After 4G in 2024, À ma Vigne in 2023 and Le Mercière in 2022, it’s time for another local institution to take up the mantle of best cork of the year. And what a torch it is! The Florent Dessus prize, awarded each year by the association for the defense of historic corks, is more important in Lyon than the Olympic torch. This time, let’s leave Lyon’s inner city and take a seat at Café Comptoir Lobut, in the direction of Villeurbanne!
Café Comptoir Lobut, voted best bouchon 2025
This establishment is an institution. Created in the aftermath of the Second World War, André Lobut inaugurated this wine bar, which quickly became a popular place to drink that famous Beaujolais or Mâconnais pot de vin. Later, in the 70s, his son Éric Lobut, a charcutier by training, extended the project by proposing to transform the place into a bouchon. Since 2005, Sandrine and Cyril have been at the helm, delighting the mouths of their loyal customers for the past 20 years.
On closer inspection, it soon becomes clear why the association set its sights on the establishment. Visually, the restaurant is already “bouchonne” to the max. Red banquettes, a Formica bar, checkered tablecloths right down to the curtains, balloon glasses and garlands on the ceiling. It couldn’t be better.
On the plate, you can expect to find the very best of Lyonnais gastronomy: hot wine sausage, andouillette beaujolaise, Saint-Marcellin salad… generous and convivial right to the tip of the fork. Needless to say, everything here is homemade. But the highlight of the show is the famous “frog evenings” every Friday night, which create a unique atmosphere. Café Lobut also offers mâchons on Saturday mornings.
An association promoting good eating habits since 1997
At the time, the French national team wasn’t yet world soccer champions, but Lyon didn’t wait for Zizou to award its local gastronomic Number 10s. An association was founded in 1997, with the onerous task of awarding the “Authentiques bouchons lyonnais” label. Created by Pierre Grison and Loulou Chabanel under the aegis of Raymond Barre, then Mayor of Lyon, the association defends authentic bouchons.
Since tradition is no laughing matter, the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) has launched its “Les Bouchons Lyonnais” label, which also rewards numerous establishments. Bouchons have been a Lyon institution for over 150 years, with dozens of addresses to discover, including some with innovative concepts, and the fact that there’s still so much buzz around these unique places proves that we do indeed live in the capital of gastronomy.
🍴 Between €25 and €35 for a starter, main course and coffee
❤️ Le Saucisson chaud Lyonnais au vin, cervelle de canut
⏰Open every day except Sunday and Monday, from 12pm to 2pm then 7pm to 10pm
📍 50 cours Tolstoï, 69100 Villeurbanne