Chez Paul in Lyon's 1er is the working bouchon on Rue du Major Martin where regulars take the chalkboard menu and a pichet of cotes-du-rhone for lunch.
Signature dishes: Saucisson chaud, Quenelle
Must order: The saucisson chaud with potatoes, then the quenelle.
Tip: Cash-friendly. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Address: 11 Rue du Major Martin, 69001 Lyon
Nafas in Lyon's 1er is the Rue Rene Leynaud Middle Eastern counter cooking hummus bowls, wraps and daily falafel plates with house pickles and tahini.
Signature: Hummus bowl, Wraps
Order: The hummus bowl with kebab and sumac onions.
Tip: Lunch and early dinner only; closed Sunday.
L'Etabli in Lyon's 2e is the Ainay neighbourhood bistro running a tight set-lunch carte that fills the room with local office workers from 12:30.
Signature: Set lunch, Bistro plates
Order: The 22 EUR set lunch with daily plat and dessert.
Tip: Book 24 hours ahead for lunch; dinner is the harder seating.
Ayla in Lyon's 6e is the Levantine kitchen on Place de l'Europe where wood-fired flatbreads and meze plates run alongside a Mediterranean wine list.
Signature: Levantine mezze, Wood-fired flatbreads
Order: The mezze platter for two with the manakish, then the labneh.
Tip: Lunch is busy with office workers; aim for 13:30 or after.
Becbec in Lyon's 3e is the small-plates room on Rue Paul Bert where a young couple runs the kitchen and a tight natural-wine cellar from a 12-cover counter.
Signature: Daily plat, Natural wine pours
Order: Whatever is on the daily chalkboard, with a glass of natural Beaujolais.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive at 19:00 for a counter stool.
Les Freres Barioz in Lyon's 3e runs an Italian-style sandwich counter on Rue Duguesclin, with focaccia panini and rotating daily fillings from house charcuterie.
Signature: Italian-style sandwiches, Focaccia
Order: The mortadella-and-pistachio focaccia, plus a Tarocco orange juice.
Tip: Lunch only; counter closes at 14:30. Cash and card.
Nafas in Lyon's 1er is the Rue Rene Leynaud Middle Eastern counter cooking hummus bowls, wraps and daily falafel plates with house pickles and tahini.
Signature: Hummus bowl, Wraps
Order: The hummus bowl with kebab and sumac onions.
Tip: Lunch and early dinner only; closed Sunday.
La Commune in Lyon's 7e is the city's first proper food hall: eight kitchens around a central bar with rotating chef residencies and a 4 EUR coffee programme.
Signature: Multiple kitchens, Rotating residencies
Order: The pizza from the wood oven, plus a beer from the in-house tap.
Tip: Saturday is loud; lunch midweek for the easier seating.
