Javier Calleja Bonilla and Sébastien Hullard, with a combined age of 58, opened a shop in the up-and-coming district with a very specific idea: “to turn it into a small institution very quickly. In just two months we are already meeting regular customers.”

The duo, passionate about wine and good food, met at the Park Hyatt in Paris a few years ago. They stayed there for almost five years. “We learned a lot, especially in terms of service, but we wanted to create somewhere that was less formal and more relaxed. A few months ago, on a visit to Lyon, Sébastien saw a café for sale in Place Sathonay and, when he went to see it, he fell in love with it and immediately called his sidekick to suggest setting up on their own.

Chef Calleja plays on his Spanish origins by offering up dishes with Iberian influences, but also giving value to traditional recipes with an innovative twist.