In a country famed worldwide for its gastronomy, Lyon stands out as the culinary capital of France. This south-eastern city is something of a foodie paradise and boasts a long (long) list of delicious local ingredients as well as a lengthy list of top chefs. Put the two together and it’s little wonder that the city has its own Michelin star galaxy.
As you’d expect in the French capital of food, competition to whet your appetite comes big and even the most discerning foodies will find the sheer number of excellent eateries too many to eat their way through. But we’ve taken on the challenge and singled out some of the finest. We’ve gone local and foreign, budget and splurge in our picks that we think sum up the best restaurants in Lyon, France.
Did you know? Lyon has one of the highest concentrations of Michelin stars per capita in the world. There’s no shortage of fine dining restaurants serving local produce and tasting menus for and dinner in the gastronomic capital of France!
Best restaurants in Lyon for local cuisine
Some would say that when it comes to best restaurants, Lyon has an unfair advantage. After all, this is a land of many of the finest ingredients in France. Meat and cold cuts (particularly saucissons) stand out on any lunch menu as does locally-grown fresh produce. Then, of course, there’s the cheese and wine – Burgundy is, after all, just on the doorstep.
In our first section of best restaurants in Lyon, we’ve chosen three that offer the best local cuisine, from pricey must-try to cheap and cheerful via a Lyonnais institution.
L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges/ Paul Bocuse
Something of a local culinary legend, Paul Bocuse made Lyonnais cooking his own and his name is synonymous with food in Lyon. He first set up his eponymous restaurant with his father in 1956 and received his first Michelin star for his take on typical recipes in 1958. The single star quickly doubled and then tripled in 1965 and Bocuse held on to the coveted triple-Michelin star until 2020.
On the menu: one culinary French food marvel after another, but the restaurant is best-known for its black truffle soup complete with a pie topping (created for President Giscard d’Estaing in 1975); sea bass en croûte (order this just to feast your eyes on the exquisite pastry); and lobster and zander quenelle in champagne sauce.
Price: set menus start at €185 per person and mains at €80
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La Mère Brazier
Founded in 1921, this restaurant championed local cuisine from its humble beginnings. The delicious dishes created by Eugénie Brazier soon conquered the city’s most discerning palettes and as a result, La Mère Brazier is now something of an institution in Lyon adored by food travelers and locals alike. Chef Mathieu Viannay, at the helm since 2008, has conserved the art déco design in the establishment and set its reputation in culinary steel.
On the menu: classic Lyonnais recipes come with Viannay’s modern twists and vary according to what’s in season locally. But expect to find poularde de Bresse, prepared seasonally; house artichokes with foie gras; and the restaurant’s take on saucisson. The restaurant’s cheese board is justly famous, as is the Madagascar vanilla soufflé that duets perfectly with Sauternes ice cream.
Price: set menus start at €80 per person and mains at €65.
Le Musée
Tucked away down a side street (Rue des Forces) opposite Saint-Nizier church, this cheap and cheerful busy restaurant does Lyon cuisine as hearty as traditional demands. The no-frills but delicious dining takes place at shared tables decked with red and white checked tablecloths. And the service comes with a smile. Its Google reviews speak volumes.
On the menu: this is the place to try andouillette (tripe sausage), quenelles de brochet (fish dumplings) and just about any robust Lyonnais recipe that includes pork.
Price: expect to spend around €30 on lunch.
Did you know? Lyon isn’t just about glorious food, the city also has a ton of things to see. Read our guide to the best
Best restaurants in Lyon for fusion cuisine
As you’d expect from the gastronomic centre of France, Lyon also does fusion food to perfection. So whether it’s a marriage of foreign and French cuisine or another nationality’s take on local culinary techniques, you’ll find the best in Lyon.
Les Apothicaires
France meets Brazil at this cosy restaurant whose décor resembles an antique shop and whose menu showcases plant-based and smoked products with Scandinavian and South American touches. Four hands create the dishes with French Ludovic and Brazilian Tabata leading the open kitchen. Les Apothicaires has a Michelin star.
