The Companions Valentin Thiriet
31 Lyon bouchons tested and reviewed since February 2023
The outfeaster of eastern Lyon, with a Nobelly price of good fare. For him, quality and quantity are the two sides of the same loin, that he loves to engulf as the piggy bank that he is.
Bouchons reviewed by Valentin
-
Le Mercière in Lyon, at the mercy of indulgence
Le Mercière, the Lyonnais bouchon, single-handedly restores the gastronomic reputation of its namesake street. An institution that’s managed to charm tourists while building a loyal crowd of regulars. Its success lies in a one-of-a-kind setting and a menu executed with precision.
August 2025 -
Les 4G in Lyon: a wolfish appetite in Gorge de Loup
Whoever said all the best bouchons in Lyon are on the Presqu’île? Today, the Compagnie du Rognon sets its little trotters down in the 9th arrondissement to discover Les 4G — an establishment that, in just a few years, has become an unmissable ambassador of Lyon’s gastronomy and its mischievous bouchon spirit.
August 2025 -
Le Café des Fédérations makes everyone happy
Le Café des Fédérations couldn’t care less about the “Bouchons Lyonnais” label. In over 150 years, the place has secured its status as an unshakable institution, seducing generations of regulars and savvy tourists alike.
July 2025 -
Bistrot du Marché – Chez Nénette: the village bouchon with a Lyonnais soul
This one’s a first. The Compagnie du Rognon leaves Lyon behind and drags its merry little feet all the way to Beaujolais, heading to the Bistrot du Marché, Chez Nénette. A little trip beyond the city walls for an extraordinary evening.
June 2025 -
Notre Maison in Lyon: a bouchon that feels like home
Notre Maison is just about the best thing we could wish upon any visitor passing through Lyon. Authentic cooking, plates that are generous and reasonably priced. A warm, convivial place, tucked away in the emblematic Saint-Jean district. A cliché? No — a promise delivered.
May 2025 -
Auberge des Canuts: the bouchon lyonnais that drives you nuts!
Sometimes, being wrong feels so good. Heading into Vieux-Lyon, the Compagnie was ready to endure yet another tourist trap. Instead, we stumbled into a heart-stealer, the Auberge des Canuts won us over with its generosity and authenticity.
March 2025 -
Daniel & Denise Saint-Jean restores the shine of Vieux-Lyon
Never two without three. We first awakened our palates on Rue de Créqui. Sharpened them in Croix-Rousse. Now it’s time to perfect them in Vieux-Lyon. This month, the Compagnie du Rognon rolls down to Daniel & Denise Saint-Jean, under the skilled helm of Chef Joseph Viola.
February 2025 -
Le Bouchon des Artistes: Hats Off to the Artist!
After visiting the Café du Peintre and L’Acteur, La Compagnie du Rognon continues its artistic exploration of Lyon’s dining scene with Le Bouchon des Artistes, located on Rue Mazenod. It’s the perfect address for those who love both theater and good food.
December 2024 -
Le Bistrot Abel, a gastronomic Lyonnais bistro: Abel rings a bell!
This month, the Compagnie du Rognon have the Abel in their court. More precisely, Le Bistrot Abel, located near Place de la Bourse. The promise? A modern take on Lyonnais cuisine that still respects the sacred institution of Maison Abel. So, will we leave conquered once more?
November 2024 -
La Tête de Lard in Lyon: Playing by the cook
This month, the Compagnie du Rognon makes a stop at La Tête de Lard in Lyon. A bouchon that prides itself on being convivial, rustic, and, above all, gloriously pork-centric. In short, we couldn’t wait to pig out.
October 2024 -
Le Val d’Isère: a beginner-friendly bouchon in Lyon
La Compagnie du Rognon is back for the new season. And to kick off this fresh round of bouchon reviews, we’ve chosen Le Val d’Isère. Time to swap out the summer body for an “œufs meurette body.” Let’s sharpen our knives—and our taste buds—and tie on our checkered napkins.
October 2024 -
Le Comptoir de Léa: a plain Lyonnais bouchon that enchants us
A few months ago, La Mère Léa had won us over with its contemporary and masterful reinterpretation of Lyonnais cuisine. This time, the Compagnie du Rognon drags its heels into the neighboring establishment: Le Comptoir de Léa, a more traditional bouchon that has nothing to envy its neighbor.
August 2024 -
Daniel et Denise Croix-Rousse pushes the boundaries of indulgence
Last year, the Compagnie du Rognon was won over by the refined flair of Joseph Viola. This month, we trade Rue de Créqui for Rue de Cuire. The perfect chance to see whether Daniel et Denise Croix-Rousse lives up to its elder sibling.
June 2024 -
Bouchon Bât d’Argent in Lyon: no bad argument
Usually accustomed to the sacred halls of Lyonnaise tradition, La Compagnie du Rognon changes its tune today and steps into a neo-bouchon: Le Bât d’Argent.
