For us, what we love before planning a trip to a city we barely know is asking an insider for her favorite addresses. Currently Communication Director of the Hôtel Fouquet's in Paris and originally from Paris, Aïmée Reategui worked in Lyon for more than 4 years for ONLYLYON , the metropolitan area 's territorial marketing program . This is to tell you if Lyon is her department: “ A city that I fell in love with and in which I still live since I go back there every weekend after having worked all week in Paris - I am therefore a Parisienne fallen under the charm of the Capital of the Gauls! ”, she laughs. Nice, this smart girl whispered all her HQs to us… Follow the guide!
The best hotels to put down your suitcases
The Fourviere Hotel . Located on the hill of Fourvière , this atypical hotel allows a real disconnection! Accessible by car, those who decide to go there on foot will have to take the famous Lyon funicular to get there. A first adventure in itself! After crossing the path of the Basilica of Fourvière or the famous Roman theatres, you arrive in front of the Fourvière Hotel within an atypical reception installed in the old chapel of what was once a convent . Entirely renovated, the reception adorned with contemporary works of art transports you away from the bustle of the city. A hotel in which you feel good, thanks in particular to its heated outdoor swimming pool and its superb cloister.
Hotel Carlton Lyon MGallery . In the heart of the Lyon peninsula, this hotel, ideally located in the center of the city, has kept all its charm in a district that has evolved enormously in recent years. The Carlton hotel offers a very cozy living environment where velvet offers a certain comfort. We feel good there!
The extraordinary spa to book
Nestled in the impressive decor of the Grand Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon , founded in the 12th century by monks, the latest Spas Cinq Mondes is an improvement. Between the stone vaults and the columns, true testimonies of its past (stopover for pilgrims, hospital, etc.), this astonishing place located a stone's throw from the Place de la République exudes tranquility. You immediately feel soothed, ready to receive one of the house's well-being treatments inspired by beauty rituals from around the world, all focused on holistic medicine and medicinal plants .
Among the treatments you absolutely must try : the Ko Bi Do Global Anti-Aging , an exceptional treatment that combines the power of the Dermapuncture® and Ridoki maneuvers, for a real natural lifting of the face, neck and décolleté (1h20 - €200), the radiance-revealing Papaya Purée Scrub to exfoliate, perfume and illuminate the skin (20 mins - €70) or the brilliant Tui Na Taoist Massage Treatment with hot oil that rebalances energies to soothe the skin. mind and revitalize the body (50 min / 1h20 - 135 / 200 €).
Spa Cinq Mondes Grand Hôtel-Dieu Lyon , 7 Grand Cloître, Grand Hôtel-Dieu, 69002, Lyon. Reservations on 04 78 42 07 07.
Good tables to trust
For breakfast . For my part, I love buying a Praluline in the famous Pralus shop (the best Pralulines in town, €12.50 for 600 g) and tasting it on the terrace of a café in Lyon ( all the addresses are on the website ). My secret address: Café Bellecour . Located on the largest pedestrian square in the city (and in France), this small café is mainly frequented by regulars or locals in a charming setting. ( 33 place Bellecour, 69002 Lyon )
For lunch . Go to one of Lyon's most famous traffic jams : Daniel & Denise - I recommend the one in Vieux-Lyon (there are several). You can find all the great classics of the Lyonnais cork there ( quenelles €23, forest sausage €22, pâté en croute €19…) perfectly cooked by chef Joseph Viola , world pâté en croute champion , just that! ( 36 rue Tramassac, 69005 Lyon )
For dinner. We meet on the Fourvière hill for a star-studded dinner with a view of the entire City of Lights with chef Christian Têtedoie in his eponymous restaurant . ( 3-course menu €78, 4-course €105, 4 rue Pierre Marion 69005 Lyon ).
And for mini budgets?
For lunch . An uninhibited starred restaurant offering a first menu at €69. See you at Le Prairial restaurant ! Located on the Lyon peninsula, this discreet restaurant headed by the talented Chef Gaëtan Gentil, offers a selection of dishes, each more succulent than the next, where plants take center stage. ( Menu per person €89, food and drink pairing menu €46, 11 rue Chavanne, 69001 Lyon ).
For dinner with friends. Meet at Café Terroir . Another discreet address located near the beautiful Célestins theatre . In a warm atmosphere, meet up with friends, around classics with a twist: veal tartare , fresh sorrel and roasted hazelnuts (€24), trout from Isère, Viennese herbs and winter garden (€26 €)... ( 14 rue d'Amboise, 69002 Lyon )
An unmissable party venue
To dance . The FnK in the heart of the former Brotteaux station : Lyonnais of all ages meet there in the evening thanks to its various spaces with extremely varied musical atmospheres. ( 13-14 place Jules Ferry, 69009 Lyon)
To listen to music and enjoy good cocktails : Le Groom , a discreet address but with a nice program that brings together cool thirty-somethings from Lyon. ( 6 rue Roger Violi, 69001 Lyon)
For delicious cocktails : L'Antiquaire , a delicious cocktail bar in the heart of the peninsula. (20 rue Hippolyte Flandrin, 69001 Lyon)
© The Groom
The most beautiful market in town
On the banks of the Saône, the Marché des Quais Saint-Antoine brings together the largest number of merchants and offers a breathtaking view of Old Lyon , the Palais de Justice and the Basilique de Fourvière . When the fine weather is there, nothing better than to savor on the quays of the Saône below or on the terrace of one of the guinguettes on the quays a piece of Lyonnais or Saint-Marcellin sausage accompanied by a freshly bought baguette. Yum !! ( 32 quai Saint-Antoine, 69002 Lyon )
The right culture break
The must-see: the Musée des Confluences , a contemporary and sublime building located at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône with an atypical museography whose exhibitions are accessible to all, with routes also designed for families. ( 86 quai Perrache, 69002 Lyon )
More atypical and so exciting : the Lumière Museum ( 5 rue du Premier Film, 69008 Lyon ) in the former home of the Lumière brothers . This museum is the ideal place to learn all about the birth of cinema and the cinematograph , invented in Lyon. Another fascinating museum that teaches us a lot about the city of Lyon: the Resistance Museum , in the 7th. A sensitive theme but very well approached through a well thought out course. ( 14 avenue Berthelot, 69007 Lyon )
The pretty walk to do absolutely
A stroll along the banks of the Saône . Recently developed, the banks of the Saône offer an ideal setting for strolling to discover the city and its development. My recommendation: start at the famous Fresque des Lyonnais near the Passerelle Saint-Vincent . You will start by admiring the architecture of Vieux-Lyon and its beautiful pastel colors before heading to the brand new Confluences district . On arrival, an ultra-modern architecture, a district recently emerged from the ground and buildings more fascinating than each other. My tip: once the ride is over, go up the Saône aboard the Vaporetto to return to the center of Lyon. This small river shuttle accessible to all (€5 per adult) works like a bus and offers another perspective of the city.
The best shopping addresses
My two favorite concept stores:
- L' Effect Canopée , which has a nice selection of products and highlights designers from Lyon. The shop also offers creative workshops ( 18 rue des Capucins, 69001 Lyon )
- L' Hyppairs , which offers a wide selection of products in a very cozy setting. ( 3 place Sathonay, 69001 Lyon )
As for my favorite vintage store, I often find pretty nuggets at Elephant Vintage Store. ( 19 rue Hippolyte Flandrin, 69001 Lyon )
© @leffetcanopee_lebruitdubonheur sur Instagram
Also discover a romantic weekend 1 hour from Paris without a car and the new Parisian hotels that will make you want to sleep .