InterContinental Lyon - Hotel Dieu by IHG — Hotel in Lyon

have ben an IHG Platinum Ambassador member for over 23 years. I have stayed at just about every Intercontinental in Europe. I have also stayed in Sydney, Tel Aviv, Cape town, Crete, Auckland. The list goes on and on. I had spent a number of years while working in Paris, at 'Le Grand'.The General Director Christophe made it mandatory that I stop by to see how my French was progressing.|After 25 years, I know many staffs af the IHG hotels.| However, I must say that my two favorite IHG hotels, 'The Intercontinental 'Marseille' and 'Le Grand' have changed as I passed this last trip at the AMAZING Lyon-Hotel Dieu. |A number of years ago in Provence when directing shows, I was a frequent guest at the 'Marseille Intercontinental'. | Madelijn Vervoord, the General Director at the Marseille Intercontinental would always take personalized care of me. Instantly she gave good 'vibes' that continued from then on. Since it became my only 'go to hotel' in Provence, four fois par an, I was returning frequently. The hotel was aware of me and certainly showed appreciation for my loyalty. | Skip ahead a few years later to our latest trip to Lyon and Paris.||We had planned to stay a few nights at the 'Intercontinental Lyon-Hotel Dieu' in Lyon. I always felt Lyon needed a five star hotel of this caliber. We went ahead and booked our room, a premium room overlooking the Rhone. This is a nice room. A lovely room of what is offered. ||Kismet! Who was the General manager? Madelijn! Another plus.||Back to the stay itself at the hotel. We were floored when we entered our room. This was certainly not the room we had booked. The first thing I noticed was the perfect harmony that gave the guest the 'feel' of the hotel's age and 'patrimoine' mixed with the most LUXE comforts that a 5* hotel could offer. So how did we arrive to have been put in a room that was a stunning duplex with giant windows overlooking the Rhone? Madelijn had upgraded us to this very special duplex of a room! Ceiling to floor windows. Book this room or any room facing the Rhone river. Magical and for a practical fact, quiet and a sense of calm.||Part of the hotel is a large courtyard which is perfect to take a drink while you can gaze at this amazing history surrounding you.. The hotel just mixed the historic with a modern style that covered everything you expect from a 5* hotel. |The 'piece de résistance" was taking tea in 'The Dome'. The Dome is the heart of the hotel. There are sculptures, frescos, smaller 18th C medici style throughout the 'Dome' which has giant ceilings headed towards the sky. Circling above, was 'The Dome' as you crane your head up The most stunning antique Dome created with decoration in relief and the dome itself, made from Venetian colored glass of the 17th-19th C. | We took tea during the day but returned for our aperitifs before dinner. Very special indeed.|But on to more of the service of the hotel itself. I must mention that room service for whatever you needed was delivered in lightening speed. |Emilie and the front desk team, 'une équipe efficace' , were warm and yet very efficient at their responsibility. They were super. They gave you that sense of 'being taken care of' from the moment you entered the hotel.| I've noticed that it is Madelijn's MO to create the perfect mix of warmth and yet the most professional service from her staff.It shows at the 'Hotel-Lyon Part Dieu' as well. The lobby is beautifully well appointed.| Breakfast is great with a large amount of different offering.. Many juices, cheeses, yogurts, eggs, omelettes, sweet pastries and breads and many locally sourced. | We checked out the gym and spa but never found time to indulge Next time |Every sitting room in the lobby was well appointed. You should know that parking is expensive before you use the valet service of the hotel. Last but not least. One of the cleanest hotels that I have ever encountered.|.The whole experience made our stay in Lyon so special. We will be back in October and we are looking forward to return in October to our new favorite IHG...

Exceptional Stay at Intercontinental Lyon

During our weeklong trip to France, my family of three enjoyed an exceptional city break experience at the Intercontinental Lyon the weekend before Thanksgiving. Booked via American Express Travel, our stay was nothing short of remarkable.

Location and Accessibility: The hotel is perfectly situated, offering easy access to both the charming old town and the vibrant modern neighborhoods. This prime location made exploring Lyon a breeze, with plenty of public transport options, including taxis and ride sharing. We arrived by train and found it incredibly easy, relatively inexpensive, and quick to catch an ride to the hotel. However, during Saturday rush hour, it was challenging to get an taxi due to high demand. Fortunately, the subway is close and convenient, though navigating crowds with luggage can be a bit challenging.

Cultural Experiences: Lyon offers a rich tapestry of cultural attractions. We visited the Musée des Confluences, housed in a magnificent modern building with thought-provoking exhibits and breathtaking rooftop views of the city. Though a short tram ride from the hotel, we opted for a delightful walk through various city neighborhoods, providing both an enjoyable stroll and a necessary workout after long travel.

