Tupin, 69002 Lyon

 

• Good value for money

 

• • Agastache restaurant

This restaurant has a nice bistro vibe with some great delicious food. The ambiance is quite straightforward, but Agastache shines on the plate. Both chefs have trained in Michelin-starred restaurants and take great care of the produce they work with.

They have menus lunch and dinner menus at very reasonable prices. This place i the perfect depiction that great food does not have to be expensive.

Website: https://agastache-restaurant-lyon.fr/

Address: 134 Rue Duguesclin, 69006 Lyon

 

• • Carmelo

This is a great Italian restaurant: the food is delicious and the atmosphere inside makes for an overall great experience.

The restaurant is much bigger than it looks from the outside. The nice thing is the very unique atmosphere you get.

They pride themselves on serving homemade and 100% fresh Italian food.

Be sure to book a table, otherwise, you’ll have to queue to get in!

Website: https://www.bigmammagroup.com/en/trattorias/carmelo

Address: 7 Rue Neuve, 69001 Lyon

 

• Food on a budget

​When you’re traveling the food budget can get quite expensive. Here are some options if you’re wanting to spend a little less on food.

 

• • les Halles de Lyon – Paul Bocuse 

This indoor market first opened in 1859. Since then the indoor market has evolved into a place for food lovers. You can still purchase great quality produce, but you can also have a bit to eat, tapas style.

You’ll find around 10 food stalls to grab something to eat.

Website: https://www.halles-de-lyon-paulbocuse.com/

Address: 102 Cr Lafayette F, 69003 Lyon

 

• • Food Traboule

This is another great place: a 2 story building transformed into a food court. You just have to find a place to sit (it can get quite crowded at peak hours), and then you can order food from any food stalls inside the Food Traboule.

I’ve been there several times and the quality of the food has always been great and diverse. You can find great main courses, tapas to share, and deserts, or you could also just come to have a coffee and a snack mid-day.

You can find it all and for all budget types.

Website: https://foodtraboule.com/en/home/

Address: 22 Rue du Bœuf, 69005 Lyon

 

This post has been all about the best restaurants in Lyon!

 

Save for later on Pinterest!