10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Lyon

La Cocagne welcomes you in a wood-decorated setting, where you'll discover generous cuisine that's full of fun. The dishes are inspired by cuisine from Lyons, the Mediterranean and France and they are crafted with care, often enhanced with a light touch of fantasy.

The menu changes regularly, but some classics show up regularly, like the pain perdu au caramel beurre salé (French toast with salted-butter caramel sauce). La Cocagne is a friendly place, whether you're taking a long lunch or going for a romantic dinner in an intimate setting. It proudly embraces the spirit of quartier cuisine, focusing on neighbourhood cooking and making a point to use local produce.

Les Fines Gueules is a bouchon, a traditional Lyonnaise restaurant, but not just any bouchon. Located on a pretty, cobbled street in the historic old Lyon neighbourhood, this bistro's decor is sophisticated and provides a great backdrop for cuisine that balances tradition and modernity.

Specialities from Lyon are on offer, such as œufs pochés en meurette (poached eggs in red wine) or pieds de cochon patiemment désossé pane (breaded pig's feet), alongside seasonal, garnished fresh fish. If you have a little room for dessert, order the vacherin maison (homemade layered cake with meringue, vanilla ice cream and fruit, topped with whipped cream). In the summer, you can enjoy the terrace in the charming pedestrian area.

La Tête de Lard prides itself on serving 'country cuisine in the city', and does it so well that people keep coming back. In the centre of Presqu'Île, you'll find a cosy room that feels like your own living room. Enjoy iconic dishes such as tablier du sapeur nappé d’une sauce gribiche (beef tripe with gribiche sauce), quenelles de brochet (pike cakes) or andouillette sauce moutarde (pork sausage with mustard sauce).

The emphasis here is on tradition and using regional, seasonal products, all of which you can taste. Beaujolais Nouveau lovers shouldn’t miss the annual event, organised each year to celebrate its release. There is a musical group accompanying your meal and showing you how to party, Lyon style.

Located in a former silk factory apartment, L’Étage brims with history and serves gourmet cuisine in a muted setting. Ascend to the second floor to enjoy a warm, intimate setting with wood panelling and a pleasant view of the Place des Terreaux.

Choose from 3 menus: the lunch menu with a starter, main course and dessert; the tasting menu with small dishes; or the lobster and caviar menu. The tasting and lobster menus feature 4 dishes and 2 desserts, offering a refined experience. The dishes are meticulously prepared from high quality, impeccably fresh ingredients, and often have an exotic touch. It's a good restaurant to celebrate a romantic moment, share a business meal or simply enjoy good quality, authentic cuisine.

La Limonade de Marinette is the bistro for nostalgic types. Immerse yourself in a corner-shop with a 60s vibe, from the vintage till to formica tables and chairs, including authentic Duralex glasses and music of the era to accompany your meal. The fixed menu is simple, tasty and is features traditional French childhood cuisine: such as ham and cheese omelette, chips or homemade quiche, accompanied by a nice glass of lemonade. 

If it's not a mealtime, come in to sip a glass of rouge limé (red wine and lemonade spritzer) or a petit crème (a small coffee with cream) in this unusual setting, the product of an avid collector's imagination. If you wish you could take a souvenir box or enamelled plaque with you, not to worry the nearby boutique will satisfy all your needs.

At Le Bouchon des Cordeliers, high-quality standards introduce you to the pleasures of this Lyon landmark. Exposed brick walls, red-and-white checked tablecloths and generous dishes await you in this restaurant, located in a quiet street near lively Presqu'Île.

It's a paradise for lovers of locally sourced food, with ingredients from the best local artisans. Enjoy traditional dishes like quenelle lyonnaise au Brochet (pike dumplings with lobster sauce) or tatin de pieds de cochon et escargots (pig's feet with snails). Excellent wines accompany your meal, and the friendly, attentive service makes sure you have an enjoyable time with characteristic southern friendliness.

Les Culottes Longues has been serving feasts to Lyon and its visitors since 1995. The menu combines market-fresh ingredients and timely inspiration to showcase the best local cuisine. Enjoy terrines (meatloafs), rognons (kidneys), ris de veau (veal sweetbreads) and pieces of beef garnished with Saint-Marcelin cheese.

The wood-decorated setting, framed pair of bloomers and pretty spiral staircase accentuate the tasting pleasure, like a bottle from a well-stocked cellar. The cuisine comes from the heart and is sure to capture yours as well.

The great Paul Bocuse, a pillar of gourmet cuisine and the Lyon countryside, created l’Institut Restaurant as a vibrant lab to train France's future star chefs. The great news is that the public can feast here for prices that are quite reasonable given the quality of the service and dishes on offer.

At l'Institut, well-trained apprentice chefs showcase their skills, and in the interests of transparency, you can watch the chefs preparing your dishes through large glass windows. This adds even more charm to the experience. Once served, they'll definitely stun you with their finesse, elegance and, especially, their flavours. Booking a table is recommended, especially on weekends.

At Le Café du Peintre, each dish that graces your table is deeply rooted in Lyon's culinary tradition. This is reflected by the super-sized snails from the nearby mountains, Monts du Lyonnais, and quenelles de brochet Sibilia (pike dumplings named after the famous cured meat shop). The menu board proudly features homemade terrine, crafted according to the chef's inspiration and the freshest market finds. The other bold dishes on offer are of the same exceptional calibre.

Fortified with 350 references, Peintre's wine cellar has no reason to be bashful either: excitement, energy, freshness and honesty are words to describe its wines. Many of these are produced using biodynamic methods and served in traditional Lyonnais 46 cl glass jugs. 

Le Bouchon des Filles is a bouchon (traditional Lyonnaise restaurant) with a modern style that reimagines the classics with a touch of lightness. In gently flowery and feminine decor, you can indulge in a menu featuring main courses like quenelle de rouget maison (homemade red mullet quenelle) and rognons de veau à la crème, épinards et riz pilaf (veal kidneys with cream, spinach and rice pilaf). Starters include traditional Lyonnaise dishes like lentil salads, carrot salad with smoked herring and pork cheek terrine with citrus fruits.

The restaurant focuses on fresh, invigorating cuisine and re-establishing social connections, much like the Lyonnaise mothers who once defined the neighbourhood bistros. The friendly welcome and service ensure a beautiful moment to share.