On the menu: seasonal products take centre stage so the lunchtime menu changes weekly and the dinner monthly. Expect pulses and vegetables in the starters and fish or meat of the day for mains. But don’t expect your usual sides – the fish might come with coffee and smoked coconut mousse.
Price: lunch menus start at €43 and dinner at €77.
La Sommelière
Japanese sommelière Shuko Hasegawa and her compatriot chef Takafumi Kikuchi bring the very best of modern French wining and dining to their tiny restaurant in the heart of old Lyon. The inspiring menu has earned the venue a Michelin star, but the biggest proof of La Sommelière’s fame lies in its waiting list for bookings.
On the menu: Takafumi only creates dishes with seasonal produce and the entire tasting menu changes monthly. But staples include ‘fish of the day selected according to the chef’s imagination’, game and an inspiration cheese board. And to finish your meal, choose your digestif from a good list of Japanese or Scottish whiskies.
Price: the tasting menu costs €82.
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Takao Takano
Chef Takao developed his palette for simple delights at the foot of Mount Fuji and took this reverence to Lyon where his restaurant “respects, spoils and adores” produce. His culinary creations have earned him two Michelin stars, but this is a venue with one of the best-value lunches in town.
On the menu: the simplest of seasonal ingredients transformed into sublime dishes. The lunch tasting menu is known as ‘desire’.
Price: lunch costs €50 while the dinner menu options start at €110.
La Bijouterie
Combining Asian and local Lyon ingredients might sound like something of a challenge, but at this restaurant they have picked up the gauntlet and created one of the best restaurants in Lyon. Every meal is a voyage of discovery as you journey through Asian classics such as kimchi and miso paired with local staples that include mustard and cuts of pork.
On the menu: starters might include scallops and mussels with lemongrass and cauliflower kimchi while your dessert could combine smoked chocolate with trout egg and Katsuobushi. The wine list runs long and offers a good selection of foreign wines as well as French.
Price: the dinner menu costs €74.
Best restaurants in Lyon for other types of cuisine
Although Lyon is famed throughout France for its hearty traditional dishes, the country’s culinary capital also does different cuisine types very well. In this section, we’ve picked a selection of other excellent eateries, all perfect choices if you fancy a change from sausages and veal.
Culina Hortus
Non-meat eaters or diners who’ve had their fill of pork will jump at the chance to eat at a gourmet vegetarian venue. Culina Hortus (kitchen garden in Latin) aims to take plant-based dining to a new level, not just in Lyon but in France as well. Ingredients are sourced throughout France (they include the only quinoa produced in the country) and are primarily organic.
On the menu: generous creations of pulses, grains, fruit and vegetables come together in a seasonal menu. Expect to dine on dishes such as Jerusalem artichokes with cognac or celery polenta combined with a celery mayo.
Price: the lunchtime tasting menu costs €35 and the dinner version, €70
Did you know? One of the best ways to experience the delicious wining and dining local to Lyon is on a self-drive boating holiday. Discover where you can go
Cercle Rouge
Just a step away from the Rhône, this uber-friendly restaurant has an eclectic menu with a little something from all parts of the world. You’ll find traces of Asia, Latin America and even Britain in the dishes that champion fresh ingredients. The décor is as young and as arty as the clientele. And best of all, Cercle Rouge ranks as one of the most wallet-friendly restaurants in Lyon.
On the menu: an exotic blend of Mexico and France in the foie gras tacos; Asia in the teriyaki fish and sashimi; and Britain in the beef steaks and banoffee pie.
Price: mains cost €13 and 3-course lunchtime menus, €21
Now visit these best restaurants in Lyon
Sandwiched between two of the greatest waterways in France, visit Lyon not only to experience the gastronomic capital but because it conveniently makes an ideal stop-off when on a boating holiday. Whether you’re on a river cruise, luxury barge or a self-drive boat, be sure to add some of these restaurants to your must-visit in Lyon list. And book your holiday on the Rhone or the Saone
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