Lyon’s best food & drink

Paul Bocuse established himself as one of France’s leading chefs in the 1960s. He was a pioneer of nouvelle cuisine, producing lighter, more innovative dishes than had traditionally been served in fine French restaurants.

You come here for the legacy of this culinary legend; he was born in the restaurant building in 1926. Since his death in 2018, the house motto is ‘tradition in motion’, with menus offering both iconic dishes and new, wow-worthy avant-garde plates.

Wood-panelled walls, red-and-white-chequered tablecloths… the decor in this typical bouchon hasn’t changed in years, and neither has the excellent food quality. Try their classic pate-en-croute with calf sweetbreads.

This hip, loft-like space and terrace lies atop the La Part-Dieu mall and showcases creative French street food made with only locally-sourced produce.

Set in the Tour Rose, a stand-out Renaissance building, this trendy food court contains multiple spaces managed by twelve creative chefs. Look out for international dishes with innovative local twists.

This chic shopping spot in a landmark historical building is home to the Cite Internationale de la Gastronomie Lyonnaise, with food-related exhibits and frequent cooking shows.

This open-air street-food spot in the modern Confluences area is yet more proof that Lyon’s food hall revolution is well and truly afoot. Sidle up to a counter then tuck in to street food galore.

This hip food hall (in a former woodwork factory) hosts 15 stalls headed by up-and-coming chefs. Expect the best of local produce, crafted into creative street food-like dishes.

Top suppliers fill this stunning covered food market, where gourmet ‘corners’ provide ample seating for you to sample the region’s world-class food amid the hustle and bustle.

Amid the hilly slopes of the former silk-weavers’ quarters, this wonderful daily market (except Mondays) is the locals’ spot for filling up on gourmet treats and taking in the views.

This quayside bouchon – all wood and tiled floors – is the place for classic salade Lyonnaise, braised belly pork and ile flottante (whipped egg whites) with custard and praline.

Set along the River Saone, this is city’s most picturesque market and the place where both locals and chefs come to hand-pick their fresh ingredients.