Lyon: Sunset Food Tour with Bouchon Dinner & Wine Tastings

Summary

Old Lyon’s golden hour food stroll with wine, cheese & secrets

You’ll wander Old Lyon’s cobbled lanes at sunset with a local guide, sampling praline brioche, regional cheeses in a cozy fromagerie, charcuterie with wine near Lyon Cathedral, and classic quenelle in a traditional bouchon. End with new friends over herbal digestif in an intimate bar — and leave feeling like you’ve tasted more than just food.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the echo of footsteps on those worn cobblestones in Old Lyon — and the way our guide Lucie waved us over, already holding a basket of something that smelled faintly nutty and sweet. She said it was praline brioche, still warm. I tore off a piece and got pink sugar dust on my fingers. The city felt close and a little mischievous at dusk — you could hear laughter from the bouchons before you even saw them.

We ducked into a tiny fromagerie where the air was sharp with cheese and cool stone walls. Lucie chatted with the cheesemonger in rapid French (I caught maybe one word), then handed out slices of Saint-Marcellin that nearly melted on my tongue. There was this moment when everyone just went quiet — not awkward, just busy tasting. Later, at Lyon Cathedral’s steps, we met a sommelier named Paul who poured us Beaujolais and sliced Rosette de Lyon sausage so thin it almost disappeared on the plate. He told us how his grandfather used to sneak him sips as a kid — which made me laugh because my family did the same with bread crusts but never wine.

I didn’t expect to like quenelle (it looked suspiciously pale), but in that old traboule passageway, surrounded by faded murals and clinking glasses, it made sense. The sauce was creamy and had this gentle kick I still think about sometimes when I’m hungry late at night. Someone tried to pronounce “quenelle” correctly; Lucie grinned but didn’t correct us. By then we’d all stopped checking our phones — just following her through secret doors and narrow alleys that smelled like baking bread or sometimes nothing at all.

The last stop was this dim bar where herbs hung from the ceiling beams. We sipped a local digestif that tasted like someone had bottled up the forest after rain. It wasn’t for everyone (I made a face; Lucie laughed), but sharing it felt right after wandering Lyon together for hours. Walking back along the river, I realized I’d eaten more than dinner — it felt like being let in on some kind of local joke or ritual you can’t quite translate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Lyon food tasting and city tour

• Meet tour guide at meeting point
• Explore city and taste typical food
• Taste local wine and charcuterie
• Enjoy French cheese at fromagerie
• Dine on quenelle at traditional bouchon
• Try brioche filled with pralines
• Drink regional liquor at cozy bar

Top questions

How long does the Lyon sunset food tour last?

The tour covers several stops over an evening and includes enough tastings for a full meal.

Is there vegetarian food available on this tour?

Tastings may vary by season; contact before booking to discuss dietary needs.

Are drinks included during the food tour?

Yes, at least one alcoholic drink is included for guests over 18, along with water at each stop.

Does the tour include pickup or is there a meeting point?

The tour starts at a central meeting point in Old Lyon; pickup is not included.

Can children join this Lyon food tour?

Yes, infants and small children are welcome; strollers and service animals are allowed.

Will the guide speak English?

The guide may speak both English and French during your tour.

What is included in the price of the food tour?

Your evening includes all tastings (equivalent to a full meal), water, at least one alcoholic drink for adults, and guidance throughout Old Lyon’s historic districts.

What’s included

Your evening includes water at every stop, generous tastings of regional specialties (enough for a full meal across four locations), at least one alcoholic drink for adults such as local wine or digestif, plus lively stories from your guide as you explore Old Lyon’s most atmospheric corners together.