If you enjoy food and history but haven’t had time to explore the best places in Lyon, it is about time to change that ! Only 2 hours away by train from Paris, you will quickly reach this fantastic city.
Only Lyon
Only LyonWhat do I like in Lyon ? This combination of a city with a lot of energy, great food and the peaceful surroundings of the countryside and the Alps.
We were looking for a light and healthy option for our lunch. Following Camille’s advice from Yelp Lyon, we decided to go to Laureline’s Corner. We were greeted with a smiling crew in a very girly decor. The lunch started with a light quinoa salad and a veggie quiche.
But the specialty of the place is the cupcake, mine was a vanilla and chocolate option : sweet and delicious ! So definitely a cool spot for an afternoon tea or a brunch with friends !
To get the best views on the city, I strongly recommend to take the funicular up to the Fourviere basilica or if you want to get away from the tourists, you can climb up the hills of the Croix Rousse, which used to be the neighbourhood for silk workers.
Heading back down the hills, you can wander through the beautiful place des Terreaux and City Hall and have a look at the lovely garden of the Fine Arts Museum.
To enjoy more greenery, the Tête d’Or park is a must as well as the quays along the Rhone river. You can ride a bike along the quays or even try the stand up paddle.
When the evening comes, you will find a large choice of cocktail bars. One of the best ones is l’Antiquaire, offering delicious options such as the Crab Key and friendly customer service.
If you have never tried the local restaurants called les Bouchons lyonnais, you should definitely give it a go, except maybe if you are vegetarian. However, you might want to avoid the tripes or andouillettes if you are not used to that kind of meat. They also offer some fish options such as the quenelles de brochet. But just make sure you are very hungry before you go there.
This time I didn’t feel the need for a bouchon so I decided to try a new Sicilian restaurant : Casa Nobile. The pace was a bit hectic but their pizzas are delicious.
Now on Sunday, you might want to try one of the famous brunch spots. Camille from Yelp recommended me this lovely tearoom called le Comptoir des Fées. However, be aware that you have to book at least 24 hours in advance.
Fée in French means fairy and we did feel like we were in some kind of fairy tale during the whole brunch. The menu theme changes every week to make it more entertaining. This Sunday was all about Bacchus, grapes and wines. The brunch included a hot drink, freshly squeezed juice, scrambled eggs, a homemade yoghurt, jams, bread and croissants as well as a poached pear with red wine.
Before leaving Lyon, if you want to find a local food souvenir, the best place to go to is les halles de Bocuse ! You will find an impressive selection of cheeses, hams like the rosette de Lyon, fish and sweet delicacies like the praline tart.
The adresses :
Laureline’s Corner – 4 rue Romarin, 69001 Lyon
Casa Nobile – 3 place de l’hôpital, 69002 Lyon
Le Comptoir des Fées – 31 rue de la Charité, 69002 Lyon
L’Antiquaire – 20 rue Hippolyte Flandrin, 69001 Lyon
Les Halles de Bocuse – 102 Cours Lafayette, 69003 Lyon
And Yelp Lyon’s website : http://www.yelp.fr/lyon