Journey Through Southern France - Lyon

This past July, I had the opportunity to participate in a trip with IHG Hotels (think InterContinental and Kimpton brands) to southern France. We spent an action-packed 6 days learning about and experiencing three InterContinental hotels in three different French cities, each one as stunning and unexpected as the last. As someone who is well-versed in travel in Spain and Italy, I was eager to fill in the holes in my knowledge as I explored France beyond Paris.

InterContinental Lyon - Hotel Dieu

Our first stop was Lyon– and though my arrival certainly didn’t go off without a hitch (even travel advisors suffer travel issues in 2022), when I did finally arrive in Lyon, I was welcomed into the serene and historic InterContinental Lyon - Hotel Dieu, plopped directly on bank of the Rhône River. And after a grueling day of travel, the tranquil room with its high ceilings and river views was exactly what I needed to unwind. From the rooms and hallways to the grounds, the hotel is imbued with both a sense of place and a sense of contemporaneity; before becoming an InterContinental, it was a hospital where many of Lyon’s residents today can still say they were born. The hotel has taken the responsibility of this building’s history seriously, making sure each shop, eatery, and room in the building extends a nod to its past.

The absolute jaw-dropper of the hotel is Le Dôme, the hotel’s bar, which will remind guests of Rome’s Pantheon (that is how massive and impressive the dome is). And it’s not just the setting that puts Le Dôme on top; the drinks and service team up with the setting to make it the ultimate hotel bar. This was solidified as science when the bar won “World’s Best Hotel Bar” in 2020, with help from its show stopping cocktail “Panthéon,” a refreshing and perfectly French concoction of St. Germain and homemade champagne syrup.

Epona, the hotel’s restaurant, manages, once again, to perfectly encapsulate what is so lovely about both the hotel and the city; it walks the line between elegant and unfussy, with dishes rooted in the area but made modern by the chef. My favorite dish of the evening (we were lucky enough to taste so many) was the perfectly grilled octopus with harissa paste. Sitting in Epona’s garden dining area, you can truly admire the building’s eight-century long past.

But, at some point we had to leave the hotel and explore the city, as much as we might have been tempted to stay on-property for our two days in Lyon. Luckily, our wonderful partner Adeline had planned so many activities that it was easy to pry us away. We started with a relaxing boat cruise down the Rhône and Saône Rivers, including their confluence point. Our captain, a lifelong Lyonnais, added lots of colorful commentary that gave us a great feel for the city’s character in a short time. We also stopped by a silk shop just down the street with a tiny museum dedicated to Lyon’s silk history, where the owner himself (the fourth generation of his family to dedicate himself to the family business) was able to give us some insider knowledge into the art form.

Adeline also prepared an event that I had been looking forward to for weeks– a food tour inside Lyon’s legendary Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, a venerated covered food market that offers a peek at Lyon’s extensive food scene (Lyon is often called the world capital of gastronomy and boasts more than 20 Michelin starred restaurants, despite its small size compared to many capital cities). Our guide Céline, yet another lifelong Lyonnaise, was able to guide us through the stalls sharing stories of growing up in this gastronomical paradise, which made the tasting portion of the day even more special. Adeline, quite the detail-oriented woman, had each stop along our tasting tour completely prepared, seemingly conjuring entire tables, tablecloths, and cutlery out of thin air– she has a gift of making extensive productions look quite easy. We started by trying different types of sausages before moving on to French classics like escargots and frogs legs; next was my personal favorite, the cheese stand; and we finished by tasting desserts like the traditional Lyonnaise praline roses. 

With just one night left in Lyon, the InterContinental team wanted to take us out of Lyon and onto Marseille on a (quite literal) high note; our closing dinner in Lyon was at Bulle, a new restaurant, led by Chef Guy Lassausaie, perched on a hill near La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière. From our perch, we were able to reflect on our experiences in Lyon– from the water, from Hotel Dieu’s historic grounds, from the famed Les Halles, and finally, from above. And– lest we forget another important angle to the city– our meal here even included a behind-the-scenes look at the wine cellar which predated the neighboring church.

While my experience in Lyon was right up my alley (the food market, the champagne boat ride… it’s like they read my dream journal), it was also so exciting to imagine my current clients exploring the city. I know exactly which clients will want to stop to chat with the silk artists, which ones will be in food heaven in Les Halles, and which ones will want to spend all day floating down the river hearing stories (and which ones will want to do all of the above). I had often imagined InterContinental hotels as “business traveler” hotels, not what I would pick for my typical client– but the InterContinental in Lyon completely flipped this on its head. I could imagine any of my clients feeling perfectly at home enjoying Instagrammable cocktails in Le Dôme or settling in at night under those tall, tall ceilings and river views. And most importantly, I knew I had found my network of go-to people to make any client’s stay unforgettable– between the hotel staff, Adeline’s completely bespoke approach to experiencing Lyon, and the guides who so generously shared their stories and time with us, I almost can’t wait to see someone else go to Lyon instead of myself! An added bonus— my clients who stay at select IHG properties receive extras like guaranteed late check-out, complimentary daily breakfast, a welcome amenity, a possible upgrade upon arrival, turn down service, and VIP status at the hotel.

Remember that part of working with Duende Travels is enjoying access to our extensive partnerships with hotel brands, local, on-the-ground teams all over the world, and insider knowledge that I am constantly improving with trips like these. Whether reading about Lyon has piqued your interest or another destination has caught your eye, my goal behind each and every trip is to help you experience your destination in the most authentic and enjoyable way. And, in these crazy days of 2022 travel, planning earlier is always better– shoot me an email or send in a request here to get started on your next trip with Duende Travels!