The best restaurants in Lyon

Find out where to eat well in Lyon, which rightly claims to be the gastronomic heart of France, a claim that Parisians disagree with.

The best restaurants in Lyon

Lyon is a wonderful city, surprisingly overlooked by foreign visitors. But when people discover Lyon, they instantly fall in love with the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Lyon has a staggering number of top restaurants, abundant ‘bouchons’ (Lyon bistros), mostly in the old St-Jean district and the narrow streets that surround the central place, and impressive brasseries. Here is my list of the best places to eat in Lyon.

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Top Attractions in Lyon

Georges Brewery

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+33 9 71 07 18 02

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Georges Brewery
30 courses in Verdun
Phone: 00 33 (0) 4 22 67 82 58
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The big, famous and bustling brasserie began in 1836 and is still going strong with red leather stools, frescoes, and mirrors throughout that reflect happy diners. Centrally located near the Gare de Perrache and just south of Place Carnot, Brasserie Georges is known for its sauerkraut , although all the main staples of brasserie cuisine are offered. Menus from 19.75 euros to an excellent 4-course menu and 24.50 euros.

Daniel and Denise

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+33 4 78 60 66 53

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Daniel and Denise
156 rue de Crequi
Phone: 00 33 (0) 4 78 60 66 53
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Joseph Viola, the chef-owner here is a best ouvrier de France, so you can wait and get first-class cooking in a nice classic bouchon. It looks nice with a tile floor and red and white gingham tablecloths and the bustle is perfect. The 33 euro menus are excellent value: maybe an autumn pumpkin veloute to start, then boudin noir or a blanquette de veau, all nicely cooked.

Mother Brazier

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+33 4 78 23 17 20

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Mother Brazier
12 rue Royale
Phone: 00 33 (0) 4 78 23 17 20
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It was started in 1921 by one of the famous Mères de Lyon (Mothers of Lyon), who settled into the business after their aristocratic employers decided they had a surplus, Mme. Brazier was the first woman to receive three Michelin stars; Today’s cooking under super chef Mathieu Vianny is equally legendary. This is one of the best restaurants in Lyon, offering a real gastronomic experience of food from an adventurous, highly trained and classically trained chef. Menus start at 70 euros, but it’s worth saving.

The Carnivore Stopper

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+33 4 78 42 97 69

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Carnivore stopper
8 Rue des Marronniers
Phone: 00 33 (0) 4 78 42 97 69
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Another of Lyon’s bouchons, Le Bouchon des Carnivores is one of four owned by the Chabert family. This one is wonderfully bizarre in decor, with agricultural elements and beast heads on the walls. Menus from € 18.50 to € 39.50 offer all the meaty delicacies you expect in Lyon and all the generosity of a true institution.

Why not

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+33 4 37 24 25 26

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Ballast
14 pl Jules Ferry
Phone: 00 33 (0) 4 37 24 25 26
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Located in the historic area around the old Brotteaux station, with a miniature railway running across the roof to remind you of the district’s roots and clocks showing the time in all four corners of the world, this is another one of the great breweries of Paul Bocuse. Here the emphasis is on the Orient, which is why prawns, rice and Asian spices appear both à la carte and on menus (2 courses at 24.90 euros and 3 at 27.50 euros).

The North

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+33 4 72 10 69 69

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The North
18 rue Neuve
Phone: 00 33 (0) 4 72 10 69 69
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Marble floors, elegant tables and chairs, a long copper-covered bar, and large globe lights – this is Le Nord, one of Paul Bocuse’s four geographically named brasseries. It is very central, just south of the Hotel de Ville and north of the Place de la Bourse. Good value menus (2 courses at € 24.90 and 3 at € 27.50) offer you a market-led meal, perhaps a classic boeuf Bourguignon or roast chicken breast.

The west

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+33 4 37 64 64 64

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The west
1 quai du Commerce
Phone: 00 33 (0) 4 37 64 64 64
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The Brasserie de l’Ouest is thoroughly modern, a large open-plan restaurant with a glass wall showing off the extensive wine cellar. It bustles by day and glows at night with menus (2 courses at € 24.90 and 3 at € 27.50) that offer the good value the group is known for.

South

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+33 4 72 77 80 00

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South
11 pl Antonin Poncet
Phone: 00 33 (0) 4 72 77 80 00
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Just a jump, a jump and a jump from the center of Place Bellecour, Le Sud has all the charm and joie de vivre of the Mediterranean flair from which it draws. This is cooking in the sun, with olive oil and Provencal herbs in the foreground. The menus (2 courses at 24.90 euros and 3 at 27.50 euros) mark the changes with tagines , perhaps lamb curry or beef cooked with dried apricots. Pizzas, fish, croquettes, pastille and lamb chops all make their appearance. On sunny days, eat on the terrace.

The Café des Federations

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+33 4 78 28 26 00

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The Café des Federations
8-10 rue Major Martin
Phone: 00 33 (0) 4 78 28 26 00
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Go with a good appetite to this delicious and deservedly popular bouchon de Lyon. The classic menus (23 euros at lunch; 29 euros at night) offer 4 starters, from local charcuterie to herring rillette, a hot dish that could be chicken in vinegar, a more than generous selection of cheese or dessert. It is lively, full of people, with tiled floors, wooden tables and typical red checkered tablecloths. Wash everything with a local Beaujolais or Morgan.