May 2024 -
Le Casse Museau: an amusing case
Le Casse Museau was recently awarded the Bouchon Lyonnais label. For the Compagnie du Rognon, it was the perfect excuse to explore a place steeped in history, where a cheerful team and cozy ambiance make all the difference.
April 2024 -
La Mère Léa in Lyon: a heartfelt tribute to Lyon’s bouchons
When the legacy of one of Lyon’s most iconic “mothers” is reinterpreted by a Michelin-starred Meilleur Ouvrier de France, you get La Mère Léa: an establishment that blends authenticity with technical mastery—without ever skimping on indulgence. La Compagnie du Rognon is won over! (Photo credit: Les Toques Blanches Lyonnaises)
February 2024 -
Le Bouchon des Cordeliers: a safety cordon-bleu
In under 10 years, Le Bouchon des Cordeliers has carved out a generous slice of Lyon in the city’s restaurant scene. And rightly so. A perfect opportunity for the Compagnie to form an opinion.
January 2024 -
The bouchon Les Fines Gueules : a fine goal!
During our last visit to the Saint-Jean district, the bouchon Les Lyonnais left us with a very bad impression. So we were understandably hesitant about giving this highly touristic part of Lyon another chance. Fortunately, Les Fines Gueules turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
December 2023 -
Le Bouchon Sully: What the Foch ?
Le Bouchon Sully strikes a delicious balancing act: revitalizing the traditional bouchon lyonnais spirit with modern cuisine and a contemporary atmosphere. Another great spot in Lyon’s 6th arrondissement!
December 2023 -
Le Vivarais in Lyon, high class, hard hit
If you stop by Le Vivarais in Lyon, time will pause with you. A discreet yet bourgeois table that hasn’t forgotten its indulgent bouchon roots.
November 2023 -
L’Antr’O Potes in Lyon: a lesson of anthropology
The Compagnie du Rognon continues its exploration of bouchons as a group of six. And this month’s establishment couldn’t be more aptly named: it’s at L’Antr’O Potes (the friend’s lair) in Lyon that we chose to seal this new alliance of gluttons.
October 2023 -
La Meunière in Lyon: The Compagnie celebrates its 1st anniversary
No article had yet been devoted to it. And yet, this is where it all began. And this is where we fittingly celebrated the first anniversary of the Compagnie du Rognon. For us, it’s more than a bouchon. It’s home.
September 2023 -
Bouchon Comptoir Brunet: Gentleman prefer Brunettes
This summer midday, it was the only bouchon that seemed open in Lyon. By sitting down at Comptoir Brunet, the Compagnie made a pleasant discovery: a gourmet table and a true emblem of Lyon’s gastronomic history.
August 2023 -
Le Café du Peintre: a gallery of lard nouveau.
Between tradition and reinvention, Le Café du Peintre captures the best of Lyon’s cuisine, without ever losing its touch.
July 2023 -
Le Garet in Lyon: dusting off the garret.
A place steeped in history, Le Garet stands as a paragon of Lyon’s bouchon tradition. Yet it managed to surprise our Compagnons with a few bold choices…
June 2023 -
Bouchon Les Lyonnais: Tourism, Served Hot
Have we become too picky, after being spoiled by the best bouchons in Lyon? Or just realistic, despite the crowd-pleasing atmosphere? We’re beginning to wonder, given our disappointment upon leaving Bouchon Les Lyonnais, located in the Saint-Jean district.
June 2023 -
Les Culottes Longues de Lyon: The Bouchon That Will make you explode
When it came to Lyon-style feasting and unapologetic indulgence, the Compagnie du Rognon had so far triumphed over every plate placed before it. That was before discovering Les Culottes Longues de Lyon, on rue Sala, where the limits of Lyonnais bombance are gloriously stretched. Here’s what we thought.
May 2023 -
Daniel et Denise Créqui: The Gourmet Bouchon of Lyon
Can a bouchon earn a Michelin star? That’s the philosophical question posed by Daniel & Denise Créqui, the Lyonnais bouchon run by Joseph Viola.
April 2023 -
Le Poêlon d’Or: The Bouchon of the Remparts d’Ainay
After their culinary adventures at Café du Jura, the Compagnons made their way this month to rue des Remparts d’Ainay, in Lyon’s second arrondissement, to explore another cornerstone of Lyonnais cuisine: Le Poêlon d’Or.
April 2023 -
Café du Jura: The Bouchon That Doesn’t Mess Around… And We Get Why
This month, the Compagnie du Rognon headed to rue Tupin, in Lyon’s Cordeliers district, to explore another legendary bouchon. Café du Jura is one of those restaurants where time slows down — and pleasure only picks up. Sure, it earns its stars for the food, but it also wins our hearts thanks to its cheeky, thoughtful team.
March 2023 -
Café Comptoir Abel: the oldest Lyonnais Bouchon
Café Comptoir Abel is the bouchon of all superlatives. It proudly presents itself as “the oldest, the best, the most iconic, the most authentic” bouchon in Lyon. Instead of cutting through the debate, La Compagnie du Rognon decided to cut to the hearty menu of this institution to form its own opinion.
February 2023