The Best Brunch Spots In Lyon France

The brunch trend is prominent France, and Lyon is no exception. It offers a wide range of sumptuous choices, so whether you’re looking for something chic and elegant, or cute and homely, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Here are our favorite spots.

Comptoir des Fées

Step into another world as you enter the ethereal and tranquil Comptoir des Fées. Bursting with original themes that change each week, from ‘Brasilian’ to ‘Smoothie criminal’, this is the kind of place that will always deliver new and exciting surprises. The words ‘cute’ and ‘charming’ spring to mind as you enjoy the hearty portions of both sweet and savory delights in this fairytale setting. Brunch | Courtesy of Comptoir des Fées

Place des Sens

Nestled in a charming courtyard, near the idyllic Rhône, Place des Sens offers the perfect, leisurely location for a Saturday brunch. With a choice of three very reasonable set menus, each including a wide variety of teas and the divine homemade hot chocolate, there is really no better way to spend a lazy morning. The organic menu offers a large choice of fresh bread, and dishes such as delicate smoked salmon, and a jam and chutney of the day.

Place des Sens | Courtesy of Place des Sens

Le Grand Café des Négociants

Built in 1864 and situated right in the centre of Lyon, Le Grand Café des Négociants still retains all of its lavish nineteenth-century style, with its luxurious decor and extremely professional staff. Enjoy a generous yet affordable breakfast menu, including delicious pastries, warm French bread, and hot drinks. While the hours with a coffee, reading the newspapers provided, and soaking up the warm and welcoming atmosphere of this unique, historical venue. Breakfast | Courtesy of Le Grand Café des Négociants

Le Polo Club

This cosy little tea room is full of quirky touches and each table has its own unique teapot. Sample the scones or stay true to French cuisine by choosing a tartine or a quiche. The generous all-you-can-eat buffet includes a welcome glass of champagne, wine and eggs any way you want them. If that’s not enough, try one of the astonishing 25 different types of tea on offer.

Petit déjeuner | © Myriam M. J. Rondeau/Flickr

Le Comptoir JOA

A lovely modern bistro, Le Comptoir JOA is perfectly situated just a few meters from the famous Parc de la Tête d’Or. It’s the ideal location to start your Sunday before a long stroll through the park that houses the biggest free zoo in Europe. This bistro boasts an enormous terrace where you can sample a large variety of pastries, fresh bread, crêpes, waffles, fresh salads and a delicious apple and cinnamon crumble. Complete this classic French breakfast with a sumptuous omelette all while soaking up the Lyonnais sunshine.

44, Quai Charles de Gaulle, Lyon, France +33 (0)4 78 94 97 28

Le Grand Café de la Préfecture

With delicate french pastries and an enormous buffet as well as a wide variety of choice à la carte, Le Grand Café de la Préfecture lets you enjoy a delicious brunch in a sophisticated setting. While they claim to offer a standard ‘English’ brunch, there is nothing English nor standard about the delicate French finesse with which the food is presented.

Champagne | © Personal Creations/Flickr

Café Mademoiselle

Located right in the center of the presqu’île (literally the ‘almost island’, between the two rivers of Lyon), Café Mademoiselle welcomes you for a chic and modern twist on the traditional brunch. With a choice of set menus from the ‘Basic’ to the ‘Serious’, all appetites are catered for. Finish off your meal with some fresh seasonal fruit and a glass of champagne as you bask in the homely setting.

L’Origo

Situated in the heart of Lyon, L’Origo offers one of the most generous brunches in Lyon, bursting with fresh ingredients and home-cooked flavor. Fill up on as many pastries, meats, cheeses and cakes as you desire, thanks to the all-you-can-eat buffet, and then choose from an astonishing range of hot dishes including mini burgers, club sandwiches, bruschetta, quiche Lorraine, and tarts. If you’ve still got room, move onto a fabulous array of desserts, including strawberry fruit salad and mini tiramisu.

3, Rue du Jardin des Plantes, Lyon, France +33 (0)9 84 28 28 28

Le Café des Anges

Not far from the Parc de la tête d’Or, Le Café des Anges offers a Mediterranean feel with its bright interior and private terrace. Choose from a range of bread, waffles, and pancakes to the wide selection of meat and cheese, all accompanied with a hot drink and freshly squeezed fruit juice.

L’Instant

If you choose to explore the wonderful, alternative, Bohemian quarter of Lyon that is Croix Rousse (and we highly recommend that you do), make sure your journey ends in the friendly, welcoming atmosphere of the cafe L’Instant. It offers fresh pastries daily, and its weekend brunch menus are both reasonably-priced and generous. They also have a generous book collection available for all customers to take advantage of.

3, Place Bertone, Lyon, France +33 (0)4 78 29 85 08

About the author

Colette Lewis

A student of Philosophy and French at Oxford University, Colette has always been curious about the world around her and has written a range of different blogs and articles over the years. She adores the European Enlightenment, when people lived and breathed philosophy, and is an avid fan of Voltaire and Sartre. Having spend the last year studying in Lyon, she has fallen in love with the city and all things french. She can usually be found either soaking up the sunshine while immersing herself in eighteenth-century literature, or drinking beer and head banging enthusiastically at a metal gig.