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 dishes: Daily small plates, Wine bar carte
Must order: Order four small plates between two; the cheese board is the closer.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Tuesday; book a fortnight ahead.
Address: 2 Rue des Fantasques, 69001 Lyon
Le Bouillon Paradis in Lyon's 1er runs the Parisian bouillon format in Lyonnais drag: oeuf mayo, blanquette, and a three-course set under 18 EUR all day.
Signature: Bouillon classics, Oeuf mayo
Order: The oeuf mayo as a starter, then the blanquette de veau.
Tip: Walk-in only at lunch; arrive before 12:30 or after 14:00.
Regain in Lyon's 1er sits at the foot of the Croix-Rousse slope, where the kitchen runs a Mediterranean-leaning author menu paired with the city's tighter natural-wine lists.
Signature: Cuisine d'auteur, Mediterranean small plates
Order: The carte changes weekly, take the chef's tasting at lunch for value.
Tip: Lunch is the easier seating; book the natural-wine pairing for the full effect.
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 EUR weekday set lunch; dinner moves to a chef's tasting.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday; small room, book ahead.
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.
Arsene on Rue Vaubecour in Lyon's 2e runs a working neighbourhood bistro with a 19 EUR weekday set lunch and a slow-changing evening carte.
Signature: Daily plats, Bistro classics
Order: The daily plat from the blackboard, plus a half-pichet of Cote-Rotie.
Tip: Closed Sunday-Monday; book ahead for the evening.
Le Bouillon Paradis in Lyon's 1er runs the Parisian bouillon format in Lyonnais drag: oeuf mayo, blanquette, and a three-course set under 18 EUR all day.
Signature: Bouillon classics, Oeuf mayo
Order: The oeuf mayo as a starter, then the blanquette de veau.
Tip: Walk-in only at lunch; arrive before 12:30 or after 14:00.
Regain in Lyon's 1er sits at the foot of the Croix-Rousse slope, where the kitchen runs a Mediterranean-leaning author menu paired with the city's tighter natural-wine lists.
Signature: Cuisine d'auteur, Mediterranean small plates
Order: The carte changes weekly, take the chef's tasting at lunch for value.
Tip: Lunch is the easier seating; book the natural-wine pairing for the full effect.
Takao Takano in Lyon's 6e is the two-star tasting room where the chef applies Japanese training to French sourcing across a six-course set.
Signature: Tasting menu only, Japanese-French technique
Order: Tasting only; let the kitchen drive.
Tip: Book three to four weeks ahead; lunch is the easier seating than dinner.
