When we say that the best jams are made in old pots… Brasserie Georges, La Meunière, Café des Fédérations, Café Comptoir Abel…all these establishments have passed the three-digit mark, and, as if to thumb their noses at our increasingly modern society, they remain the spearhead of authentic, gourmet cuisine. The latest addition, Léon de Lyon, is celebrating its 122nd anniversary this year!
Léon de Lyon, a Lyon institution since 1904
122 years and yet, the magic still works at this legendary spot in the 1st arrondissement, just a stone’s throw from Place des Terreaux. Opened at the very beginning of the 20th century, at a time when cinema had barely been invented and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was only celebrating his fourth birthday: a different era.
Over the years, the restaurant has seen a parade of culinary greats, starting with Georges Bocuse, the father of the legendary Paul, who helmed the establishment for 11 years. In 1950, Paul Lacombe (the great chef who notably popularized “cervelle de canut”) took over the reins, later passing the torch to his son: a beautiful story of family tradition in the kitchen.
A restaurant that, in 2026, hasn’t aged a bit
At the table, we discover gourmet dishes, with just the right touch of refinement to make our mouths water. Gyozas with Burgundy snails, risotto with garden vegetables, chicken supreme with morels, cervelle de canut, île flottante with pink pralines…classics, certainly, but executed with a master’s touch.
Chef Kim Logassi and his team, recently awarded two toques by the Gault & Millau guide, strive to offer the best of fine dining without cutting corners.The daily menu is available Wednesday through Saturday as a three-course meal (appetizer, main, and dessert) for €33.
The restaurant has recently been in the news because its pastry chef, Julien Koren, won the national award for best flan! Proof that the kitchen team delivers high-quality work that will continue to make waves… we hope so for the next 122 years!
