Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Lyon!

Last Updated on 19th August 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

Over the past decade or so, coffee culture has taken the culinary city of Lyon by storm. One wander around the French settlement today, and you’ll soon discover a myriad of cafés and teahouses among the cobbled lanes, churches, and historic streets that the third largest city in France as to offer. Here’s your guide to the best of delectable coffee shops and cute cafes in Lyon!

If you’re thinking about seeing a lot of attractions and monuments while in Lyon, Consider purchasing the Lyon City Pass, which includes a cruise along the Saone and access to public transportation.

To work out whether or not the pass is worth it for you or not, add up the cost of the individual attractions you wish to visit and see if you’ll save money. Find more details here.

The stunning city of Lyon can be found in South East France in the department of the Rhône (like the river). Home to plenty of hidden gems, Lyon was known as Lugdunum during Roman times and today vestiges of the past can be found scattered across the French settlement.

Best coffee shops in Lyon

Slake, 9 Rue de l’Ancienne Préfecture, 69002 Lyon

Arguably the most sought after destination in town, Slake is best-known for its Sunday brunches, though the coffee house is open throughout the rest of the week as well. One glimpse at the menu and aside from speciality coffee, you can expect to see teas, cakes, salads, and patisseries.

My Petite Factory, 6 rue Jean Mermoz, Capbreton

An adorable façade gives way to an even prettier interior: welcome to The Petite Factor which is easily the prettiest café in Lyon. This vegan-friendly café in Lyon also serves a variety of gluten-free food.

On the menu, there are delights such as soups, Buddha bowls, and all kinds of vegan sandwiches. While seating is limited, this is one of the few cafes in Lyon that actually offers takeaway!

While in the area, be sure to check out the equally quaint bookshop next door, Le Bal des Ardents. While the entryway alone, with its archway of books, is worth a photo in its own right, once inside you’ll soon spy plenty of wooden shelves and books around every turn.

Please note that My Petite Factory has now changed locations and so no longer has the same façade. The business has pivoted to be more focused on cooking school classes and takeaway food.

La Boîte à Café, 3 Rue de l’Abbé Rozier, 69001 Lyon

High on a hill in La Croix-Rousse district of the city, a neighbourhood famed for its many ‘traboules’ and silk history, La Boite a Café is cosy and filled with comfortable seats.

Inside there’s speedy WiFi and a whole range of mouth-watering cakes. The coffee here is ground by Mokxa, a locally based coffee roaster and supplier that’s popular with many of the big name hotel chains and restaurants in Lyon.

Café Vert, 1 Montée des Épies, 69005 Lyon

Close to Église Saint Georges, Café Vert is the best vegan and vegetarian coffee shop in the city. Everything on the menu is exclusively vegan and organic, while most things are also raw (I really wanted to sample some of the raw cakes!) and gluten-free.

While there is seating inside, I highly recommend sitting outside en terrace, ordering a coffee and simply sit watching the world go by.

When we visited the coffee shop it was the weekend and the entire place was buzzing with activity, giving us a unique glimpse into Lyonnaise culture… After visiting the café, make the climb up to Notre Dame de Fourviere for one of the best views in Lyon!

Pimprenelle, 13 Rue des Quatre Chapeaux, 69002 Lyon

‘Pimprenelle’ is not only the French word for the Sanguisorba minor or salad burnet, a ‘light cucumber’ flavoured leaf that’s often used in salads but also the name of one of the best coffee houses in Lyon. This is also one of the more popular places in Lyon to grab brunch.

Highlights of the menu include lots of speciality coffee and organic bread that’s often freshly baked that very day. While in the area, be sure to check out the impossibly pretty Passage des Imprimeurs.

Reminiscent of the covered passages of Paris, this hidden gem of the city is picture perfect and leads between 56 Rue Mercière and 26 Quai Saint-Antoine. Known locally as one of the traboules of Lyon, the passage is named for the printers from Italy Germany which came to the city during the 15th-century.

A Chacun Sa Tasse, 2 Rue du Griffon, 69001 Lyon

Literally translated as ‘to each his own glass’, this Lyon café can be found in the 1st arrondissement of the city, close to the artists’ row of shops at Passage Thiaffait. Nearby, you’ll also find Cour des Voraces, the historically listed set of dual staircases that’s been used as many a filming location.

Step inside and it’s soon obvious that A Chacun Sa Tasse is not about the coffee as much as about the tea! And with over 100 varieities on the menu it’s not hard to see why. The teahouse is also famous for its chocolates and so be sure to sample some sweets when paying a visit!

Mokxa, 5 Rue Bellecordière, 69002 Lyon

Often said to sell the very best coffee in Lyon, if you’re a caffeine connoisseur, then this is the place to head to. Serving coffee prepared a variety of different ways, you can have your coffee made using the following methids; syphon, piston, or V60 filters.

Head to the Lyon coffee shop in the summer months, and you’ll soon discover a variety of ice cold coolers on offer such as iced lattes and cold brew coffees. If it’s a nice day, take your coffee to go and you can go on a lovely walk alongside the River Rhône.

Les Cafetiers, 36 Rue Ferrandière, 69002 Lyon

Situated in the Presqu’ile district of Lyon, in the second arrondissement of the French city, the well-reviewed café serves great coffee, as well as a healthy and filling brunch.

Glance at the menu and you’ll soon discover a wide array of foodstuffs for sale, including sandwiches, salads, and soups. Of all the cafes in Lyon, this is hands down one of the most popular ones!

Galerie SLIKA, 25 Rue Auguste Comte, 69002 Lyon

If you enjoy your hot beverages served with a side of culture, then you simply must head to Galerie SLIKA in the Presqu’ile district of the city.

Home to an ever-changing display of art which you can purchase, the café side of the business offers a mouthwatering selection of cakes and other treats. Takeaway coffee is also for sale, which is often a rather rare find when it comes to ordering coffee in France!

Le Kitchen Café, 34 Rue Chevreul, 69007 Lyon

If you’re in the mood for something a little more filling than a simple snack and want to instead opt for a casual lunch, then be sure to head to the well-reviewed Le Kitchen Café which is to be found a little way out of the more touristic parts of town. On the menu, you’ll find delicious seasonal foods and you can make reservations in advance for lunch. 

La Bicycletterie, 16 Rue Romarin, 69001 Lyon (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)

For one of the very best cafes in Lyon, you simply must head to La Bicycletterie, in the 1st arrondissement of the city. Like many of the coffee venues across the city, the café serves a dual function as both a café, as well as a bicycle repair shop.

Puzzle Café, 4 Rue de la Poulaillerie, 69002 Lyon (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)

For those who are looking for a place with speedy WiFi and plenty of tables, Puzzle Café can be found close to the Église Saint Nazier, not far from the iconic astronomical clock.

Open from Monday through to Saturday, there are numerous tables outside, as well as a couple to the exterior where you can sit and enjoy your coffee on the sidewalk.

If you’re in a rush, then it’s also worth noting that you can order your coffee to go! Unfortunately, the café has been permanently closed down as of 2021.

Jeannine & Suzanne, 34 Rue Sainte-Hélène, 69002 Lyon (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)

Generally well-reviewed and offering brunch on a Sunday, Jeannine & Suzanne can be found close to Le Musée des Tissus et des Arts Décoratifs. All brick façades, floral decor, and modern tables, on the menu you’ll find a variety of hot drinks (chai, tea, smoothies) as well as plenty of food options. Unfortunately the café permanently closed down in 2022.

Enjoyed reading about the best coffee shops and cafes in Lyon? Pin it now, read it again later:

Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.

• Instagram
• TikTok
• YouTube