19 Best Restaurants in Lyon and the Alps, France

About 400 years old, this charming house is one of Lyon's most frequently filmed and photographed taverns. Simple wooden tables in wood-panel dining rooms, quirky art on every wall, heavy-bottom pot lyonnais wine bottles—every detail is obviously pampered and lovingly produced. The salade lyonnaise (green salad with homemade croutons and sautéed bacon, topped with a poached egg) or the rognons madère (kidneys in a Madeira sauce) are standouts.

Blend in with the locals at this ever-popular dining room, where old stone walls are burnished by a cascade of pendant lights and happy diners spill out onto the sidewalk in nice weather. Recalling the ancient name for the region (Dauphiné) and the area's famous AOC walnut (noix), the logic here isn't hard to follow: local, seasonal dishes made with top-quality ingredients. The menu is short but focused, with housemade fois gras with local Chartreuse, Jerusalem artichoke cream, and truffles to start, followed by tender chicken breast with crayfish and gratin Dauphinois or filet of local mountain trout. For dessert, don't miss the chocolate-walnut tart.

The sleek, loft-like bistrot won a Michelin Bib Gourmand award for its great-value, top-quality market menu that's reinvented daily according to the inspiration of the two young chefs and "what the earth offers us." Along with stunning dishes that please the eye as much as the palate—white asparagus with pistachio mousseline; locally made burrata with wild garlic, herbs, and leeks; gyoza dumplings with homemade kimchi and locally grown shiitakes—you'll find a tantalizing list of local organic wines. As a foodie favorite in Grenoble, be sure to make reservations whether you're coming for lunch or dinner.

Just behind the Palais de Justice, this little néo-bistrot (think comfortable vibe but contemporary design) has a €33 prix-fixe formule that is nothing short of superb in terms of both value and quality. Artisanal terrine of free-range duck, rillettes de maquereau en salade de chou chinois (mackerel fillets in Chinese cabbage salad), and fillet of rockfish with peppers are just some of the interesting morsels at this innovative, affordable address.

Set back near the river in Annecy's picturesque old town, this casual, laid-back restaurant is a place the locals would rather keep to themselves. From the first amuse-bouche to dessert, diners can't wait to taste what's next from a cuisine anchored in French technique and enhanced with plenty of far-flung influences. Prices are gentle for this quality of food and its a favorite in town, so be sure to reserve.

From quenelles to the house favorite, andouillettes, this is the perfect primer in bouchon fare. Salade lyonnaise (frisée lettuce, pork lardons, croutons, and a poached egg, with a Dijon vinaigrette) is an institution at this famous dining room near the Hôtel de Ville. The roast veal chop and ratatouille provide a welcome break from the standard porcine bouchon lineup. The cozy and joyful atmosphere is, perhaps even more than the food itself, what makes Lyon's version of the French bistro so irresistible.

He's an indefatigable champion of small-producer wines, and you'd have to be a stone not to be swept up in Sébastien Milleret's passion. A congenial atmosphere prevails at this wineshop and bar, and excellent small dishes—luscious burrata cheese served with fruity olive oil and capers, freshly shaved bresaola and lardo, or briny smoked eel—are complemented by reasonably priced wines by the glass. On Saturday afternoon, wine barrels are rolled out for tastings that draw a neighborhood crowd.

This inexpensive brasserie at the south end of Rue de la Charité is one of the city's largest and oldest, founded in 1836 and housed in a palatial building dating from 1925. Meals range from hearty veal stew or sauerkraut and sausage to more refined fare. Cooking is less than creative—stick with the great standards, such as saucisson brioché (sausage in brioche stuffed with truffled foie gras)—and, like the vast room setting, service is a bit impersonal and can be very slow. Nevertheless, the Art Deco style is as delicious as it comes.

For 80 years this sawdust-strewn café with homey red-check tablecloths has reigned as one of the city's leading bouchons, and although its glory days are long past, it's still a good bet for an authentic experience. For a taste of classic Lyon gastronomy in a historic setting, the deftly prepared local classics like boudin noir, boudin blanc (white-meat sausage), or andouillettes (veal and pork tripe sausage) are hard to beat.

One of the city's best-known insider spots, this typical bouchon with the de rigueur red-check tablecloths sits behind the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Practically a club, it's crowded with regulars who trade quips with the owner while the kitchen prepares the best tablier de sapeur (tripe marinated in wine and fried in bread crumbs) in town. Whether you order the hunks of homemade pâté, the stewed chicken in wine vinegar sauce, or the plate of ris de veau (sweetbreads), your dinner will add up to good, inexpensive food and plenty of it.

Among other honors, chef Joseph Viola has distinguished himself by creating a world-champion pâté en croûte (foie gras in a pastry crust)—nothing to sneeze at, especially if you're at the helm of one of Lyon's better bouchons. Here you'll find a charming atmosphere, complete with checked tablecloths, lace curtains, and some of the city's most satisfying local specialties, including the quenelles de brochet (a tender, sausage-shape dumpling made from river pike). Cervelle de veau (calf brains) is another standout, and the faint of heart can't go wrong with the excellent boudin noir. Note: there are three Daniel & Denise outposts, but this one, in the Vieille Ville, is slightly more upscale.

As the name would suggest, family photographs adorn the walls of this low-key bistro high on the Croix Rousse hillside. The simple cuisine tends toward traditional recipes and authentic Lyon fare made with organic and local ingredients. From the poulet fermier (free-range chicken) to the grilled trout, the daily chalkboard announces the market specialties that chef Gilles Mozziconacci has managed to cobble together on his early-morning market tour through Les Halles de Lyon. In summer, opt for a table on the terrace.

Done up in delectable shades of red and orange, hip Le Bistrot de l'Orée sits right across from the main slope that runs through the resort of Méribel. On the lower level of the Hôtel L'Orée du Bois, this eatery is truly a family affair: the grandson of the hotel’s original owner runs the kitchen, turning out modern takes on classics like cream of eggplant soup and veal chops flavored with brandy. Don’t miss the baked tartiflette, a combination of potatoes, bacon, onions, and a local cheese called Reblochon. On a recent afternoon, a survey of the dining room revealed that nearly everyone in the well-dressed crowd had tottered in wearing their ski boots.

Decorated with photographs of local celebrities, this popular bistro is particularly animated. Simple food—chicken simmered for hours in wine, meaty stews, and grilled fish—is served on bare wood tables. A blackboard announces plats du jour, which are usually less expensive than items on the printed menu. Try the caille aux petits legumes (quail with baby vegetables) for a change from heavier bouchon fare like the bugnes (beignets of fried pork fat).

Accomplished chef Julien Gautier struts his considerable stuff at this stylish upper-Brotteaux-district bistro east of the Rhône. Expect an inventive, market-driven cuisine, characterized by dishes like slow-cooked lamb with grilled eggplant, buffalo mozzarella, and pine nuts; jumbo shrimp in a broth of garlic and tarragon; or succulent Basque chicken with grilled chorizo and roasted red peppers to savor along with a fine selection of good-value wines by the bottle or glass. Consistently fabulous food, gentle prices, and a sleek contemporary design have made this bistro an exceedingly popular choice among fashionable foodies.