Our Story: Three Tales, One Identity
From a 19th-century inn to today’s Halles, Limonest has always been a land of welcome and generosity.
Understanding Les Halles de Limonest means diving into the history of this Monts d’Or village. Three stories have shaped our identity: the hospitality tradition of coaching inns, the richness of the local terroir, and the convivial spirit of Lyon. These three pillars inspire our cooking and our welcome today.
Since the 8th Century, People Have Stopped in Limonest
As early as the 8th century, Limonest was a strategic crossroads on the royal road linking Lyon to Paris. Travelers leaving Lyon found their first resting place here: it was the first coaching inn after the great city.
You didn’t pass through Limonest: you stopped there.
The Auberge de la Fontaine (1876–1976)
In the 19th century, this tradition of hospitality took a new form with the Auberge de la Fontaine, which served travelers and locals for exactly one century.
For 100 years, the Auberge de la Fontaine embodied Limonest hospitality.
Les Halles de Limonest carries on this tradition of hospitality. We are not just a restaurant. We are a stop: a place where you take your time, where you restore yourself in the fullest sense, where you recharge before moving on.
Before Being a Town, Limonest Was an Orchard
Now a residential area, Limonest has a deeply agricultural past. The Monts d’Or were a rich and generous territory, where orchards, vineyards and livestock coexisted.
Orchards
Apples, pears, plums, and above all the Bergeron apricot
Vineyards
Renowned wines, ancestors of Beaujolais
Goats
Up to 20,000 goats in the Monts d’Or
The Bergeron Apricot: A Treasure Born Here
In 1870, the grandfather of this variety’s breeder was born in the hamlet of La Bruyère. It is in the orchards of the Monts d’Or that the story of this now-iconic fruit took root.
At Les Halles, we pay tribute to this local treasure with our signature Bergeron apricot tart.
We are the heirs of this rich agricultural past. Like our ancestors, we work with local producers from the Monts d’Or.
Lyonnaise Generosity with a Village Spirit
Lyon is just a few kilometers away. And with it, an entire gastronomic tradition that inspires us.
The Legacy of the Mères Lyonnaises
The Mères Lyonnaises, those legendary cooks, revolutionized French gastronomy by showcasing simple products and elevating them with generosity. Their philosophy: good, generous, authentic.
A stone’s throw from Limonest, Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or saw the birth of a legend of French gastronomy. This proximity inspires us and drives us toward excellence, while remaining true to our values: accessibility and conviviality.
We are not just a Lyonnaise restaurant: we are a VILLAGE restaurant.
Here, people know each other. They meet again. Customers become regulars, regulars become friends. On Wednesday evenings, the dining room buzzes with conversation and laughter.
At Les Halles, you are not a customer. You are a guest.
Our Story in Dates
First coaching inn
Limonest becomes a stop on the royal road
Roots of the Bergeron apricot
Birth of the breeder’s grandfather in the hamlet of La Bruyère
Opening of the Auberge de la Fontaine
A century of hospitality begins
Closing of the Auberge de la Fontaine
End of an era, but the tradition continues
The renewal of Les Halles
New team, new vision, success rediscovered. Wednesdays fully booked, loyal customers, and a beautiful story that continues.
A New Chapter Is Being Written
A few years ago, Les Halles de Limonest was going through a difficult period. The concept had run out of steam, prices had climbed, and customers were scarce.
Then came a new team, with a clear vision: to restore the soul of the place.
Reasonable prices again
Good food shouldn’t be a luxury. We repositioned our prices to offer excellent value for money.
Authentic, warm service
No more distance. Our team welcomes you like family, with a smile and generosity.
Cooking rooted in the terroir
We have rebuilt connections with local producers. Every plate tells a story of proximity.
Wednesdays: our success story
Quickly, Wednesday evenings became our flagship. Fully booked week after week, they reflect the restored trust.
You believed in us. You came back. You recommended us.
That trust is our greatest reward. It drives us to improve every day, to find new producers, to refine our recipes, to perfect every detail.
Thank you. We’re just getting started.
The "Make Yourself at Home" Spirit
At Les Halles, we believe a restaurant can be something other than a place you pass through. A place where you’re recognized. Where we remember what you like.
Those who return know: service becomes more fluid, suggestions more apt. One day, you’re offered a locker for your bottles.
It’s not a points program. It’s a relationship, simply.