Le Relais de la Godasse

After many years with the Bocuse group, chef Luc Abadie has set up shop in this restaurant with a partially open kitchen that allows him to interact with his customers. His traditional cuisine is perfectly crafted and bears the hallmarks of the late Paul Bocuse – namely an absence of contrived creativity and unnecessary convolutions. The culinary offering, which is the same for lunch and dinner, is based on an excellent-value weekly set menu – eg carrot royale with cumin, roast rack of pork with herbs and white beans – and an à la carte menu on which the dishes are just as classical, but made

Paul Bocuse’s legend is as vibrant as ever. The “cook of the century”, as gifted in the kitchen as in business and an example for so many of today’s international stars of gastronomy, was no doubt the first modern chef. Faithful to this spirit, the high-flying kitchen brigade (two chefs and a maitre d’, all MOFs, and a world champion of iced desserts) endeavours to uphold this legacy, whilst anchoring the establishment firmly in the present. The master’s recipes have thus been lovingly and painstakingly reworked with a focus on seasonal creations in an updated menu. The performance staged in t

Old-world charm meets contemporary comfort in this tastefully renovated 15C abbey built entirely of honey-coloured stone. The uplifting cuisine celebrates local recipes and classics: pâté en croûte, pike quenelles, volaille de Bresse with morels, scallop mousse, Rossini pigeon and praline tart. In summer, reserve a table on the pleasant terrace overlooking the courtyard garden.

In a stylish, sand-coloured stone house on the banks of the Saône, L’inaTTendu (‘unexpected’) is aptly named. The chef signs a creative, indulgent score, rooted in regional tradition with the odd Asian twist. You can expect a dining experience rich in culinary twists paired with a matchless view of the river from the lush green terrace.

Eugénie Brazier (1895-1977), an exceptional chef who inspired an entire branch of French cuisine, obtained three stars in two different establishments. It is in her Lyon restaurant, on rue Royale, that Mathieu Viannay gives his take on the Brazier "legend". In a magnificent hybrid decor, 1930s stained glass windows and mouldings are blended with Saarinen Tulip chairs (a bold design move!) and the chef pays a vibrant tribute to the iconic dishes once served on the premises (Bresse chicken with truffles, crispy pike bread, a stunning Grand Marnier soufflé), infusing them with his talent and nove

One cannot help but be impressed by the trajectory of Takao Takano's career. Originally from Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, he quickly dropped his law studies to devote himself body and soul to his real passion: cooking. Since 2013, he has been plying his trade in this elegant, pared-back restaurant located in the 6th district of Lyon. It has been a hit with diners since day one thanks to original, deftly crafted dishes, which delight and surprise at the same time. They certainly fulfil the chef’s pledge to himself: "Keep it simple – keep it good". Let's linger for a moment over the quickly sear

It was in the kitchens of Paul Bocuse and Régis Marcon, among others, that Christophe Roure learned the ropes. He holds three professional qualifications (in cookery, charcuterie and pastry-making, no less!) and was named Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2007. Based in Lyon since 2014, he showcases his qualities as a chef day in, day out: subtle inventiveness, precision in his marriages of flavours, and of course an impeccable choice of ingredients. For example, his shellfish and miller mushroom ragoût is a marvel of balance and finesse, in which the lemongrass-scented hollandaise sauce teases ou