Eklo Hotels Lyon

In the rapidly changing Gerland neighbourhood in the 7th arrondissement, this restaurant takes you on a culinary journey. At the helm is a close-knit couple: Jennifer Palopoli on the restaurant floor and Ashwin Vijaykumar, who was born in India and trained in French pastry-making and cuisine in New Zealand. In a former neighbourhood bistro that has been turned into a bright and contemporary space, the chef creates dishes with exotic accents, drawing on spices from India and Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas. We were particularly taken with the grey prawn toast with fine herbs, wit

Start with sciatt, crunchy cheese fritters typical of Valtellina, Lombardy, followed by traditional Piedmontese vitello tonnato, finishing with a migliaccio, a creamy cake from Naples made with semolina and ricotta and perfumed with citrus fruits. The duo who runs this authentic trattoria embarks diners on a whirlwind gourmet tour of Italy. Everything is fresh and made from scratch - even the coffee comes from a local artisan roaster. Delicious food without killer prices.

A pair of chefs (both called Alexis, one savoury and one pastry chef) runs this buzzy bolthole with bare stone and tiled walls on Place du Prado. The cheerful duo jointly rolls out market-fresh cuisine in the zeitgeist. An example: the pâté en croûte is enveloped in a crispy golden pastry, courtesy of the pastry chef, while the tasty, well-seasoned stuffing is the work of the chef. The lunch set menu, devised for people on the go, changes weekly; the à la carte evening lineup is more ambitious and also keeps pace with the seasons and market availability. A treat from the first to the last bite

In the student area of two of the city's universities (Lumière and Jean Moulin), Le Kitchen is thriving. The interior is a delightful marriage of Art Deco and Scandinavian elements – one of the owners was born in Stockholm. Her pastry chef partner stocks the pastry display case with mouth-watering treats (to eat in or take away). Note that they open for breakfast and afternoon tea, but not for dinner. The dishes are delicate and indulgent, made with organic produce from the region, especially when it comes to vegetables.

In this friendly neo-bistro, the menu gets straight down to business - it is concise, to the point and stars dishes that are as hearty and unpretentious as they are delicious, while the wine list showcases regional (but not only) producers. The chef’s consummate technical know-how shines through in his perfect mastery of cooking times and techniques, while the desserts are fully equal to those of any high-flying pastry chef. A warm welcome and slick, smiling service. If they are full, try L'Escapade Danton next-door.

The brainchild of a Franco-Korean couple of chefs who met in New York, the ubiquitous chicken is the star of this vintage bistro dripping in charm. The chef, former right-hand man of Daniel Boulud, signs a wholesome modern score founded on textbook classical skills. An example: his high-flying signature dish - gateau of sautéed chicken livers. Eater-friendly priced lunchtime menu.

Saku is the nickname of the chef of this establishment tucked away behind a nondescript façade. He and his wife, both of whom are Japanese, prepare jubilant Gallic cuisine in keeping with today’s tastebuds. The produce is fresh, the dishes are meticulously prepared, at common-sense prices, and the service is friendly; an enjoyable experience.