Fodor's Expert Review Hotel de L'Abbaye

Set in the former rectory of an 18th-century abbey, this intimate boutique hotel capitalized on the gothic-style building's elegant lines for a decor that's both stylish and refined. One of the city's newer hotels, it benefits from a lovely spot on a quiet leafy square adjacent to the abbey, and is an easy two-minute walk from the Place Bellecour and the river and 10 minutes on foot from Lyon-Perrache train and metro station. The very good in-hotel restaurant L'Artichaut is a pleasant place for lunch or dinner, especially on nice days when you can dine outside under the plane trees. You can also order a coffee, tea, a drink, or dessert all day at the hotel's charming Café Basilic bar.