Bufe on the Croix-Rousse plateau in Lyon's 4e is the Rue de Cuire neighbourhood bistro running a market-driven blackboard menu for the local hill crowd.
Signature dishes: Daily plats, Bistro classics
Must order: Whatever is on the blackboard; a glass of natural Beaujolais alongside.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday; the back room is the quieter seating.
Address: 2 Rue de Cuire, 69004 Lyon
Les Mauvaises Herbes on the Croix-Rousse slope in Lyon's 1er is the vegetable-forward bistro on Rue du Jardin des Plantes with a daily set and herb-led plating.
Signature: Vegetable-led plates, Daily set
Order: The set menu; the herb-led starter is the highlight.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday; lunch is the price-point entry at 24 EUR.
Les Marmottes in Lyon's 3e is the Rue de Vendome Savoyard kitchen running fondue, raclette and tartiflette as a winter destination across November to March.
Signature: Fondue, Raclette
Order: The fondue savoyarde for two with the cured ham platter on the side.
Tip: Winter season only; book ten days ahead for a Friday night table.
Le Bouillon Paradis in Lyon's 1er runs the bouillon format with Lyonnais accents: oeuf mayo, blanquette and a sub-18 EUR three-course set all afternoon.
Signature: Oeuf mayo, Blanquette de veau
Order: Oeuf mayo as starter, then the blanquette de veau, then ile flottante.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive before 12:30 or after 14:00 for lunch.
Le Garet on Rue du Garet in Lyon's 1er is the canonical bouchon, four blocks from the Opera, with a chalkboard menu that hasn't really changed in 30 years.
Signature: Tablier de sapeur, Quenelle de brochet
Order: Tablier de sapeur to start, then the quenelle de brochet with sauce Nantua.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday; book a fortnight ahead for the dinner service.
Cafe-Comptoir Abel in Lyon's 2e is the 1928 bouchon on Rue Guynemer where the wood-panelled dining room and Label Bouchons Lyonnais menu survive unchanged.
Signature: Salade lyonnaise, Tablier de sapeur
Order: Salade lyonnaise with a poached egg, then the chicken vinaigrette.
Tip: Closed Sunday; cash and card. The pichet of cotes-du-rhone is the order.
Daniel et Denise Saint-Jean in Vieux Lyon is Joseph Viola's bouchon in the old town, where the pate en croute won the world championship and remains the starter to order.
Signature: Pate en croute, Quenelle
Order: The pate en croute as a starter, then the quenelle de brochet sauce Nantua.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday; book three days ahead; service can run long.
