Out and about My Week End A la lyonnaise

Autumn in Saxe-Préfecture

By Doriane
Published on 06/02/2024

Lying between the chic 6th district and the lively 7th, the 3rd district between the banks of the Rhône and the area around the Prefecture has many pleasant surprises hidden beneath its businesslike appearance.

9 h – Time for a mâchon

There are some things that can’t be explained... Like the people of Lyon’s love for an andouillette (chitterlings sausage) served with a jug of Mâcon wine at breakfast time. There, we said it. Formerly a morning meal enjoyed by the Canuts (as Lyon’s silk-workers were known), today the ‘mâchon’ offers a chance to taste a slice of Lyonnais tradition. You can try one at Daniel & Denise, the famous ‘bouchon’ (authentic local eatery) run by Joseph Viola, or at the indoor food market Les Halles de Lyon-Paul Bocuse, particularly at Resto Halle. 

11 h – Choose your axe

Now your belly is full, it’s time for some exercise! Take a stroll along the banks of the Rhône to try your hand at something truly original: axe throwing! Make your way to L’Hachez-vous. This activity, which involves throwing axes at a target, can be enjoyed as a group, for people aged from 14 years upwards (€50). It is the perfect way to awaken your inner Viking! 

L’Hachez-vous 
4 rue de l’Epée, Lyon 3e

15h - Let them eat cake… or rather brioche!

Did Marie-Antoinette really speak the phrase ‘Qu'ils mangent de la brioche’ (‘Let them eat cake!’) upon hearing that the common people had no bread to eat? Nobody can say for sure. What we can say for sure is that the success of Suzanne Brioche is truly deserved. Lyon’s first brioche bar, this original establishment serves delicious artisanal pastries, with a range of amazing sweet and savoury flavours. Our favourites? The Comté cheese and ham, and the Fourme d’Ambert cheese and walnut brioches. On the sweet side, the pistachio-cranberry flavour also has us drooling!

Suzanne Brioche
327 rue André-Philip, Lyon 3eme
A partir de 1,50 euros

17 h – Calling all bookworms

Depending on who you ask, Autumn means the return to school, the return to work or the arrival of new books on shelves. It is the perfect time to browse the iconic bookshop Librairie du Tramway. Alternatively, if you’re looking for personal development books, make your way to Librairie Shambhalla, which stocks esoteric works and spiritual books. Along the way, stop in at Poltred, a concept store dedicated to photography and a gallery-café, which also stocks a selection of self-published works.

Librairie Shambhalla
7 rue Aimé-Collomb, Lyon 3e
shambhalla-lyon.fr
Librairie du Tramway
92 rue Moncey, Lyon 3eme
lalibrairiedutramway.com

20 h – Two bistros, two ambiances

On the one hand, there is the Café du Rhône, a brasserie established in 1902, listed as a historical monument, which offers a journey back in time. It has three rooms: one retro, decorated with frescoes of Lyon’s neighbourhoods and stained glass windows; one with a sea-themed interior design; and one styled as a boudoir. In terms of the food, it serves up gourmet bistronomic cuisine that revisits classic dishes, like its smoked beef tartare, fried capers, and foam of potato and Comté cheese. On the other, there is Vélcroc, which opened in June where the Bus Café (one of the neighbourhood’s iconic places) used to be, offering its customers both bike repairs by Les Ateliers de l'Audace and Lebanese dishes prepared by Aklé. 

Velcroc
18 quai Général-Sarrail, Lyon 6eme 

22 h – Keep the night going!  

Péniches sur les Berges du Rhône © Doriane Bousquet

Feel like clubbing or going to a concert? Make your way to Lyon’s boat bars, like Le Sirius and La Passagère, where you can enjoy cocktails and fresh beers as you discover emerging artists on Lyon’s jazz and electronic music scenes. You will find concerts, jams sessions and dancefloor mixes created by the likes of DJ Rabbeat and Thomas Cartier. 

Le Sirius
4 quai Victor-Augagneur, berges du Rhône, Lyon 3e
www.lesirius.com
La Passagère
21 quai Victor-Augagneur, berges du Rhône, Lyon 3e