A Foodie's Heaven - Les Halles de Lyon, France

Pete! Pete! LOOK! They have foie gras macarons!!!!!!!! 


I squeal in delight! and know instantly that we are in foodie heaven!

Les Halles de Lyon is an indoor food market in Lyon, France.

Lyon is situated in East-Central France, about 390km from or a 2 hour train ride from Paris. It is best known for it’s ‘dedication’ to food and wine and is said to be the gastronomic capital of the world.

After checking in at Evasion Loft ( which was amazing by the way!) our gracious hosts Therese and Olivier gave us maps of Lyon, suggested restaurants, and after discovering we were crazy foodies told us about Les Halles de Lyon.

After settling in to our room we set off bound for Les Halles. It was about a 15 minute walk from our accommodation which we didn’t mind, we figured we would need it if Les Halles was all we were hoping for.

With over  59 food traders, Les Halles is said to be the place where the top chefs in Lyon go to stock up on top quality ingredients.

We start off together wandering down each isle mesmerised by the variety and quality foods surrounding us.  There is cheese, bread, pastries, oyster bars, jamon bars, salads, meat, snails, macarons, fresh fruit and vegetables, chocolates, and everything else in between. 

Nothing about this place is mediocre.

 We walk past a few oyster bars and notice several food traders solely dedicated to the sale of Jamon. Pete is besotted! After having a good look at everything , we decide to stock up on a few items to snack on later. We will need sweet and savoury and decide to surprise each other by splitting up to purchase these items. Pete will buy savoury and I’ll take care of the sweet. We agree to meet back at the front of the market in 30 minutes.

Wandering around you can’t help but feel the buzz! Everyone is there for the same reason – for the love of food! So much fun!

Join me for a visual feast down the isles of Les Halles de Lyon....

Perhaps we could start with some cheese?

Now for a mushroom or foie gras macaron

Or would you prefer the real stuff?

Escargot may be more your style?

Lets move on to a something a little more substantial. Seafood anyone?

Alternatively, you could have some chicken and potato rosti?

How about a few sides? Mac & Cheese, French style, Oh Yeah!

How are you going? 


Feeling full yet? I'm actually feeling like something sweet myself.

Shall we start with a little fruit?

A piece of cake?

Or perhaps a slice of praline tart?

Maybe a chunk of Valhrona chocolate for later?

A cheese plate might be nice? Where's the wine?

A cake to take with?

Or do you fancy a piece of Turkish delight heaven?

A box (or 3) of Richart chocolates to take home?

How should we pay for all of this?

Maybe we can use one of these chocolate credit cards

I head back out to the meeting place armed with bags. With me I have a small praline tart, some nut pastries, a few boxes of Richart chocolates to bring back to Australia, some olive oil, a few blocks of Valhrona and Weiss chocolate, some figs and a few salads. I got carried away. I know I have deviated slightly from the sweet brief but Pfft! who cares! 


Pete is 15 minutes late and when he finally shows up it becomes clear why. He too is armed with bags of stuff! He managed to pick up some crusty bread, several cheeses, some french sausage (saucisson) and tells me he managed to make a stop at one of the Jamon stalls, Yay!

Jamon, Jamon, Jamon!

We reluctantly drag ourselves out onto the street, realising if we don't leave now we won't get to see the rest of Lyon!

We then drop off our purchases back at the Loft and head out to hire some bikes and cycle around Lyon.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, we went back to Les Halles de Lyon the very next day!

Les Halles de Lyon

102 Cours Lafayette

Lyon (Rhône) France

Opening Hours: Tue-Sun

7am-7pm (closed between 12-3pm)

Evasion Loft

21 Cours Vitton,

69006 Lyon, France

Website: http://www.evasion-loft.com/