This is a legendary location in Lyon—even more so now that Mathieu Viannay, one of the top names in the city's contemporary cuisine scene, has honored gastronomy pioneer Eugénie Brazier—the founder of nouvelle cuisine and the first woman to gain three Michelin stars in 1933—by opening a restaurant in her former space. A winner of the coveted Meilleur Ouvrier de France prize, Viannay continues to experiment with taste, textures, and ingredients in this carefully restored and recently remodeled traditional house. He describes the menu as "mixed" between completely modern cuisine and "Mère Brazier recipes revisited" such as the poularde de Bresse demi-deuil (Bresse poultry in "half mourning," that is, with black truffles under the breast skin).

An essential foodie rendez-vous for culinary history aficionados, this elegant haute-cuisine address – still with Art Deco ceramic tilework and ornate lead windows – is where it all began. Mère (mother) of French cooking, Eugénie Brazier, opened the mythical restaurant in 1921 and, in 1933, became the first person in the world to obtain six Michelin stars (split between this restaurant and another outside the city)., retaining a trio of Michelin stars from 1933 until 1968. Her spirit lives on in Michelin-starred chef Mathieu Viannay who casts a modern spin on Mère Brazier’s signature dishes, most notably poularde demi-deuil (poached chicken from Bourg-en-Bresse with black truffles decadently threaded between the meat and skin).

Opened in 1921 by the first chef to ever be awarded six Michelin stars, Eugénie Brazier, today it holds two and is still the pinnacle of Lyon’s dining scene. Each dish on the multi-course menus reflects the city’s food history: neatly whipped cervelle de canut, an herbed cheese spread, as an amuse-bouche, followed by artichokes with foie gras as an entrée, and a main of tender, marbled chicken (from a breed that’s protected by government regulations), drenched in a nutty, dry yellow wine. There are plenty of surprise dishes between courses, and dessert—particularly the baba au rhum—is astronomical in size.

With Head Chef Eugénie Brazier at the helm, the two Michelin star kitchen at La Mère Brazier is renowned for its creative and artistic concoctions. Designed plates focus on merging both traditional and modern gastronomies, so classic favourites can be discovered in new and exciting ways. Guests can enjoy recipes inspired by seasonal ingredients including perfectly cooked beef, fresh fish, foie gras and flavoursome vegetables.

Self-taught Lyonnaise mère, Josiane, takes pride that 'people come to eat as if at home or at their parents' house'. Translation: the menu at this iconic…

For a fancier lunch place, there is La Mère Brazier – the chicken cooked in a pig’s bladder is a highlight – after which you can wander the indoor-outdoor Les Puces du Canal, where you’ll find memorabilia, antique toys, vintage clothing and furnishings – most of which can be shipped back home. The Museum of Gallo-Roman Civilisation has an incredible collection of mosaics, statues and ceramics. After an afternoon of discovery here, I recommend a visit to Bernachon for a coffee and the best chocolates and sweets anywhere.

When chef Mathieu Viannay bought La Mère Brazier in 2008, he vowed to celebrate the legacy of Eugénie Brazier, who opened her bouchon here in 1921. During the last eight years, with the prize of two Michelin stars to affirm his efforts, Viannay honours the soul of one of Lyon’s most defining restaurants. Letting the decor reference the past, dabbling with Mère Brazier’s original recipes, the creative chef also turns out innovative twists on traditional dishes – all based on the freshest market finds.

It’s safe to say that the legendary Eugénie Brazier inspired modern French cooking – in fact, she even trained Paul Bocuse. Opened in 1921, Mère Brazier is her restaurant on rue Royale and it remains one of the best restaurants in Lyon. Under the control of chef Mathieu Viannay, along with talented pastry chef Rodolphe Tronc, this two-Michelin-star establishment marries traditional Lyonnaise cooking with new flavours to deliver an unforgettable dining experience in a remarkable setting.

Guy Lassausaie * (Chasselay), Au 14 février (Lyon 5), Les Loges (Lyon 5), Le Gourmet de Sèze * (Lyon 6), Les Terrasses de Lyon * (Lyon 5), Christian Têtedoie * (Lyon 5), Les Trois Dômes * (Lyon 2), l’Auberge de l’Ile * (Lyon 9), La Rotonde * (La Tour-de-Salvagny), Le PRaiRIal * (2016) (Lyon 1), Le Passe-Temps * (2016) (Lyon 6), Jérémy Galvan * (2017) (Lyon 5), La Sommelière * (2019) (Lyon 5), Les Apothicaires * (2020) (Lyon 6), Saisons * (2020) , Institut Paul Bocuse (Écully).

During my last visit to Lyon, I ate at some of the more well known temples of haute cuisine including Restaurant Paul Bocuse and La Mere Braziere. They provided an indelible glimpse into the world of French fine dining of the region. This time I opted to explore some of the less haughty dining possibilities of the area, some of the food and the spirit of dining that helped give Lyon the reputation it has as one of France's and therefore the world's best dining destinations.

The restaurant La Mère Brazier - Mathieu Viannay is located rue Royale in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon. It is regarded as a classic Lyonnaise venue and as one of the best restaurants in Lyon by those in the know. Founded initially by Eugénie Brazier, from whom it takes its name, this restaurant is now under the leadership of Mathieu Viannay: the latter has risen to the challenge, and the success of La Mère Brazier has not diminished one iota.

Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Arnaud 25 used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Although Bocuse may possess a somewhat loftier image, Eugenie Brazier was an important local culinary pioneer in her own right, with some referring to her as the mother of French gastronomy. It is a well-known fact that the infamous Bocuse actually served as a student to Brazier before placing his own contemporary spin on the French fare of old.

Visitors can dine at celebrated gourmet restaurants like La Mere Brazier, a Lyonnaise institution since 1921, founded by one of the first women to earn three Michelin stars. (Chef Bocuse was once an apprentice to Eugenie Brazier.) Another good choice: Les Trois Domes, a one-star Michelin restaurant at the Sofitel Lyon Bellecour that offers panoramic views of the Rhone from a contemporary 8th floor dining room.

Le restaurant de la Mère Brazier, première femme a obtenir 3 étoiles au Guide Michelin en 1933, est une institution lyonnaise dont le chef Mathieu Viannay, doublement étoilé, a su en conserver l’authenticité et l’histoire. Le chef propose notamment à sa carte les plats emblématiques de la très célèbre Mère Brazier agrémentés d’une touche de modernité et de créativité. Formule déjeuner : 95€.

Michelin-starred meals are not hard to find in Rhône-Alpes, but few come with the culinary history of La Mère Brazier. Opened in the 1920s by celebrated French chef Eugénie Brazier and dined at by the great and good of Lyon for decades, this dining room is now in the very capable hands of Michelin-starred chef Mathieu Viannay, who oversees a menu of perfectly crafted French cuisine.

Somewhat of a gastronomic institution in France, Mere Brazier (Mother Brazier) was found in 1921, was bought by Mathieu Viannay in 2008, delicately refurbished and then re-opened. Tradition and an impossibly high level of expertise, then, are continued, as are many of the original recipes, which are infused with principled hints of contemporary haute cuisine.

The delicious dishes created by Eugénie Brazier soon conquered the city’s most discerning palettes and as a result, La Mère Brazier is now something of an institution in Lyon adored by food travelers and locals alike. Chef Mathieu Viannay, at the helm since 2008, has conserved the art déco design in the establishment and set its reputation in culinary steel.

L’établissement de la Mère Brazier a été fondé en 1921 par Eugénie Brazier (1895-1977). Première femme a obtenir 3 étoiles au Guide Michelin en 1933. Cette institution Lyonnaise est reprise en 2008 par Mathieu Viannay, 47 ans, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, qui a conservé la décoration d’origine : faïences des années 30, parquet et baies vitrées.

This two-star restaurant created by Eugénie Brazier, a famous chef from Lyon, and taken over by the chef Matthieu Viannay is a true institution in Lyon. It is even featured in the list of the 1,000 world’s best restaurants. It offers high-end food which combines French traditions and modernity in a beautiful 1920s setting.

Founded in 1921 by one of Lyon’s ‘mothers’, who ran some of the city’s best kitchens and are the real heroes of its gastronomic reputation. Today the two Michelin-starred restaurant is run by Mathieu Viannay, another MOF (see no7). The more casual Brazier Wine Bar specialises in Burgundy and Rhône wines.

She is the mother of modern French cooking and the first woman to be awarded six Michelin stars!. Many renowned chefs including Paul Bocuse were her student. To get a taste of her recipes, visit La Mère Brazier – her first restaurant, which was established in 1921 when she was only 26 years old.

Pour avoir une place dans l’un des restaurants raffinés et chics alliant des mets traditionnels et succulents, il faudra vous rendre dans les restaurants tels que la Cour des Loges, la Mère Brazier, chez Christian Têtedoie-Restaurant Gastronomique, Restaurant Jérémy Galvan et le Takao Takano.

The only two-Michelin-starred restaurant in central Lyon, this legendary institution is run by the charismatic darling of French food critics, Mathieu Viannay. In a striking Art-Deco setting, you can taste Mère Brazier classics (such as Bresse chicken poached with truffles) that have…

Many of Lyon's great chefs have settled outside the city, mostly in beautiful old châteaux. However, we forego the excursions in favour of the many other things the city has to offer. At short notice, we book a round trip with the hop-on-hop-off bus.

Visitors can dine at celebrated gourmet restaurants such as La Mere Brazier (lamerebrazier.fr), a Lyonnaise institution since 1921, founded by one of the first women to earn three Michelin stars. (Bocuse was an apprentice to Eugenie Brazier.)

An institution founded by legendary female chef Eugénie Brazier, credited with “inventing” Lyonnaise cuisine. The tradition continues with incredibly talented cheffy chef Mathieu Vianney, stellar!

12 Rue Royale, 69001 LyonPhone: 33 4 78 23 17 20 Visit Website. A post shared by LA MÈRE BRAZIER (@lamerebrazier). On Rue Royale near the Rhône River is La Mère Brazier.

Once again on a quest to find where to eat in Lyon, the third dinner of the trip is a complimentary one at La Mere Brazier, a 2-Michelin starred restaurant in Lyon.

La Mère Brazier or La Gargotte, two places across the street from one another in the northern part of the Presqu'île, just south of Pont de Lattre de Tassigny.

Mere Brazier has real history and is now restored to its former greatness. On this trip I revisited Guy Lassausaie and tried the newest two star, Neuvieme Art.