Where to Eat & Drink in Lyon During the Fête des Lumières (2025 Guide)

Where to Eat & Drink in Lyon During the Fête des Lumières (with 3 itineraries suggested at the end!)

The Fête des Lumières transforms Lyon into a glowing, magical city for four December nights every year. With millions of visitors in town, knowing where to eat and drink makes the experience smoother and more enjoyable.

But First- What is the Fête des Lumières?

The Fête des Lumières is Lyon’s most iconic annual event, held every December, when the entire city transforms into an open-air gallery of light installations, projections, and artistic performances. For four nights, buildings, monuments, riverbanks, and hidden courtyards glow with color and movement as millions of visitors wander through the illuminated streets. Today, it feels like the whole city becomes a stage, with each neighborhood offering a different atmosphere, from dramatic projections to quiet installations tucked into side streets. It’s one of the most magical times to experience Lyon (and one of the busiest) so planning your evening is essential.

How to Eat Well During the Festival

• Book early (18:30) or late (21:30+)

• Avoid restaurants without a reservation

• Wine bars are ideal for walk-ins

• Presqu’île will be extremely crowded

• Bring cash for vin chaud and food stands

Where to Eat

Traditional Lyonnais (Bouchons)

Café Comptoir Abel

A historic Lyon institution serving traditional dishes in a warm, old-world setting.

Hours: 12:00–14:00, 19:00–22:00

Website: cafecomptoirabel.fr

Location: 25 Rue Guynemer, Lyon 2

Bouchon Tupin

A refined take on classic bouchon recipes with excellent seasonal ingredients.

Hours: 12:00–14:00, 19:00–22:00

Website: bouchontupin.fr

Location: 41 Rue Tupin, Lyon 2

Le Poêlon d’Or

A traditional bouchon known for its generous portions and warm, family-run atmosphere.

Hours: 12:00–14:00, 19:30–22:00

Website: lepoelondor.fr

Location: 29 Rue des Remparts d’Ainay, Lyon 2

Modern and Seasonal Restaurants

Le Bouchon des Cordeliers

A fresh, contemporary interpretation of Lyonnaise cuisine with a bright, modern ambiance.

Hours: 12:00–14:00, 19:00–22:00

Website: bouchondescordeliers.fr

Location: 15 Rue Claudia, Lyon 2

Prairial

A Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant built around vegetables, precision, and minimalism.

Hours: 12:15–13:15, 19:30–21:00

Website: restaurantprairial.com

Location: 11 Rue Chavanne, Lyon 1

Substrat

A neighborhood favorite focusing on natural ingredients and thoughtful, balanced dishes.

Hours: 12:00–13:30, 19:30–21:30

Website: substrat-restaurant.com

Location: 7 Rue Pailleron, Lyon 4

Where to Drink

Wine Bars

Les Assembleurs

A lively bar specializing in wine on tap with a relaxed, social atmosphere.

Hours: 12:00–14:00, 18:00–23:00

Website: lesassembleurs.com

Location: 22 Rue Longue, Lyon 1

Terre Noire

A natural-leaning wine bar known for small producers and an intimate feel.

Hours: 17:00–00:00

Website: Instagram @terre_noire_lyon

Location: 19 Rue Longue, Lyon 1

Cocktail Bars

Le Florian

A beautifully styled cocktail bar offering refined classics and calm ambience.

Hours: 17:00–01:00

Website: leflorian.fr

Location: 4 Place de la Baleine, Lyon 5

L’Antiquaire

A speakeasy-style bar mixing some of the most precise cocktails in the city.

Hours: 18:00–01:00

Website: Instagram @lantiquaire_lyon

Location: 20 Rue Hippolyte Flandrin, Lyon 1

Where to Grab a Quick Bite

Street-Food

Baohaus Lyon

Handmade bao buns perfect for quick, delicious festival-night fuel.

