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 dishes: Tablier de sapeur, Quenelle de brochet
Must 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.
Address: 7 Rue du Garet, 69001 Lyon
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.
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.
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.
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.
