29 Nov The best chocolate makers in Lyon
💕 To celebrate Valentine’s Day, but also because we know that you, like us, have a sweet tooth, this month’s Sélect’Lyon features a TOP list of the best chocolate makers in Lyon. 🍫
From the traditional to the most innovative chocolate, with classic yet timeless flavours or, on the contrary, totally unknown but delicious, there’s something for everyone! Hold on to your hats, because you’ll probably be very hungry after reading this article… 😋
VOISIN – The unmissable
For generations, since the company was founded in 1897, the wonders of this chocolate maker have been delighting the people of Lyon and other visitors. Known for its famous Coussins de Lyon, this artisan chocolatier offers many other delights. 🤩
Defending ‘the flavours of good chocolate’, Voisin is committed to sourcing exceptional raw materials, both internationally (with the search for the best cocoa beans, coffee beans, tonka beans…) and locally, with products from the Rhône Valley, walnuts from the Dauphiné, Morello cherries from Beaujolais, and spirits from Burgundy or Voiron. 🍒
Combining traditional craftsmanship, a constant quest for innovation and strong values (Voisin is committed to developing a sustainable cocoa production chain, for example), the company’s hard work was rewarded in 2014 when it was awarded the “Entreprise du Patrimoine vivant” (Living Heritage Company) label. 🥰
If you would like to find out more, you can visit their website.
📍Anywhere in Lyon (see here).
SÈVE – The “trendiest”
In 1991, Richard and Gaëlle Sève moved to Champagne-au-Mont-d’Or to open their pastries shop. It was only later that they developed their chocolate business. 🍰
Le maître mot de la maison ?The house motto? To offer chocolate of incredible quality and, above all, very toothsome! With the opening of the chocolate museum “Musée du Chocolat” (MUSCO) in Limonest in 2017 (where the laboratory is now located, a village close to Lyon), Sève has taken another step into the world of roasting and processing cocoa beans. 🏛
In addition to delicious pastries, Sève offers chocolate in all its forms in its shops: “Grands Crus” (= great vintages) bars, but also incredible chocolate sweets, mendiants, palets, orangettes, and even liqueur chocolates, which it makes a point of honour to promote… We’d also like to give them a special mention for their handmade marshmallow bears, coated in dark or milk chocolate. 😍
More information their website.
📍 Several shops in Lyon (Halles Paul Bocuse, Quai Saint-Antoine…) and nearby areas.
PHILIPPE BEL – The “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” (Best craftsperson of France)
Philippe Bel is all about excellence and daring. Having been awarded the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France – Chocolatier (Best craftsperson of France – Chocolate maker) in 2004, it’s only when you taste his chocolates that you realise the full extent of his expertise. 🥇
For those unfamiliar with the term, to become a ‘MOF’, you have to pass a highly selective competition in which it is not even certain that there will be a winner in the year of the competition! But when you win the title, you get it for life.
All his chocolates are obviously homemade, but what really caught our attention was the huge variety of chocolate treats on offer. His main aim? To pleasantly surprise us with ‘striking combinations of flavours’. 😮
In fact, these finely-crafted chocolates, made with exceptional ingredients, are made for the most curious among us! Imagine a perfect balance between chocolate and pepper, chocolate and jasmine, or chocolate and yuzu (an Asian citrus fruit)… These original flavours, the result of incredible labour and patience, are a real treat for the taste buds! 🤩
More information just here.
📍27 rue Tupin, 69002 Lyon
BOUILLET – The most wandering
Drawing on his travels between Lyon and Japan, Sébastien Bouillet is keen to introduce everyone to chocolates that are both classic and incredibly original. Taking over his parents‘ patisserie, founded in 1977 in the Croix-Rousse district, after an obstinate and rigorous apprenticeship, Bouillet began offering innovative creations inspired by trends (“the better to hijack them”). 🇯🇵
Obviously very gifted in pastry-making, he has gradually turned his attention to the world of chocolate, now putting it in all its forms (with chocolate bonbons, gummy bears, sparkling chocolate…). Proud of his Lyon roots, he has created several small specialities in a nod to the city, such as the Red de Lyon tablet (a tribute to the praline tart) and the Maca’Lyon (a caramel macaroon coated in 70% chocolate and covered in gold flakes). 🇫🇷
With top-quality raw materials and a passion for discovery, the chocolates he offers are all exceptional – and make you want to try them all! 🤤
More information his website.
📍Several shops in and around Lyon
WEISS – The most historic
No, Weiss is not the oldest chocolatier in France – but it’s clearly one of the oldest! And this tradition can be found everywhere in their chocolates. The company, founded in Saint-Etienne in 1882, works with blended chocolate (a combination of different cocoa origins) to offer top-of-the-range chocolates with a unique, highly recognisable taste. 😮
This art of blending, inspired by the world of wine (Eugène Weiss was the son of winemakers), also makes it possible to blend flavours that are both authentic and daring. The house is also the source of several innovations: for example, it was they who created the first chocolate with the highest percentage of cocoa (Ébène, with 72% cocoa). 🖤
Today, the company oscillates between excellent craftsmanship and a constant search for new ideas, which has earned it the ‘Entreprise du Patrimoine vivant’ (Living Heritage Company) label. From chocolate bonbons to baking chocolates, there’s bound to be something just right for you! 😋
If you want to know more, go right here.
📍50 rue de Brest, 69002 Lyon
BRUNO SALADINO – The most promising
If there’s one chocolate-maker who should be our favourite in this TOP, it would clearly be Saladino! Very attached to his trade and to craftsmanship in general, Bruno puts all his heart into his productions. Highly demanding and rigorous, he and his apprentices have taken part in numerous competitions, such as the one for the best praline tart – from which they won a gold medal! He has also been 3 times a finalist in the Meilleur Ouvrier de France – Chocolatier competition! 😍
This chocolate-maker and confectioner offers delicious creations with a subtle, refined flavour. In his shop, we can find a number of must-tries, such as candied fruit coated in chocolate, or specialities bearing the effigy of Lyon, such as Navettes des Canuts. 🍫
But our favourites are the chocolate “candies” bonbons, made from homemade pralines with top-quality dried fruit (such as Iranian pistachios) or ganaches infused or spiced with surprising but wonderful ingredients (strawberry, basil…). It’s worth noting that these sweets change with the seasons – so you can discover even more gourmet flavours! 🍓
Find out more about the history of the company and its product catalogue on their website.
📍66b rue Saint-Jean, 69005 Lyon
LOUIS SIMART – The most innovative
This former pastry chef (he too!) has been devoting himself almost exclusively to chocolate for some years now. Having discovered all the incredible properties of this food, Louis Simart has been having fun with chocolate since he set up his shop in 2017 – much to our delight! 😁
Thanks to his creativity, the chocolates he produces are each more delicious and surprising than the last. But even if he adds some very original subtleties, he still uses high-quality products: hazelnuts from Italy, vanilla from Madagascar, pistachios from Iran… 🤩
What’s more, almost all the chocolates he creates are pure origin, i.e. made from the same variety of cocoa bean. And when that’s not the case, L.S. blends different beans to create his signature flavour. Enough to make you want to try everything… That said, our favourite is the unmissable Pavé de Lyon, a delicacy with hazelnuts and cocoa butter. 🤤
More information on his website
📍45 rue Franklin, 69002 Lyon
We hope that this selection of the best chocolate makers in Lyon has made you salivate 🤤
If you want to give a look at our old TOP, it’s just here!
See you soon for a new selection!
📍The Lyon FOOD Tour team
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