Confluences Café — Restaurant in Lyon

I was accosted when entering the cafe with my boyfriend and asked why I was entering and what I wanted. We had a short wait before checking in for our flight and wanted a pastry or something small with a coffee. The black woman with dreadlocks stopped me at the door and asked why I was entering. No other customers were being accosted or stopped in this way and her attitude was beyond rude and aggressive. I said we wanted something light to eat “like maybe a croissant”. She snapped that she didn’t have any croissants. I don’t know what they do and don’t have - isn’t there the purpose of sitting and looking at a menu? She called her colleague over who asked if we wanted lunch and I said maybe only a dessert or something light. The cafe was almost empty. After much debate they said yes I could sit down but I had to order from a specific counter. My partner and I ordered two small desserts because we felt uncomfortable and that we had to eat. I went to the counter suggested and the waitress said that counter was only for lunches - you just told me to order there! She said if I wanted dessert I had to go to the other side. I said we had just been through this and I had put all of our things at the table and if I thought I couldn’t sit there, I would have gone in the first place. Her colleague agreed I could sit down and we ordered. However all of the desserts but one were out of stock anyway! I asked her colleague why nobody else was being stopped on their way inside and why so many other people were drinking only coffee or beers. He said maybe they ordered food first and then ordered a coffee which was not true as I saw these people walk in specifically to order a drink. All other people were being granted the dignity and respect of simply entering the cafe and finding a seat and not stopped at the door. We are well dressed professionals in our 30s and don’t deserve such hostility from this rude woman in a mood and taking it out on other people. We ordered and then when the waiter bring the drinks over, we saw a gaggle of drunk British people sit down with only beers. I asked why they were allowed to enter with only drinks and they said that that specific table was for drinks only. Previously he had said that the entire section was lunch only!!! There were even people sitting alone with their laptops at four seater tables and not being harassed. I said we would have sat anywhere and had not been instructed about different purposes for different tables. He even told me to calm down as if I had some kind of rage issue when it was almost like bullying behaviour ! He didn’t apologise and simply handed me a complaint form. Then I looked up and the same arrogant rude nasty black waitress was smirking and giggling. Later I looked over the counter and they were laughing together. Absolutely disgusting attitude and uncomfortable experience that ruined my day and gave...

I came there in the morning, I was recived by a very disrespectful woman, I ordered just a hot chocolate and was asked if for there or take away, to which I answered that id like to drink there, and was given a half empty take away cup anyways, as if they did not care. I sat down near the charger ports as I had to charge my phone, not 5 minutes after I sat down I was very rudely kicked out, when asked why, I was answered in a very disrespectful way in french and ended up being told I had to buy something to eat to be able to sit there. as I really had to charge my phone i ordered something to eat there which was once again given in a take away bag, once i had bought the food i decided to sit and charge my phone a bit. once i sat down again to finally charge my phone, another waitress started shouting at me again in french that i could not sit there, i asked once again why since i had already bought a drink and food, I had done everything right and was getting kicked out once again. Very rudely this woman after shouting at me in french finally says in English as an answer to why i was getting kicked out "because I'm here" and no further explanation. I of course started arguing as I had to charge my phone, just then the first woman that kicked me out finally appeared again and instead of apologizing or anything she just shouted at me repeatedly in a very rude manner in french "tu peux", finally letting me sit down and charge my phone for a bit. while i sat there charging my phone I saw as they did this to several other people, making them buy orange juice or just kicking them out for not really a reason. and while i was sitting there they made an effort to show me that they did not want me there, and just let me sat down almost just so I would shut up and could stop annoying them. I will never come back there and wouldn't recommend anyone to go eat there. It was a horrible and very expensive experience which really was not worth it. If i could put ZERO stars or even negative ones i would as this is a place I would and will now avoid. I think is one of the worse if not the worst experience i have ever had at a cafe,...

The worst Café in France!!!

Unfortunately, this was my first stop in France, and it turned out to be the worst café in Lyon. I had arranged a long layover to enjoy the city, but my first impression at Confluences Café was terrible. I want all French people to know, these entitled ladies are the first impression of France, and the referral of French behavior, many of us construct on our minds.

The tables were dirty, and the staff—three women who seemed to be in charge—completely ignored me even though they clearly saw I was waiting. One was busy texting, another watching videos, and the third on a video call. After several minutes, I gave up, but not before witnessing them shout at a customer and force others to move from clean tables to dirty ones.

The atmosphere was unfriendly, the service nonexistent, and the hygiene unacceptable. Judging by other reviews, (The unhappy customers take the time to write. The happy ones seem to be bots), this is not a one-time incident—it’s a tourist trap that has been allowed to continue for years without improvement.

Lyon is famous for its food and hospitality, but this café gives travelers the worst possible first impression of France. My advice: avoid Confluences Café at all costs. Don't let them ruin your experience from the...