Hotel Building and Atmosphere: The Intercontinental Lyon is housed in a beautiful building that once served as a hospital. The interior is a blend of historic charm and modern luxury. We particularly enjoyed relaxing with a drink under the Dome and watching the hustle and bustle in the public spaces.

Check-in and Service: Our check-in experience was warm and high-class. The staff explained all the American Express conditions and benefits and even escorted us to our room, which was a lovely touch. Friends at American Express will be happy to read that all protocols were followed to a tee. The reception staff were top-notch, well-trained, and provided clear answers to all our questions, including connecting our IHG account to the AMEX reservation and assisting with logistics.

Room and Comfort: We stayed in a spacious duplex with an amazing river view. Watching the cars drive by on Quai Jules Courmont at night and seeing groups of runners adorned in neon lights across the river was a unique experience. The rain shower was perfect after our train ride, and the provided shaving kit was a thoughtful touch. The bed was very comfortable, with high-quality linens and a decent mattress. The lighting and window shades were easy to operate. Harry Potter fans will love the cool closet space under the staircase. The staff were very responsive to our requests, including setting up an extra bed and adjusting the room temperature.

Dining Experience: Breakfast at the hotel was outstanding, with a wide array of options that did justice to Lyon’s reputation as a foodie city. The variety included some interesting international choices, such as Lyonnaise versions of Chinese dumplings. The dessert, especially the apple tart, was divine. Cheeses, cold cuts, and yogurt were all beautifully presented and of superb quality. We also ordered takeout for lunch once, which did not disappoint—good quality and conveniently packaged.

Dinner at the Epona restaurant was excellent, with the food deserving a perfect 5/5. The foie gras was the best I’ve ever had. While the service was a bit cold, it did not detract much from the overall dining experience, which I would rate as 4.5/5.

In conclusion, our stay at the Intercontinental Lyon was a memorable and delightful experience, thanks to its fantastic location, excellent service, and high-quality amenities. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Lyon, especially for a family-friendly and...

My husband and I were in France and as he had never been to Lyon, we decided to spend our 11th anniversary at the Intercontinental. I had reached out to the hotel a few weeks prior to let them know, and also make a reservation for the restaurant (Epona), mentioning we were there for a special occasion. I had reserved the room with points, as I am a Royal Ambassador and have many I need to use. The hotel is beautiful and very majestic. The Front Office staff was very polite and helpful, the check-in was smooth, and they upgraded us to a beautiful duplex junior suite, which was spacious with large windows facing the Rhône. We were escorted to our suite by Maria, the manager on duty – she was amazing. Up to this point everything was going well and we were happy.

As requested, the hotel had made a reservation for us in the restaurant. When our train was late, I called to adjust the reservation and reminded them that we were celebrating our 11-year anniversary – I requested a nice table. We arrived, our table was located on the patio right at the entrance near a very large table, which made it feel like the kid’s table at a family holiday. We asked the hostess if we could move, and I said that I would prefer a table inside, where it would be more intimate. She said they could not but she put us at another table outside, which was better, but still not very romantic. From the moment we sat down we never had a Maître D or someone in charge come to our table. Not to say hello, advise us on the menu, or take our order. However, they did seem to be very attentive to all the other tables. I am a native French speaker but my husband is American and does not speak French. We were served exclusively by a very young team, that clearly were in training. While I understand the need to learn, they also need to be managed. They did the best they could, but the service was lacking. They were confused at times, had only basic English skills and our main waiter had dirty fingernails that were badly bitten. It was not an appetizing presentation. Overall the food was average – for the price we expected better. The large piece beef for two was very fatty and we ended up leaving over half of it uneaten. When they came to pick up the plates no questions were asked from anyone. Not “was everything ok?” “Did you enjoy your meal?” Nothing. It was crystal clear we were not satisfied with the food but no one seemed concerned. We asked for the bill and left – we didn’t order dessert, tea or coffee. Overall, our anniversary dinner was extremely disappointing.

I’m happy to report the breakfast in the morning was amazing – the food was great and service was much more commensurate with our expectations. I mentioned my concerns at check out and they said that someone would follow up with me. To date, I have not heard anything. As a Royal Ambassador I’ve always had such wonderful service. I am not one to complain, but some aspects of our stay in Lyon were very disappointing.

One thing I would like to mention is you have an exceptional concierge, whose name I believe is Cyrille. Hands down, he’s one of the best concierge I have encountered in all my years staying in...