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.
French Bistro€€2eMon-Fri 12:00-14:00, Mon-Sat 19:30-21:30, closed Sun
Arsene on Rue Vaubecour in Lyon's 2e runs a working neighbourhood bistro with a €19 weekday set lunch and a slow-changing evening carte. Priced at €€.
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.
Lyonnais Bouchon€€6eTue-Fri 12:00-13:30, 19:30-21:30, Sat 19:30-21:30, closed Sun-Mon
L'Antr'O Potes in the Brotteaux is chef Julien Le Guillou's labelled bouchon, where the former Paul Bocuse disciple cooks the Lyonnais canon across two.
Signature: Pate en croute, Volaille a la creme
Order: The pate en croute, then the volaille a la creme; the praline tart closes.
Tip: Open Tue-Fri 12:00-13:30 and 19:30-21:30; book a fortnight ahead for the courtyard.