Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant in Lyon
La Mère Brazier
La Mère Brazier… This evocative name belongs to a century-old institution that has never looked better. It is the address of a two Michelin-starred restaurant where Chef Mathieu Viannay invites you to immerse yourself in an enchanting interlude, over a meal that offers a true ode to the senses.
To come here is to discover an establishment unlike any other. A place steeped in history, memories and secrets, all evident in its unique architecture. To come here is to experience the joy of savouring culinary artistry, imbued with a love of produce, sharing, tradition reimagined and the all-important passing on of savoir-faire.
To come here is to create a precious memory, one that combines a feeling of wellbeing with an irresistible desire to return.
A beautifully preserved
and delightfully intimate establishment
Whether seated in the dining room, lounges or bar, the layout of the different spaces at La Mère Brazier invites guests to discover an establishment from bygone days. Frequently redesigned, the décor showcases these spaces with a distinct elegance and lightness of touch.
And depending on your mood and the occasion, you can choose to dine in the main dining room or one of the smaller upstairs lounges. These offer true havens of comfort that have retained their original layout and size, providing a genuine feel of intimacy.
The bar boasts a superb counter top with its mosaic tiles lending it the appearance of a tapestry. It is the perfect place to relax and catch up, while sampling one of the house specialities. And it is easy to see why our guests return time and time again to this intimate and welcoming venue that positively invites you to linger and let time slip gently by.
A Michelin-starred restaurant
to discover anew throughout the changing seasons
In the kitchen, the menu is created by Best Craftsman of France Mathieu Viannay, alongside Olivier Reverdy, Antonin Roux and pastry chef Rodolphe Tronc, with a focus on creative lightness.
The restaurant’s classic dishes remain, regularly reworked as contemporary tributes and accompanied by compositions that change with the passing seasons, deftly navigating between land and sea.
Stéphane Da Costa and Mathieu Poirier preside over the dining room, accompanied by head sommelier Denis Verneau and their teams.
And their mission is simple: to ensure that every minute spent in the restaurant, from the moment you step through the door to the very last mouthful, is as much a feast for the senses as it is an unforgettable experience, of which one is simply happy to be a part.
Eugénie Brazier,
the six Michelin-starred ‘Mère Lyonnaise’
The story of La Mère Brazier could very well begin with ‘Once upon a time’… It contains so many extraordinary events that it reads much like an enchanting gastronomic tale.
So, once upon a time, there was a young woman named Eugénie Brazier, born on a farm at the end of the 19th century. She was cast out by her father for having a child out of wedlock and came to Lyon to work as a nanny and later as a cook. She apprenticed under the renowned Mère Fillioux before opening her own restaurant in 1921, followed by a second one a few years later at the Col de la Luère.
‘L’ardente Brazier’ (the fiery Brazier), as French poet Jacques Prévert nicknamed her, was a woman who, in barely a decade, became the first female chef to receive three Michelin stars for each of her two establishments, and helped transform Lyon into the ‘world capital of gastronomy’.
Her reign lasted until the 1970s, with her granddaughter Jacotte Brazier taking over after her death in 1977, before finally selling the restaurant in 2004.
“What I want is for customers to feel at home and to leave happy, with a smile on their faces. Many have been coming here for 30 or 40 years to enjoy a timeless experience in an establishment unlike any other.”
Mathieu Viannay
The renaissance
with Mathieu Viannay
In 2018, Mathieu Viannay, already successfully established in Lyon where he earned his first Michelin star, took over the restaurant with one clear goal in mind: to reinvent the establishment while retaining its spirit and legacy.
Extensive work, overseen by interior designers Alain and Dominique Vavro, restored the walls to their former 1930s’ tiled splendour. Meanwhile the kitchens were fully renovated and the whole given a touch of contemporary elegance, while still retaining the layout of a family home, complete with all its charming nooks and crannies.
Awarded two Michelin stars in 2009, Mathieu Viannay’s carefully crafted alchemy between yesteryear and the modern day works wonders.
Here, time knows no bounds and the magic of this legendary address is still very much alive.
