Le Royal (Lyon)

It’s hard to imagine a classic grand hotel that’s much more elegant than Lyon’s Hotel Le Royal, a floodlit Haussmanian classic with a Renaissance-style dome, a hotel that absolutely dominates its corner on the city’s central Place Bellecoeur. In its current incarnation as part of Accor’s MGallery Collection, Le Royal is in particularly fine form, thanks in large part to an inspired renovation, one that splits the difference between a historically correct restoration and a total modern re-imagining.

The spirit of the place is entirely intact, that much is clear — the classic patterned fabrics and the rich palette of reds and blues set a suitably regal tone, and the furnishings and fixtures span a spectrum of historical eras, from period reconstructions to subtly contemporary pieces. As with any historic hotel, the smallest rooms don’t have much space to work with, but that’s often the price you pay for atmosphere — and it’s nothing a little upgrade won’t solve.

A single restaurant serves a simple yet upscale French cuisine, sourced locally, and it’s a worthy option. Realistically, though, it doesn’t need to stand up to repeated visits — given Lyon’s status as a culinary capital, you’re not likely to visit the same restaurant twice.

How to get there:
Hotel Le Royal is located in the Lyon's city center. The Lyon Saint-Exupery Airport is approximately 28 km from the hotel. The La Part Dieu and Perrache railway stations are located only 5 km and 1 km away, respectively.