Hotel du Theatre

Right in the heart of Lyon, with lovely staff who know the city well. The hotel is basic, but it had enough for what I needed. I’d stay again.

Marcia at reception was a real highlight. She brought so much warmth and energy, always smiling, helpful and ready for a chat or a laugh. She was a big reason my stay was so enjoyable. The friendly hospitality helped make up for one small disappointment: I’d mentioned ahead of time that I was travelling for my birthday, but there was no welcome note or gesture. It wasn’t a big deal, though a small touch like that would’ve meant a lot while travelling solo. I booked for one night and ended up staying three. My room was huge and clean, with a stunning view of the Lyon theater. The hotel sits in the heart of the city on a peaceful street, just steps from the river and the Old Town. Everything was walkable, including public transport and the main train station, about 20 minutes away on foot. The atmosphere was bright and cosy, with a lovely warm lobby and breakfast available. There’s no elevator, so that’s good to know, but I had no trouble carrying my trolley up the stairs. The room had a fan and a small cooling unit that worked perfectly in the warmer months, plus a small electric fireplace for warmth and atmosphere on colder days. It’s clean and comfortable, great value and I’ll definitely return next time I’m in Lyon.

The room was spacious, the rates felt fair, and the staff were helpful and full of useful information. The location was a real plus too. One thing to keep in mind if mobility is an issue: there’s no lift, and reception is several floors up.

The neighborhood felt safe, and you can walk to every tourist site from here. The staff were also very friendly, and the location is hard to beat. But the bed and pillows were really uncomfortable, and there was no air conditioning. In June through August, Lyon can get up to 38C (100F), which can make sleeping in the heat almost impossible. For what we paid, the room wasn’t good enough.