Hours: 12:00–22:00

Website: Instagram @baohauslyon

Location: 51 Rue de la République, Lyon 2

Omakase Street

Japanese-inspired street food with high-quality ingredients and fast service.

Hours: 11:30–22:00

Website: Instagram @omakase_street

Location: 6 Rue Palais Grillet, Lyon 2

Late-Night Eats (Open Past 23:00)

Comptoir du Loup Pendu

A warm, casual spot serving comforting small plates late into the night.

Hours: 18:00–01:00

Website: Instagram @louppendu

Location: 5 Rue Lanterne, Lyon 1

La Broche

Hearty kebab open into the late hours of the night.

Hours: 11:00-5:00 (weekends)

Website:  labroche-notrerecettedukebab.com

Location: 14 Rue Romarin, Lyon 1

Suggested Festival Itineraries

OPTION 1: THE CLASSIC LYONNAISE NIGHT

(For travelers who want tradition, warmth, and the essence of Lyon)

Start with a Glass at Les Assembleurs

Ease into the evening with a glass of wine-on-tap in a lively, welcoming space. It’s relaxed, unfussy, and a great way to settle into the city before heading into the crowds.

Dinner at Café Comptoir Abel

A deeply old-school Lyon dinner: wooden beams, vintage decor, generous plates, and the comforting feeling that this meal could have happened fifty years ago. Ideal for visitors wanting a taste of real Lyon before the festival lights switch on.

Walk the Presqu’île

Shift from the coziness of dinner into the bright, cinematic streets around Place Bellecour and Terreaux. This is where the energy is highest and the installations are at their most dramatic.

Cocktails at Le Florian

Slip away from the chaos into one of Lyon’s prettiest cocktail bars. The lighting is soft, the music low, and the drinks beautifully balanced. A calm finish to a glowing night.

OPTION 2: THE NATURAL WINE + STREET FOOD NIGHT

(For the curious, the casual, the wanderers)

Aperitif at Terre Noire

Start the night in a small natural wine bar where the glasses are always interesting and the atmosphere is warm and neighborhood-driven. It’s intimate, personal, and a perfect pre-festival ritual.

Street Food Dinner from Baohaus Lyon

Grab bao to go and eat as you walk toward the installations. Steam rising from your dinner while the whole city lights up feels playful and very much in the spirit of the festival.

Festival Route: Croix-Rousse Downhill

Begin at the top of the hill, where smaller artistic installations often appear, then wander downhill as the crowds and lights grow brighter. The city feels like a glowing river.

Late Bite at Comptoir du Loup Pendu

If you’re still hungry, stop for a warm small plate near the bottom of the hill. It’s casual, lively, and always full of people ending their night.

OPTION 3: THE UPSCALE, CHEF-DRIVEN NIGHT

(For couples, food lovers, and travelers wanting something special)

Glass of Wine at Terre Noire or Les Assembleurs

Choose based on your mood: intimate and contemplative at Terre Noire, or bright and social at Les Assembleurs. Either way, it’s a gentle start to an elegant night.

Dinner at Prairial

A Michelin-starred meal that feels calm, minimalist, and beautifully seasonal. This is for travelers who want to pair the city’s most magical weekend with something refined and unforgettable.

Walk Through Vieux Lyon

After dinner, cross the Saône and drift through the old city as the festival lights play off the Renaissance buildings. It’s quieter, slower, and even a bit romantic on the right streets.

Cocktails at L’Antiquaire

End in a dim, speakeasy-style bar where every drink is precise and the lighting matches the festival glow outside. It’s one of the best cocktail experiences in Lyon and the perfect final note.

Local Tips

• Dress in layers

• Choose your dinner spot before deciding your installation route

• Expect delays on public transport

• Do not try to see everything in one night

Book a Wine Tasting While You’re in Town

If you’re visiting for the Fête des Lumières, we host December wine tastings featuring Beaujolais, Northern Rhône, and other local regions.

Book your tasting here → www.lyonwinetastings.com