12 breweries worth the trip across France, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All France guides.

Brasserie de la Plaine ★ 4.5 · Marseille

16 Rue Saint-Pierre, 13006 Marseille

Brasserie de la Plaine in Marseille's 6e brews since 2013 from a pharmacist and a sailor, living beers (unfiltered, unpasteurized, bottle-conditioned) and an AOQ La Plaine label.

Tip: Shop open Wed-Sat afternoons; brewing courses (Work'Chope) by booking.

La Brasserie Communale ★ 4.3 · Marseille

57 Cours Julien, 13006 Marseille

La Brasserie Communale in Marseille's 6e on Cours Julien runs a craft beer bar with guest taps from local brewers, plus food and a stage for cultural events through the week.

Tip: Local taps include La Rade Torpille and Sulauze; concerts most weekends.

Biere de la Plaine Shop ★ 4.3 · Marseille

16 Rue Saint-Pierre, 13006 Marseille

Biere de la Plaine's retail counter in Marseille's 6e is the public face of the brewery, taps and bottles plus the Work'Chope brewing-school space for zythology and brewing courses.

Tip: Reserve a Work'Chope brewing class via the website ahead.

Brasserie de la Goutte d'Or ★ 4.3 · Paris

28 Rue de la Goutte d'Or, 75018 Paris

Brasserie de la Goutte d'Or in Paris is the 18e taproom that pioneered the city's modern craft scene, with brews named after Marais and Goutte d'Or street corners.

Tip: The Wednesday-Thursday flight at €9 covers four house pours; food trucks rotate Friday-Saturday.

Sulauze tap (via La Communale) ★ 4.2 · Marseille

57 Cours Julien, 13006 Marseille

Sulauze beers from Istres are an organic Provencal farmhouse brewery on regular tap at La Brasserie Communale in Marseille's 6e, the Marseille pour-point for the family brewer.

Tip: Sulauze rotates as a guest tap; the brewery is in Istres outside Marseille.

Brasserie BAPBAP ★ 4.2 · Paris

79 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris

Brasserie BAPBAP in Paris's 11e brews on Rue Saint-Maur in a converted warehouse and pours eight taps in the open-floor taproom. Tours run Saturday at 14:30.

Tip: Saturday 14:30 tour is €12 including a flight of four; book ahead on the BAPBAP website.

Paname Brewing Company ★ 4.1 · Paris

41 bis Quai de la Loire, 75019 Paris

Paname Brewing Company in Paris's 19e sits on the Bassin de la Villette, with a 200-seat terrace pouring eight house beers and a long bistro carte from 11:00 daily.

Tip: The terrace catches afternoon sun from May to September; the De La Joie pale ale is the order.

Bieristan ★ 4.0 · Lyon

14 Rue Paul Lafargue, 69100 Villeurbanne

Bieristan in Lyon's Villeurbanne east is the craft beer hall on Rue Paul Lafargue with 30+ rotating taps from Belgian and French independent craft producers.

Tip: Closed Sunday; 30+ rotating taps with a flight option at the bar.

La Soiffe ★ 4.0 · Lyon

Lyon Croix-Rousse

La Soiffe in Lyon's Croix-Rousse is the independent craft beer taproom and bottle shop with rotating local brewers and a 14-tap pour list.

Tip: The taps rotate weekly; check Instagram for current pours; bottle shop closes at 22:00.

Brasserie Georges ★ 4.0 · Lyon

30 Cours de Verdun Perrache, 69002 Lyon

Brasserie Georges on Cours de Verdun in Lyon's 2e brewed its own beer from 1836 and still pours the house lager from its in-restaurant taproom daily.

Tip: The house lager with the choucroute is the form; daily open until 23:00.

Brasserie de la Croix-Rousse ★ 3.9 · Lyon

Lyon Croix-Rousse

Brasserie de la Croix-Rousse in Lyon's 4e runs an on-site brewery taproom serving the house Lyonnaise pale ale, IPA and a rotating stout in winter months.

Tip: Wednesday-Saturday only; the on-site pizza programme runs alongside.

Ninkasi Cordeliers ★ 3.8 · Lyon

9 Rue Neuve, 69001 Lyon

Ninkasi runs Lyon's largest local craft brewer and chain of taprooms; the Cordeliers branch in the 1er has a full kitchen, board games and late hours.

Tip: Open until 02:00 Thu-Sat; the brewery's own pale ale is the order.