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Lyon, the gastronomic capital of many specialties. And our beautiful city has not finished surprising us! The people of Lyon love to eat. They love to eat well. And when it comes to creating environments or dishes that are completely offbeat and atypical, chefs are bursting with imagination! If you haven’t heard of them yet, here are 10 totally unusual restaurants!
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Innovative concepts
In Lyon, ideas abound for new concepts to enrich your gastronomic experience. From small details that make you smile to immersive experiences, Lyon’s chefs stop at nothing when it comes to innovation.
1. Telephones
In the former Visitation convent, near the Basilique de Fourvière, this bistronomic restaurant perpetuates the tradition of maximum silence in places of worship. In the cloister’s peristyle, several tables are arranged, each with a vintage dial telephone proudly displayed. Have you made up your mind? Nothing could be simpler: call the kitchen directly! Your order will then be brought to you. The cuisine is seasonal and particularly well prepared.
🕕 23 Rue Roger Radisson, Lyon 5. Daily from 12pm to 2pm and from 7pm to 9:30pm.
👉 F ind out more the official website.
2. The Braille Table
Close your eyes, turn off the lights and sit down to eat. Here’s what La Table en Braille has to offer, a restaurant in the dark that will thrill all your senses. No light sources are tolerated: connected watches, phones, lighters… The aim is to help you rediscover the taste of food and immerse yourself in a unique experience. The food here is particularly good, so don’t worry, you won’t get any bad jokes!
🕕 44 Quai Charles de Gaulle, Lyon 6. Tuesday to Friday, 7pm to 9pm, and Saturday, 12pm to 1:30pm and 7pm to 9:15pm.
👉 F ind out more the official website.
3. At the Prisons
Hands up! You’re thrown into the best prison there is: Montagny. You certainly won’t be behind bars during your meal, although we can assure you that you’ll probably ask to be handcuffed to your chair so you don’t get kicked out of the restaurant, as the food tastes so much like home. This restaurant is also a chambre d’hôte, and this time you can try the room-cell experience. An unusual and particularly beautiful setting, making it an address well worth keeping!
🕕 5 Rue de la Mairie, Montagny. Tuesdays and Saturdays, 7:30pm to 9pm. Wednesday and Thursday from 11h45 to 14h15 and from 19h30 to 21h00. Sundays from 11:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
👉 F ind out more the official website.
Timeless places
Because we also eat with our eyes, why not treat ourselves to a restaurant outing in idyllic surroundings, and enjoy a timeless interlude?
4. Food Traboule
This place is well known to everyone in Lyon, and yet it’s no exception because of its unusual location and concept! Several chefs have come together in one place to let you sample their specialities at your leisure. Visit Food Traboule is a food court where everything is good and friendly! These restaurant(s) on the Tour Rose in Vieux Lyon will never cease to amaze us.
🕕 Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11:45am to 2:30pm and from 6pm to 10pm, except Fridays at 11pm. Saturday, 11.45am to 11pm. Sunday from 11:45 am to 9:45 pm.
👉 F ind out more the official website.
5. La Nef des Fous
Overloaded decor, knick-knacks on all sides, bathtub at the end of the staircase… Watch your step in this madhouse! The baroque ambiance of the place transports us directly into a parallel universe. It’s a good place to eat, with hearty dishes and good value for money. A must-try restaurant for a change of scenery!
🕕 5 Rue du Bœuf, Lyon 5. Every day from 7pm to 10:30pm.
👉 Read more on the official website.
6. Les Fils à Maman
Shells with ham, cordon bleu, babybels… Ah, the sweet flavours of our childhood. At Les Fils à Maman, we’re back to our parents’ comfort foods! The decor is warm and inviting, as is the cuisine. Here, happiness lies in simplicity revisited. Everything is homemade, so that young and old alike will have a most enjoyable and unforgettable time… Just like home!
🕕25 Rue de l’Arbre Sec, Lyon 1er. Monday to Thursday, 12pm to 2pm and 7:30pm to 10pm. Fridays and Saturdays, same lunchtime hours, except evenings until 10:30pm. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
👉 Find out more the official website.
7. Le Petit Meunier
Meunier never sleeps here! Let’s move away from Lyon to Messimy, about 20 minutes from Lyon. Le Petit Meunier offers cuisine made with the finest ingredients! The setting is delightful, with a small stream running alongside the restaurant, sheltered from everything. The intimate decor, inside and out, makes you want to retire to the countryside for the rest of your life. Thanks to a large bay window inside, you can see the mill wheel. In short, a place that’s well worth a visit, as much for the food as for the beauty of the surroundings.
🕕 12 chemin des Moulins, Messimy. Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm to 2pm. Saturday Sunday, evening service from 7pm to 9:30pm.
👉 F ind out more the official website.
Flavours from elsewhere
Sometimes the best way to travel is on your plate. From the decor to the dishes served, these restaurants will help you discover new cultures without leaving Lyon.
8. Oto Oto
The Oto Oto restaurant is a place that reinvents Izakayas, those popular Japanese bistros. Here, you’ll eat in a sort of egg/grotto that will make you feel like you’re in your own little bubble. The à la carte menu features truly succulent traditional dishes. In the heart of the 7th arrondissement, Oto Oto is perfect for lunch and dinner!
🕕15 Rue d’Aguesseau, Lyon 7. Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm to 2pm and 7pm to 10pm.
👉 F ind out more the official website.
9. Messob
Messob, the jewel box of Ethiopia, directly in Lyon. The decor, the atmosphere… Everything is in place for you to enjoy an exceptional moment, far from the capital of the Gauls. At Messob, we eat with our hands and with injera, the traditional bread roll. Prices are reasonable for a truly extraordinary experience.
🕕 85 Rue Masséna, Lyon 6. Every day from 7pm to 11pm. Weekend lunchtime service from 12pm to 2pm.
👉 F ind out more the official website.
10. Le Sambahia
Head for Brazil with colorful dishes from the Sambahia restaurant! Here you can discover new flavors straight from South America, all in a festive, friendly atmosphere. Sip your best Caipirinha in front of a Brazilian dance show to the frenzied rhythm of the samba, while waiting to fill your belly with a hearty feijoada.
🕕 8 Rue du Viel Renversé, 69005
👉 F ind out more the official website.