A guide to the best foodie spots in the city

Famously described by Curnonsky in 1935 as “the world capital of gastronomy”, Lyon is a must on any self-respecting foodie’s gourmet tour of France.

With more than 4,000 restaurants, prestigious culinary schools, a world-class museum of gastronomy and exquisite wines on its doorstep, it makes for a mouthwatering city break all year round. Here’s our whistle-stop tour of some of its highlights.

Read Lyon: French city break for foodies

The Mères Lyonnaises

In the 19th-century, it was women who were at the helm of some of Lyon’s most popular kitchens. These domestic cooks, who’d often worked for grand families, set up their own businesses, serving simple, generous  dishes made from cheap cuts, such as tablier de sapeur (tripe in breadcrumbs) and andouillette (a famously stinky pork sausage).

The movement took off following the First World War when many more great houses let their staff go, leaving women to carve out new careers. Among the most famous of the Mères was Eugénie Brazier, who in 1933 became the first person to be awarded six Michelin stars. La Mère Brazier, in rue Royale, today holds two stars under chef Mathieu Viannay. Michelin’s inspectors describe it thus: “In a magnificent hybrid decor, 1930s stained glass windows and mouldings are blended with Saarinen Tulip chairs (a bold design move!) and the chef pays a vibrant tribute to the iconic dishes once served on the premises (Bresse chicken with truffles, crispy pike bread, a stunning Grand Marnier soufflé), infusing them with his talent and novel ideas.”

Bouchons

As well as gastronomy, Lyon is famous for its silk trade, and the canuts (silk workers) of the 17th and 18th centuries in turn fed the city’s culinary history. They would dine on local hearty fare in traditional eateries called bouchons. Today, authentic bouchons are awarded the label ‘Les Bouchons Lyonnais’ and if you want to make sure you’re dining in the real deal, check out the list of official bouchons.

Among the specialities you will find at a bouchon, the mâchon is one that every visitor to Lyon should taste. Eaten at 9am, as Lyon’s canuts used to do, the meal is mainly made up of charcuterie washed down with Beaujolais wine.

Paul Bocuse

A student of the aforementioned Eugénie Brazier, Paul Bocuse (1926-2018) was one of France’s most celebrated chefs. A proponent of nouvelle cuisine, as well as being a multi-award-winning chef in his own right, he also trained many of the country’s most prominent chefs. As well as his main restaurant, L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, he ran a chain of brasseries in Lyon. The city’s covered market, Les Halles Paul Bocuse, is named after ‘Monsieur Paul’, as he was affectionately known, and is the place to go to stock up on local gourmet delights! The annual Bocuse d’Or competition is considered the world championship for chefs.

Wine territory

Winemaking is also a key part of Lyon’s rich gastronomy. To the north of the city, the famous Beaujolais region produces wines for everyday enjoyment as well as for laying down. To the east lies a small 300-hectare appellation – Les Coteaux du Lyonnais. Secluded and experimental, this AOC offers amazing variety. To the south, you will find prestigious names such as Condrieu and Cotes Rôties. A bit further away, the wines of Savoy, Bugey and the Rhône Valley, among others, complete the picture.

Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie de Lyon

This is an absolute must for anybody who is remotely interested in food. The Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie puts the spotlight on culinary pleasures, healthy eating, well-being and the French art de vivre in the beautiful setting of the historic Grand Hôtel-Dieu building. The ‘gastronomic meal of the French’, which is on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, is one of the main themes covered, along with the history of Lyon’s gastronomy.

Culinary calendar of events

There are food-related events all year round in Lyon, such as the Lyon Street Food Festival and the Chinese food festival, Les Baguettes Magiques. All of these events, plus wine tastings, culinary workshops and restaurant openings, are listed in a dedicated culinary calendar.

Lyon Culinary Glossary

Some of the foodie delights (and horrors!) you’ll come across during a visit to France’s capital of gastronomy…

Andouillette de Lyon: cooked pork belly sausage spiced with onions, parsley

Bugnes: thin and fried sugary batter

Cervelas truffé: short sausage somewhat like baloney, with truffles and pistachio

Cervelle de Canut: whipped cottage cheese, with garlic and chives

Coussin de Lyon: sweet made from chocolate and almonds paste

Gâteau de foie de volaille: chicken liver soufflé served in tomato sauce

Grattons: pork fat, fried and dried, served as an appetiser

Museau de boeuf: beef muzzle with chopped onions and vinaigrette

Pot Lyonnais: 46 cl bottle with thick bottom used to serve wine in restaurants

Praline: sweet made from almonds wrapped in cooked sugar

Quenelles: dumplings flavoured with fish, poultry, morels or truffles

Rosette: cured pork sausage flavoured with spices and a hint of garlic

Sabodet: pork sausage made from the pig’s head

Saint-Marcellin: cheese made from cow’s milk

Salade Lyonnaise: salad with bacon cubes, egg and croutons

Tablier de sapeur: beef, veal or pork tripe coated with breadcrumbs

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