Lunchtime is approaching, and my appetite irresistibly leads me to a place full of promise: Les Halles Paul Bocuse. Just a stone’s throw from the La Part-Dieu district, behind the walls of this temple to culinary arts lies a whole world of gastronomic delights. I walk in with the intention of being surprised, wandering among the flavors, and treating myself to a feast worthy of a true gourmet.

From the very first steps, I’m enveloped by a burst of aromas. In the distance, a display catches my eye: stalls laden with cheeses exuding creaminess and character. A 36-month-aged “Comté” draws me in, while a truffled “Brie” whispers promises of indulgence. I hold back, knowing other temptations await. After all, as my dear Oscar Wilde once said, “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

I continue on to a glistening seafood counter. Lobsters, oysters, and pink shrimp, arranged with an almost theatrical elegance, seem to dance before my eyes.

My stomach begins to growl in earnest, but I take a moment to admire the pastries. Their colors and textures invite an endless indulgence. Under a glass dome, chocolate éclairs patiently await their takers. A bit further, pink pralines—true icons of Lyon’s sweet delights—remind me that every treat here tells a story.

I finally make my choice at a counter offering Lyonnais charcuterie: thin slices of “rosette, saucisson brioché, and a generous portion of pâté en croute” should suffice to quell my hunger. I succumb to the temptation of a glass of Beaujolais wine. Paradise is here, within arm’s reach.

Seated at a table, I am both a spectator and participant in this gastronomic ballet. Passersby wander, conversations buzz, and I savor every bite, certain that I am at the heart of Lyon’s essence. Les Halles Paul Bocuse is a sensory journey, an invitation to discovery and indulgence.

Before leaving the hotel, don’t forget to ask the concierge to point you to the best historical establishments for an authentic and unforgettable Lyonnais experience.

Call me Benedict.

Les Halles Paul Bocuse
102 CRS Lafayette, 69003 Lyon
Opening Hours:

• Monday to Saturday: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
• Sunday: 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM

My dearest friends, Les Thermes at Villa Maïa openned a spa. Nested at the end of the garden, you can enjoy 2 cabines.

Wellness experts from Maison de Beauté : Belle de Maïa are on site from 9am until 8pm every day of the week, dedicated to your wellness. Moisturizing, detox, mother to be, massages with pleasant exotic fragrances… all that you need to forget the urban stress.

Enchanted parenthesis in a peaceful place : swim laps in the 20m heated swimming pool, forget your sorrows in the sauna, rule out toxines in the hammam, get some rest in the jacuzzi and enjoy the fitness center before going to your cabine and fully relax you and yourself ! Before heading back to your room, have a tea at the library while your car is getting relaxed in our private garage.

I think I’ll see you there soon ! As far as I am concerned, I think I’m there every week…

Benedict

You’re a client at the hotel ? Have a look at our spa menu

You are visiting Lyon, but not staying at the hotel ? Have a look at our spa menu

I’m up very early today. A delicious breakfast that barely touches the edges, and I’m heading out on the advice of my concierge towards Parc de La Tête d’Or! He tells me that a gold head is supposedly hidden here. I decide to entrust my gold to his keys and not go in search of that famous head! The first joggers bolt onto the pathway surrounding the park. They’re brave! The rhythm of their strides gradually disappears as I walk along the lake. It’s so big! Had it been the afternoon, I would have happily rented a boat or a pedalo. All of a sudden, the rose garden rises up before me. It was inaugurated by Princess Grace of Monaco who called it a “wonder”. I proceed and it reveals itself to me completely. The pale pink of Audrey Hepburn, Barbara’s black outline and Brigitte Bardot’s powerful scent. All these great ladies invite me to step further into this intimate abundance of colours and fragrance… I am intoxicated. I am drowning. I swoon and faint. Parc de la Tête d’Or is open every day of the year from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Today, I’m heading for the Museum of Fine Arts. My concierge whispered to me that its nickname, quite simply, is the Petit Louvre! Passing the cloister at the entrance, located in front of Fontaine Bartholdi (at the bottom of the city hall steps), I set out on my journey: 70 halls from Ancient Egypt to Picasso, passing through Tiepolo, Rodin and Bacon. The scene has been set by a well-known architect as far as my solitary retreat is concerned: Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Don’t forget to take a moment to lose yourself in the garden. Of course, it isn’t as contemplative a setting as the garden at my hotel, but it is adorned with statues. As I look at them, I imagine my next drawings, leant on the bar at Villa Maïa.

Gluttony is a truly sweet sin in Lyon. One of the oldest food markets in France is a stone’s throw away from my new home. With my Leica camera slung around me, I set off on my stroll along the quays of the Saône where the famous Saint Antoine market is located. My first head to head with a vendor of tripe, and my camera film and I are propelled into the Middle Ages. Rest assured, there are also plenty of pastry chefs with their tasty pralines, florists with their peonies and peaches grown on the vine by market gardeners. Stall after stall, the colours are imprinted on my film roll, and my basket fills up. I no longer know what to choose from all the local producers who have been delighting Lyon’s residents for such a long time. The Saint Antoine market is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.