Aerial view of Vieux Lyon, the medieval and Renaissance quarter of the city.
Lyon is a livable city, perhaps for this reason it is one of the most populous in France. In addition to beautiful buildings and neighborhoods, and commercial life and walks along the Rhône, Lyon is one of the gourmet cities of the country. Nouvelle cuisine was born here, at the hands of one of the world's great chefs, Paul Bocuse, It is the place where you can choose to eat in a super Michelin star as soon as you find beautiful bistros that surprise with classic decorations, walls painted in warm colours, tables illuminated with dim lights, a menu of traditional and seasonal cuisine, and refined waiters humming a truly exquisite market menu.
You have to go to these dining rooms to try a classic of the city, onion soup. One of those charming little temples, where eating does not mean leaving your credit card in the red, is the Leon de Lyon brasserie. In addition to onion soup, the French capital is famous for its quenelles, a kind of oval-shaped croquette made with semolina wheat pasta and mixed with butter, eggs and milk. Quenelles of meat, fish, veal and poultry are eaten. Lyon is a gourmet delight from dawn until late at night. Among all the must-see stops is the Les Halles Market.
It was the aforementioned father of New Cuisine, Paul Bocuse, who promoted the restoration of this building and the creation of a space dedicated to the art of eating that today positions it among – in my opinion – the best markets in the world. In gratitude for the work that Paul Bocuse has carried out all his life elevating French gastronomy to the top of international cuisines, the market wanted to pay him its particular tribute by baptizing this macro culinary space as Les Halles de Lyon-Paul Bocuse .
Just by strolling through the aisles of the market, one already thinks that one is traveling through the most capricious pantry in France: Colette Sibilia's charcuterie or Maurice Trolliet's, Pupuier's fishmonger, Mère Richard's cheese shop or the Bellota-Bellota restaurant shop, incredible wine shops, designer greengrocers, absolutely tempting chocolate shops. From store to store, you fill your basket but here, in addition to buying, you come to eat.
In the Market you can find several restaurants-fishmongers where you first choose the raw material and then eat it sitting at a small table located in the center of the market. The king of shellfish is, without a doubt, the oyster. Three or four different types of oysters can be found on any given day. Here they are eaten with bread and butter and are accompanied, of course!, by champagne. This is Les Halles, a treat for all the senses.
Les Halles de Lyon Market-Paul Bocuse
102, cours Lafayette, Lyon (Rhône) . 3rd district.
The Bellota-Bellota stall at Les Halles de Lyon-Paul Bocuse market.