Lyon, capital of gastronomy and its 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 dining experience. From the smallest detail that makes you smile to an immersive experience, Lyon’s chefs stop at nothing when it comes to innovation.
1. Les Téléphones
In the former Visitation convent, near the Basilique de Fourvière, this bistronomic restaurant continues the tradition of maximum silence in places of worship. In the peristyle of the cloister, several tables are arranged, each proudly displaying a vintage dial telephone. Have you made your choice? Nothing could be simpler: call the kitchen directly! Your order will then be brought to you. The cuisine is seasonal and particularly well prepared. One of Lyon’s best unusual restaurants!
🕕 23 Rue Roger Radisson, Lyon 5, daily from 12pm to 2pm and 7pm to 9:30pm.
👉 F ind out more on the official website.
2. La Table en Braille
Close your eyes, turn off the lights and sit down to dinner. Here’s what La Table en Braille has to offer, a restaurant in the dark that will thrill all your senses. No source of light is tolerated: connected watches, telephones, 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, we won’t play any bad jokes on you!
🕕 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 on the official website.
3. At the Prisons
Hands up! You’ve been thrown into the best prison there is: Montagny Prison. 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 chased 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 out the room-cell experience. An unusual and particularly beautiful setting, making this an address well worth keeping!
🕕 5 Rue de la Mairie, Montagny. Tuesdays and Saturdays from 7:30pm to 9pm.Wednesdays and Thursdays 11:45am to 2:15pm and 7:30pm to 9:00pm. Sundays from 11.45am to 2.15pm.
👉 F ind out more on the official website.
Timeless places
Because we also eat with our eyes, why not treat ourselves to a restaurant outing in an idyllic setting, and enjoy a parenthesis out of time?
4. La Nef des Fous
Overloaded decor, knick-knacks on all sides, bathtub at the end of the staircase… Be careful where you step in this madhouse! The baroque ambiance of the place transports us directly into a parallel universe. The food is good, the dishes are hearty and the quality/price ratio is correct. A must-try restaurant for a local change of scene!
🕕 5 Rue du Bœuf, Lyon 5. 7-10.30pm daily.
👉 F ind out more on the official website.
5. Le Petit Meunier
Meunier never sleeps here! Let’s get away from Lyon for a while and head to Messimy, about 20 minutes from Lyon. Le Petit Meunier offers cuisine prepared with the finest ingredients! The setting is absolutely 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 worth the detour, as much for the cuisine as for the beauty of the surroundings.
🕕 12 chemin des Moulins, Messimy. Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm to 2pm. Saturday to Sunday, evening service from 7pm to 9:30pm.
👉 F ind out more on the official website.
6. Les Fils à Maman
coquillettes with ham, cordon bleu, babybels… Ah, the sweet flavors of our childhood. At Les Fils à Maman, we fall back on our parents’ comfort foods! The decor is warm and inviting, as is the cuisine. Here, the joy lies in simplicity revisited. Everything is homemade, so that young and old alike can enjoy an unforgettable moment… Just like home!
🕕25Rue de l’Arbre Sec, Lyon 1er. Monday to Thursday, 12pm to 2pm and 7:30pm to 10pm. Friday and Saturday, same lunchtime hours, except evenings until 10:30pm. Sunday, 11am to 3pm.
👉 Find out more on the official website.
Flavors from elsewhere
Sometimes the best way to travel is on your plate. From the decor to the dishes served, these restaurants take you on a discovery of new cultures without leaving Lyon.
7. Oto Oto
Oto Oto is a restaurant that reinvents Izakayas, the popular Japanese bistro. Here, you’ll eat in a kind of egg/grotto that’ll make you feel like you’re in your own little bubble. On the menu, truly succulent traditional dishes. Right in the heart of the 7th arrondissement, Oto Oto is perfect for lunch or dinner!
🕕15Rue d’Aguesseau, Lyon 7. Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm to 2pm and 7pm to 10pm.
👉 F ind out more on the official website.
8. Messob
Messob is the Ethiopian jewel case right in Lyon. The decor, the atmosphere… It’s all there for you to spend an exceptional moment, far from the capital of the Gauls. At Messob, you eat with your hands and with injera, the traditional bread roll. Prices are reasonable for a truly out-of-the-ordinary experience.
🕕 85 Rue Masséna, Lyon 6. 7pm to 11pm daily. Weekend lunchtime service from 12pm to 2pm.
👉 F ind out more on the official website.
9. Le Sambahia
Head for Brazil with the colorful dishes of the Sambahia restaurant! Here you can discover new flavors straight from South America, all in a festive, convivial atmosphere. Sip your best Caïpirinha 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 on the official website.