19 Best Shopping in Lyon and the Alps, France

Hams cured right on the premises hang from the ceiling at this small gourmet shop, where you can sample just about any kind of regional meat or cheese. Looking for a pot of foie gras, or perhaps a bottle of the locally made liquor called génépi? This is the place.

For great wines, tasting sessions, and up-to-the-minute information on local restaurants, don't miss the prize-winning "flying sommelier," Georges Dos Santos, at Antic Wine.

Some say Bernachon is the best chocolaterie in France. It's a family business that proudly passes the torch from father to son.

With a stunning selection of artisanal chocolate, Bouillet is paradise for chocoholics. It also has stores at 14 rue des Archers and 3 rue d'Austerlitz.

The best tea shop in Lyon, Cha Yuan stocks more than 300 varieties from all over the world. You can also buy candies, gourmet goodies, and everything you need to brew the perfect cup of tea.

Smelling of old leather and ancient paper, this shop sells rare and antique books.

To sample a sensational tartiflette, the Savoie casserole made with potatoes, diced bits of salt pork, and locally produced Reblochon cheese, head to this tiny gourmet shop in Méribel Mottaret. It's made by hand in the spotless open kitchen, along with piles of diots (sausages) and other delicacies.

Lyon's stately 17th-century hospital is now a dazzling center for dining, shopping, and leisure. The six spacious courtyards are lined with an assortment of stylish high-end fashion, decor, and cosmetics chains and one-off boutiques, interspersed with upscale specialty food shops, wine and cocktail bars, and chic indoor-outdoor dining, along with two museums, the Cité Internationale de Gastronomie and the elegant Intercontinental Lyon Hôtel-Dieu, the city's massive luxury hotel.

Plan a trip here to see how silk prints are made, and perhaps take home a piece of Lyon.

In Lyon's old silk quartier, this boutique is replete with fine examples of locally made fabrics that you can wear or take home with you.

Take a cue from superstar chef Paul Bocuse and shop at the market stalls of Lyon's most extensive and vibrant food market, named after its legendary chef.

This shop specializes in Fafiotte's high-end evening wear, and you need an appointment to visit.

One of the biggest shopping centers in Europe is Part-Dieu, where you'll find more than 250 shops and boutiques. Galeries Lafayette, a major department store, brings Parisian flair to Lyon.

A good, if somewhat pricey, place to stock up on pastries, preserved meats, and wines. It has expanded to become a mini-chain, with locations selling gourmet prepared foods at 8 place Bellecour, 48 rue Vendôme, and 42 rue de la République. The tearoom is at this address.

This is the Lyon outpost of the famous Parisian department store specializing in fashions for men and women.

This is the place for charcuterie. Look for the wonderful array of sausages hanging in the front window.

For the famous chocolate coussins (pillows), check out Voisin. The confections have become so popular that there are now eight shops in Lyon, including one at 11 place Bellecour, right next to the main tourist office.