Wine bar€€3eMon-Fri 08:30-00:00, Sat 10:00-00:00, closed Sun
Les Assembleurs in Lyon's 3e is the natural-wine cave on Rue Mazenod with a small kitchen running cheese, charcuterie and daily hot plates by the glass.
Signature: Cheese and charcuterie plates, Daily small plates
Order: The Saint-Marcellin cheese plate and a glass of natural Beaujolais.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday; book the bigger back room for groups Booking recommended for weekends.
Greek€1erDaily 09:00-19:00
Zoi Kitchen at the foot of the Croix-Rousse slope cooks a Greek counter menu: souvlaki, gyros and salads served with charred pita and tzatziki.
Signature: Souvlaki, Greek salads
Order: The pork souvlaki plate with fries and tzatziki.
Tip: Lunch only Mon-Wed; full dinner Thu-Sat from 19:00.
Mediterranean Neo-bistro€€5eMon-Tue closed, Wed-Thu 19:00-21:30, Fri-Sat 12:00-14:30, 19:00-21:30, Sun 12:00-14:30
Soma on Place Saint-Paul in Lyon's 5e Vieux Lyon is the small Mediterranean neo-bistro from chef-owner Sarah Hamza, whose Algerian-rooted plates rotate.
Signature: Blackboard plates from chef Sarah Hamza, Mediterranean produce with Algerian roots
Order: Whatever the chef sends; the blackboard plates change often.
Tip: Dinner Tue-Sat, lunch Fri-Sat; book ahead, the room is small.
Modern French€€1erThu-Mon 12:00-14:00, Mon-Sat 19:00-22:00, closed Tue-Wed
Semo on Rue des Fantasques in Lyon's 1er is the small-plates wine bar where the chef-couple run a tight evening menu paired with a natural cellar.
Signature: Daily small plates, Wine bar carte
Order: Order four small plates between two; the cheese board is the closer.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Tuesday; book a fortnight ahead.
French Neo-bistro€€7eMon-Fri 11:30-15:00, closed Sat-Sun
Gus and Gas in Lyon's 7e is the neo-bistro on Rue Chevreul running a two-course set lunch and a chef's tasting at dinner with natural pours by the glass.
Signature: Daily set, Natural wine
Order: The €22 weekday set lunch; dinner moves to a chef's tasting.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday; small room, book ahead.
Wine Bar Bistro€€2eTue-Sat 12:00-14:00, 19:00-22:00, closed Sun-Mon
Jaja Bistro in Lyon's 2e is the Rue Laurencin natural-wine bistro with a daily blackboard of small plates and a tightly-edited French growers' list.
Signature: Wine-bar plates, Daily blackboard
Order: The pate en croute from the blackboard, plus a glass of Loire chenin.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday; the back room is the quieter seating Booking recommended for weekends.