The Hilton Lyon, now known as the Lyon Marriott Hotel Cite Internationale, is conveniently located along Quai Charles de Gaulle, offering views of the nearby Tete d’Or Park.
The lobby was welcoming and spacious, with lots of natural lighting and ample seating.
As a Hilton Honors Gold member, I was whisked through check in and to my room in no time.
The room was pretty standard for a Hilton property, and had 2 double beds pushed together.
The work desk was nicely tucked in one corner of the room, which was not excessively furnished. There was the standard flat screen television with cable options.
The bathroom was a little dull, with a two-in-one shower and bathtub, which sufficiently met my needs.
As it was still early in the day, I decided to roam the premises.
The executive lounge was empty when I got there. It had comfortable lounge chairs from which I could enjoy the views of the river just outside.
The gym was fairly well equipped, and there was an indoor jacuzzi pool for good measure.
With Lyon commonly known as the gastronomic capital of the world, I decided to head across town to Restaurant Tetedoie, a one Michelin Star establishment.
Tetedoie offers fantastic views of Lyon. With an interior that exuded such class, I knew that I was going to enjoy every bit of my experience.
The slices of scallops with truffle parfait and foie gras sauce was an excellent start to the meal. The ingredients were so delicate that they simply melted in my mouth.
Next was brittany crab with avocado and mango and citrus fruit jelly, all classic combinations when it comes to flavour and texture. The plating was excellent too.
While I was already celebrating inside, the next course blew me away. The rolled fillet of monkfish stuffed with langoustine, with pistachio ravioli stuffed with mushroom, served with langoustine emulsion, was the clear winning dish of the day for me. I savoured every bit of the dish.
The champagne sorbet was a nice touch to offer a break from all that richness so far.
Next up, free range stuffed pigeon with foie gras and truffle, served with beetroot and sweet spices, vegetables and parsnip puree. The meat was pink and tender, done just right.
The chocolate cake was a nice prelude to the main dessert.
To end off, the dacquoise and coconut crisp with lime cream and crystallised mango, with Victoria pineapple and passion fruit ice cream sealed the deal for me. The buildup in the menu was very well executed, in a finale that was sure to impress.
The waiting staff served some sweets just before taking my leave.
What can I say? Lyon is truly the gastronomic capital of the world.
