10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Lyon

Place des Terreaux is one of Lyon’s most charming squares. Its centrepiece is an elaborate statue called the Bartholdi Fountain, which is illuminated to great effect at night. Most years, in early December, the square is the main focus of the Fête des Lumières and the setting for a dazzling sound and light show.

Whichever night you’re at the square, grab your camera and snap a few souvenir pictures before you set off to see what else the late-night city scene of Lyon has to offer – moody cobbled streets, hidden stairwells and reflections in the river being among them.

The Witchcraft and Occultism walking tour is a way of discovering a different side to the city of Lyon. Guide Nicolas Le Breton becomes Esquirol the Occultist as he dons a smart suit and bowler hat. With a tap of his cane, he steps back in time to 1903, leading visitors into hidden alleyways and unseen traboules (pathways).

Along the way, he tells the stories of French witches and those with supernatural or mystical powers. Whether you believe them is up to you, of course. Regardless, it’s an entertaining way to spend an evening and learn a bit of unknown French history. Participants meet in front of the steps of Mairie de la Croix-Rousse, Lyon’s Town Hall. Tour departs at 9 pm on days of operation.

Théâtre des Célestins is a magnificent Italian-style theatre in the centre of Lyon. It gets its name from a Roman Catholic order but a performing arts space has occupied the site since 1792. Even so, what you see today isn’t the first theatre here – the original building burned to the ground in 1871. It was quickly rebuilt, then a 21^st-century renovation saw the addition of a second auditorium.

Some of France’s most highly acclaimed actors and music hall stars have performed here, including Sarah Bernhardt, Jean Marais, Maurice Chevalier, and Joséphine Baker. Its repertoire today includes traditional and contemporary plays. Opening and showtimes vary according to the programme.

Les Fleurs du Malt is an established bar in Lyon specialising in craft beer. Sixteen beers are on draught, augmented by a further 200 types of beer sold by the bottle. Aficionados who know their ales from their porters are happy to offer a suggestion or 2 to help those daunted by the extensive menu.

During Les Fleurs du Malt’s Happy Hour, the bartender will challenge you to a game of heads or tails – flip a coin and you might just score a half-price beer.

Lyon National Opera (Opéra National de Lyon) is a company that performs mostly at the Opéra Nouvel by the Rhône. Following a 1993 renovation, this theatre boasts a cylindrical glass roof. On show nights, it’s lit in red. Inside, a magnificent 1,100-seat auditorium provides the spectacular backdrop for captivating performances.

The theatre also has its own 62-musician orchestra, 32 ballet dancers, a chorus of 34 singers and a children’s choir. The programme of opera, jazz, classical music and dance changes regularly. Family favourites like Peter and the Wolf slot alongside Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s concertos.

The Monkey Club is a cocktail bar in the centre of Lyon. Step through its door and you step back in time to the end of the Victorian era. The velvet furniture and sepia photographs create a vintage atmosphere, while there’s a nod to some of the less savoury individuals that were around at the time in the cocktail menu.

Work your way through a list that includes The Ripper, Mary Kelly’s Drip, Sherlock Swizzle and Spirit of Moriarty. If you dined early, globally inspired nibbles will fuel a late night.

Le Sirius is a barge moored beside the River Rhône and among the most unique things to do after dinner in Lyon. This trendy space is decorated with reclaimed wood and metal, giving it a modern, industrial vibe. Patrons gather on the deck, in the hold and on a large terrace to chat, drink and listen to music.

Concerts, jam sessions and live DJs provide the evening’s soundtrack almost every night of the year onboard Le Sirius. Grab a bunch of friends and order a round of drinks. Most of the time entrance is free, so long as you make a night of it.

Le Lyon Vert is a casino on the outskirts of Lyon, part of a 5-star resort and spa. At the tables, croupiers deal the cards and stack the chips for games of poker, blackjack and roulette. In the background, you’ll hear the beeps and jingles of the casino’s 275 slot machines.

Whether you opt for the one-armed bandits or try for the Megapot, where 165 machines across France compete for a single prize pot, always gamble responsibly and never shell out more than you are prepared to lose.

Le Sucre was once a sugar warehouse in the heart of the city, located beside the River Saône near its confluence with the Rhône. Now it’s one of Lyon’s most fabulous nightclubs. This remarkable cultural venue has a capacity of almost 800 people. They come here for concerts, cocktail parties and other social events.

The warehouse-turned-nightclub has a particularly good reputation for electronic and techno music. Besides the vibe, music and crowd, regulars rave about the chilled ambience and the view over the river that it provides from its terrace.

Parc de Gerland is a riverside park that runs alongside the River Rhône and happens to be among the best things to do after dinner in Lyon. As night falls, the park is illuminated and this clever use of light turns an ordinary park into the extraordinary Jardin Chromatique.

Designer Laurent Fachard’s creative vision elevates the park’s space to something special. He highlights different aspects of the park’s planting, flooding them with bold, sensual colours. The addition of sound helps to create a magical place that pushes the limits of your imagination. You can find the park just south of Lyon’s city centre.