Lyon: 5 hotels with remarkable spas

1. Villa Maïa | A spa inspired by Roman thermal baths

What's the spa like?  In Lyon's 400 m² spa, inspired by the Roman baths, nothing is missing: Pompeian ceilings, marble columns, beige Champagne stone and blue Hainaut stone. Under its vaulted ceiling, the superb 20-meter swimming pool is adorned with a black-and-white marble checkerboard and a reproduction of the mosaic found here during archaeological excavations carried out before the hotel was built. This magical place, imagined by Jacques Grange, features a jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, gym and two treatment rooms opening onto a garden, where practitioners offer Biologique Rechercher face treatments and body treatments by the organic rose cosmetics brand Aïam Maïa.

And the hotel? Clinging to the Fourvière hill, on the site of the Antiquaille not far from the Roman theaters, vestiges of the ancient city, this 5 star hotel offers a magnificent view of the capital of Gaul. The best and brightest were responsible for the design of this Lyon boutique-hotel with 27 rooms, 6 suites and 1 apartment of 100 m². Judge for yourself: the architecture is by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the decor is by Jacques Grange, and a contemplative garden was designed by Louis Benech: what a cast! The highly contemporary concrete building is covered with bronze-tinted opaque glass panels. In the rooms, you'll appreciate a very contemporary elegance punctuated by Art Deco touches and Japanese influences.

The sober colors range from browns to greys, with a few bright touches such as the bed throws and the circular photographs above the bed by Charles Maze. The top? The 60 to 65 m² suites with their panoramic terrace overlooking Lyon. The lobby boasts high ceilings, white columns and a floor of blond and black marble, a nod to Roman history. The bar, with its brightly-colored sofas and pop art canvases, is a different story. The gastronomic restaurant opposite the hotel, under the direction of Christian Têtedoie, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, offers a wide range of regional dishes reinterpreting the great classics of Lyonnais cuisine.

Villa Maïa
37 keys, from €500 per night
8, rue du Professeur Pierre-Marion, 69000 Lyon

2. Cour des Loges | Pure Altitude Spa in Vieux Lyon

What's the spa like? The renovated Pure Altitude spa is inspired by the Roman thermal baths, an escape-in-wellness decorated in stone and marble. It houses a sauna, hammam, jacuzzi and counter-current swimming corridor, and two cabins offering facial and body treatments using Pure Altitude products with mountain herbs.

And the hotel? Entering the Cour des Loges is like stepping back in time! Sold by the Sibuet family to the Radisson Group in 2021, this 5 star hotel is located in the heart of Vieux Lyon, in a UNESCO World Heritage site. Comprising 4 houses surrounding a square courtyard, it houses 60 different rooms, including 12 suites. In the latter, the atmosphere is cosy, thanks to Italian Renaissance-inspired headboards, hand-painted frescoes, antique furniture and taffeta curtains in warm hues. At the one-star Les Loges restaurant, set in the square courtyard under a glass roof, chef Anthony Bonnet proposes a menu reinterpreting the region's culinary traditions, using local, seasonal produce. The Café-Épicerie, reached via one of the hotel's traboules, offers a bistro-style menu.

Cour des Loges
60 keys, from €220 per night
6 Rue du Bœuf, 69005 Lyon

3. Hotel Lyon Métropole | The most complete in town

What's the spa like? The incredible 8,000 m² spa, one of the largest city spas in France, features a 25 m indoor pool, a 50 m outdoor Olympic pool, an IYASHI area, a Stalagmit ice fountain, an open-air hydro-massage course heated all year round, and the Grotto, a vast pool with waterfalls and bubble beds. Upstairs are 8 cabins, including 2 duos, featuring Spa Lyon Plage Signatures treatments, Cinq Mondes, Shiseido rituals and LPG face and body treatments. Since January 2022, 600 m² have been dedicated exclusively to relaxation and a brand-new coaching room.

And the hotel? The 4 star Hotel Lyon Métropole, set in a green setting on the banks of the Saône, boasts 174 rooms, studios and apartments with bright, contemporary decor, some with balconies or terraces overlooking the Saône or the Olympic-size swimming pool. At Brasserie La Plage, chef Clément Lopez "à la carte" menu features dishes prepared with seasonal produce. Tip: enjoy a meal on the terrace by the Olympic-size swimming pool, weather permitting. The bar offers a fine selection of champagnes and whiskies. Finally, there's a playroom for children aged 1 to 6, and baby sitters are on hand to look after them while parents enjoy the spa.

Hotel Lyon Métropole
174 keys, from €170 per night
85, quai Joseph Gillet 69004 Lyon

4. Villa Florentine | Pools with a view

What's the spa like? Located on the second floor of this historic villa overlooking Lyon, the wellness area features a sauna and hammam in natural wood, as well as a cabin that can be transformed into a duo cabin for relaxing treatments under the Omnisens brand. Outside, the panoramic heated pool and whirlpool offer superb views over the city's rooftops, and in winter, the heated marble deckchairs let you contemplate the city from the comfort of your bathrobe.

And the hotel? Ideally located in the historic district of the 5th arrondissement, the Villa Florentine, a former 17th century convent turned five-star hotel, offers superb views over Lyon. Throughout its 29 rooms and suites, this Relais & Châteaux member takes its guests discovering the Italian Renaissance: antique furniture, Italian-style mosaics, thick carpets... The hotel now offers five 2 or 3-bedroom apartments, including a penthouse with terrace. Skilful restoration has preserved the period's architectural features: french ceilings, herringbone parquet flooring and stone vaults. The formidable glass roof that houses the gastronomic Michelin-starred restaurant Les Terrasses de Lyon offers a superb view of the city.

Villa Florentine
29 keys, from €300 per night
25, Montée Saint-Barthélemy, 69005 Lyon

5. Boscolo Lyon Hotel & Spa | A grotto of well-being in a palace

What's the spa like? In the basement, the 350 m² spa is reminiscent of a Roman thermal bath. We love the exposed stone walls and vaulted ceilings beneath which nestles a 10x5-meter swimming pool. There's also a hammam, sauna and 3 cabins, including 1 double. Treatments are carried out under the expertise of the ESPA brand, whose products contain combinations of plant extracts, active marine ingredients and essential oils.

And the hotel? Just a stone's throw from the emblematic Place Bellecour, on the banks of the Rhône, the 5 star Boscolo hotel is housed in a 19th century palace. Since 2016, it has been a member of the Boscolo collection, which celebrates the Dolce Vita, and has been completely renovated to house 133 rooms, including 17 suites ranging from 24 m² to 55 m². Their decor is a mix of Italian design and French elegance, and some of them boast a view of the Rhône River. The Angelo restaurant, with its black marble decor, offers a menu with an Italian accent, under the direction of chef Antonio Salvati.

Hotel Boscolo Lyon
133 keys, from €200 per night
11, Quai Jules Courmont 69002 Lyon