Where to Eat

Where to eat in France

Lyon

There are a huge number of restaurants, ranging from well-known gastronomic temples to simple market side-stalls. Classy, central Leon de Lyon (1 rue Pleney, 04 72 10 11 12, www.leondelyon.com, closed Mon & Sun) also runs a bistro annexe, Le Petit Leon (3 rue Pleney, 04 72 10 11 11, lunch only, closed Mon & Sun). If you’ve budgeted for the likes of truffles and lobster, the world-class Paul Bocuse restaurant (40 rue de la Plage, Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or, 04 72 42 90 90, www.bocuse.fr), a few miles north of Lyon, is essential dining.

The bouchon is a Lyonnais institution; it usually serves up local dishes like saladiers lyonnais (assorted salads), gras double (tripe) and cervelle de canut (literally, ‘silk worker’s brain’ – white cheese with herbs). Several bouchons cluster around the Hotel de Ville; try Cafe des Federations (8-10 rue du Major Martin, 04 78 28 26 00), Bouchon des Carnivores (8, rue des Marronniers, 04 78 42 97 69) or tiny Le Garet (7 rue du Garet, 04 78 28 16 94) near the opera house. It’s best to book ahead and most places close at weekends.

The Grand Cafe des Negociants (1 place Francisque Regaud, 04 78 42 50 05) is super-swish. For good cocktails and house DJs, try the Bus Cafe (18 quai General Serrail, 04 72 74 40 91), in a converted bus terminus. Another night-time hotspot is Soviet-themed KGB (2 rue des Bons Enfants, 04 37 28 63 30), a diner-club and vodka bar in an old industrial building.

Le Garet
Restopirate
La Nef Des Fous
Lolo Quoi
Brasserie Georges
Le Petit Frere Restaurant
Le Petit Glouton
Le Laurencin
Hippopotumus
Canut sans Cervelle
Rue des Marronniers
Les Adrets
Blue Elephant