In Lyon, history is as much to be savored as it is to be experienced. As befits a gastronomic capital, our city is dotted with places that let you travel back in time with every bite. From historic bouchons like the Café des Fédérations, the Casse-Museau, and the Garet, to the Brasserie Georges and Léon de Lyon, our history books here strangely resemble cookbooks. When it comes to institutions, this century-old brasserie checks all the boxes of a timeless classic. Let’s head to the Brasserie des Brotteaux!
Brasserie des Brotteaux: 113 years of dining that’s a feast for the eyes as well
On Place Jules-Ferry, across from the Brotteaux train station, stands a magnificent five-story building. On the ground floor is the brasserie, which has been welcoming travelers and regulars for coffee and meals since 1913. It would be difficult to summarize a century of history in just a few lines, but as soon as you step inside, the Belle Époque era leaps out at you.
Mirrors, wood paneling, glass roofs, ceramics, light fixtures, earthenware… the imagination runs wild; it feels like stepping into a movie set. Except here, forget about fakes and papier-mâché: just like the magnificent oak bar clad in floral earthenware that evokes the blossoming Art Nouveau style, everything is authentic. And that’s the establishment’s masterstroke, because even though the decor is 113 years old, you’re not having lunch in a museum or a cabinet of curiosities— you’re taking a seat in a place that’s been alive for a century. It’s as simple as that.
A chic and delicious brasserie
Old pots make the best jam. When it comes to brasseries, this rule holds true. Here you’ll find a traditional yet sophisticated menu, inspired by Lyon cuisine with a capital “L.” It features the timeless classics that have allowed this “grandmother’s” cuisine to transcend eras and borders. Free-range chicken supreme, beef confit, or even roasted octopus…just writing about it makes your mouth water. Expect to pay around fifteen euros for an appetizer and just under thirty euros for main courses. The set menu (appetizer, main course, dessert) is €44. The restaurant is open daily (reservations recommended) and can seat nearly 150 people indoors and 100 on the terrace. It’s often packed—a testament to the quality of the cuisine, which we hope will continue for at least the next 113 years!
🍴 The menu (appetizer, main course, dessert): €44
🍝 Our recommendation: free-range chicken supreme
⏰Open daily from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays until 10:30 p.m., and Sundays until 9:30 p.m.
