EBG Rating: 7.8/10

Choice/Quality of Drinks:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
While the drinks selection is a tiny bit skewed towards the mainstream there is still a fair selection of French craft to explore, with the typical bolstering of Belgian beers in the fridge. Adequate alternatives and back-bar.

Style/Décor:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
A compact bar with an upstairs area overlooking the bar itself, decorated with a pleasant, but not overbearing eclectica, including personalised memories of good nights from years past. It is generally tasteful and personal rather than tacky.

Atmosphere/Character:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
There’s an international flavour – this is no hidden gem but a well-known city hangout for locals, ex-pats and anyone in between.

The bar is social and easy to chat to staff or other customers, while the tables are pleasant places to sit and socialise, or enjoy a drink.

Amenities/Events:
❤️❤️❤️
Food, snacks, merch, limited outdoor seating.

Value For Money:
❤️❤️❤️
Reasonable considering the location, more so during Happy Hour.

Description:
There is always a sense of comfort and security going to a city knowing that whatever else is happening, there’s a bar you like that’s open, enjoyable and friendly. Betty’s is a great contender for this award in Lyon.

In autumn and winter, bar openings are erratic and you can travel across a city only to be met by a bar with its shutters down and lights off. This happened over and over again on our February visit.

By contrast, Betty’s in Vieux (old) Lyon is something of a stalwart.

A compact bar with an upstairs area overlooking the bar itself, decorated with a pleasant, but not overbearing eclectica, including personalised memories of good nights from years past. It is generally tasteful and personal rather than tacky, and helps set the mood.

There’s an international flavour – this is no hidden gem but a well-known city hangout for locals, ex-pats and anyone in between.

The bar is social and easy to chat to staff or other customers, while the tables are pleasant places to sit and socialise, or enjoy a drink.

While the drinks selection is a tiny bit skewed towards the mainstream there is still a fair selection of French craft to explore, with the typical bolstering of Belgian beers in the fridge.

You’ll note a hint of the Dive Bar about it, and the bagels/burgers etc adds to that international flavour, and probably why this one doesn’t hit the absolute heights.

But for friendliness, reliability and location, you can’t look past it.

(Added March 2026)