Restaurants in Lyon

Paul Bocuse's Michelin-starred, luxury Lyon establishment is for serious foodies with serious cash. Delights like truffle soup, created for former French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, are prepared with the freshest ingredients and exquisite care. The restaurant is located 4km (2.5miles) north of Lyon on the banks of the Saône River.

The winning combination of sensational views over the city and creatively executed dishes help Les Terrasses de Lyon secure its position as one of the five-star gastronomic restaurants in Lyon. Reservations are a must.

This popular Lyon brasserie, which opened in 1836, still dishes up traditional dishes in grand art deco surrounding. Opt for the plat du jour, one of the famous choucroutes (dressed sauerkraut, a plateau de fruits de mer (seafood platter) - or order from the tempting a la carte menu. The beer is brewed on the premises.

L'Etoile d'Asie is faithful to authentic Vietnamese flavours which is a rare thing in Lyon. Expect warm, friendly service and great food - you'll leave this place happy.

To get, quite literally, to the heart of Lyon traditional food, stop at the rowdy La Mère Jean with its wooden dining booths, stone floors and low ceilings. This welcoming bouchon (a traditional Lyonnais eatery) serves wonderful local specialities like quenelle de brochet (pike dumpling), but the most popular dishes here include boudin noir (blood sausage), onion tart, andouillette (pork and intestines sausage, flavoured with pepper, wine and onion) and ris de veau (calf belly sweetbread). Casual and friendly, it welcomes diners without reservations.

The authentic regional dishes served in the intimate surroundings of this neighbourhood bouchon (a traditional Lyonnais eatery) are tasty and unpretentious. Service is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed with little more than chatter filling the air. In the warmer months, try and get a table outside. Booking recommended.

L'Épicerie serves up home-made soup and tartines (open-faced sandwiches) in what looks like a vintage grocery store setting.

La Cave d'à Côté is a place for oenophiles to come and drool. This converted wine cellar has become one of Lyon's coolest wine bars and restaurants, where dozens of appellations are the stars and local bottles are a speciality. Accompanying them are huge sharing platters of pork pies, sausages, cheeses and pickles, which allude to a night of shared and relaxed dining on a budget – but still one with sophistication.