Where can I go gourmet?
Things don’t get much more refined in Lyon than the two-Michelin star La Mère Brazier, whose signature poached Bresse chicken with black truffles has been ever-present on the menu since Eugénie Brazier – the first woman to attain three stars – opened the restaurant back in 1921.
Lyon is also home to the bouchon, homely, idiosyncratic establishments that tend to specialize in the type of grub that your granny might prepare, and some she might not, like andouillette (hot cooked tripe sausage) and lambs feet.
Two of the most enjoyable bouchons are Daniel et Denise, whose gregarious chef, Joseph Viola, rustles up a sensational paté en croute (crusty foie gras and sweetbread paté), and the all-female run Les Bouchons des Filles, whose house speciality is a mouth-watering Croustille de Bodin aux Pommes (black pudding with apple and herbs wrapped in pastry).
Coffee lovers should head for Mokxa, on a sunny little square in Croix-Rousse; while, for something cooler, Terre Adélice, in the Old Town, offers some 150 differently-flavoured ices and sorbets, including exotic concoctions like honey and rosemary, and salted caramel cream.
Where’s the party?
At the moment it’s Le Sucre, whose industrial aesthetic owes much to the fact that it occupies a former sugar factory; the focal point here is a banging rooftop bar. Elsewhere, Ninkasi (ninkasi.fr) is a collective of some half a dozen bars scattered around the city, then there’s Sirius (lesirius.com), a rocking (quite literally) boat bar on the Rhône with a consistently exciting roster of DJs and live bands. Sophisticates, meanwhile, should pay a visit to L’Antiquaire, a polished but thoroughly unpretentious cocktail bar.
Anywhere cool to stay?
The rather splendid concept at the super-cool Okko Hotel (doubles €90) is Le Club, a kitchen-cum-lounge where guests can avail themselves of unlimited (non-alcoholic) drinks and snacks all day long, before savouring a glass of wine and more munchies at sundown.
Mama has also arrived in Lyon, courtesy of Mama Shelter, whose snappy, Starck-designed rooms are sure to raise a wry smile (doubles from €69).
Budget-busters, meanwhile, should make haste for the Slo Hostel, whose all-white dorms (bed €25) and communal areas, and sun-trap patio, are a delight.
