Food place in Lyon
Café des Fédérations
Rue du Major Martin, Presqu'île, Lyon
A bouchon since 1872: red-checked cloths, sausages hanging over the counter, no choosing — a fixed run of courses arrives until you stop it. One of the addresses the bouchon label exists to protect.
Area
Rue du Major Martin, Presqu'île
Food type
Veg & non-veg
Price range
€30–45
Opening hours
Lunch and dinner; closed at the weekend in the traditional way — check before Sunday
About
What is Café des Fédérations famous for?
Look for the sticker on the door: a Gnafron puppet holding a glass, which is the Association de Défense des Bouchons Lyonnais label. Lyon has far more places calling themselves bouchons than places entitled to that sticker.
What to eat here
Best dishes to try at Café des Fédérations
Veg & non-veg · €30–45
Cervelle de canut
Fresh, sharp, herby, garlicky
Best at late in a meal, or with a glass in the afternoon
Quenelle de brochet
Airy, soft, rich with cream and shellfish butter
Best at dinner, or a long lunch — it is heavier than it looks
Salade lyonnaise
Sharp, smoky, with a yolk running through it
Best at lunch, or as a first course at dinner
Must-tryTarte aux pralines
Very sweet, crunchy, almost fluorescent
Best at after a bouchon dinner, or mid-afternoon with coffee
Good to know
Is Café des Fédérations good for families?
Yes — Café des Fédérations is family friendly and serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. It is open for lunch and dinner; closed at the weekend in the traditional way — check before Sunday.
Make a morning of it
Photo spots near Café des Fédérations
Shoot nearby, then eat at Café des Fédérations.
La Croix-Rousse
Best photo · Sunset from the Gros Caillou terrace at the top of the hill, looking east over the roofs and the Rhône with the Alps behind on a clear day
Best combo: Photos here, then cervelle de canut at Café des Fédérations.
See photo spot
Musée des Beaux-Arts
Best photo · Midday in the cloister garden, when the sun reaches the bottom of the courtyard and the arcades are lit on one side
Best combo: Photos here, then cervelle de canut at Café des Fédérations.
See photo spot
Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Best photo · The hour before sunset from the esplanade, when the light comes across the city towards you and the rivers pick it up — the basilica's own façade is better in the morning, when the sun is on it
Best combo: Photos here, then cervelle de canut at Café des Fédérations.
See photo spotWant something else nearby?
Search Lyon food by craving
Café des Fédérations, in one look
A bouchon since 1872: red-checked cloths, sausages hanging over the counter, no choosing — a fixed run of courses arrives until you stop it. One of the addresses the bouchon label exists to protect. Veg and non-veg pages sit side by side on the menu. This is a mid-range table - figure €30–45.
🍽️ What to order
Order the local plate rather than the pan-Indian standards - a kitchen like this earns its keep on the regional page of the menu.
🕒 When to come
Timing in plain words - Lunch and dinner; closed at the weekend in the traditional way — check before Sunday.
📍 Where it is
Find it in Rue du Major Martin, Presqu'île, Lyon (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes).
✅ The short version
Families with children are normal here.
Questions
Café des Fédérations — FAQ
What is Café des Fédérations famous for?
A bouchon since 1872: red-checked cloths, sausages hanging over the counter, no choosing — a fixed run of courses arrives until you stop it. One of the addresses the bouchon label exists to protect.
What are the must-try dishes at Café des Fédérations?
Don't miss Cervelle de canut, Quenelle de brochet and Salade lyonnaise.
Is Café des Fédérations good for families?
Yes — Café des Fédérations is family friendly and serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
What are Café des Fédérations's opening hours?
Café des Fédérations is open for lunch and dinner; closed at the weekend in the traditional way — check before Sunday.
Where is Café des Fédérations located?
Café des Fédérations is in Rue du Major Martin, Presqu'île, Lyon.