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 dishes: Pate en croute, Quenelle
Must 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.
Address: 36 Rue Tramassac, 69005 Lyon
Brasserie Georges in Lyon's 2e on Cours de Verdun is the 1836 brasserie that has served choucroute and the sole meuniere lunch grid for almost two centuries.
Signature: Choucroute, Sole meuniere
Order: The choucroute royale and a half-litre of the house lager.
Tip: Open daily until 23:00; the dining hall takes walk-ins after 21:00.
Le Bouchon des Filles in Lyon's 1er is the all-woman-run bouchon on Rue Sergent Blandan, where a fixed-price set lunch runs the dining room and the kitchen.
Signature: Saucisson chaud, Cervelle de canut
Order: The set menu with saucisson chaud and cervelle de canut for dessert.
Tip: Open evenings only Wed-Sat plus Sunday lunch; book a fortnight ahead.
L'Etabli in Lyon's 2e Ainay quarter is the working bistro on Rue des Remparts d'Ainay with a 22 EUR set lunch that fills the dining room from 12:30 daily.
Signature: Daily set lunch, Bistro plates
Order: The blackboard plat with the daily produce; finish with the chocolate fondant.
Tip: Lunch books two days ahead; dinner is the harder seating.
Chez Paul in Lyon's 1er is a working Rue du Major Martin bouchon where the carte runs the classics and the pichet of cotes-du-rhone runs the room.
Signature: Saucisson chaud, Quenelle
Order: The saucisson chaud with potatoes, then the quenelle sauce Nantua.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday; cash-friendly; book a couple of days ahead.
Ayla in Lyon's 6e is the Levantine kitchen on Place de l'Europe where wood-fired flatbreads and mezze plates run alongside a Mediterranean wine list.
Signature: Levantine mezze, Wood-fired flatbreads
Order: The mezze platter for two with manakish; finish with the labneh.
Tip: Lunch is busy with office workers; aim for 13:30 or after 14:00.
Becbec in Lyon's 3e on Rue Paul Bert is the 12-seat counter bistro where a young couple runs the kitchen and the tight natural-wine cellar by hand.
Signature: Daily plat, Natural wine pours
Order: Whatever is on the daily chalkboard; the cellar is the order.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive at 19:00 for a counter stool.
