Stayed here in September 2010. Having had a disasterous trip down France, and our other accomodation falling through. They were a godsend. The staff were incredibly helpful and did everything they could to help us. We were given a suite, and it was very luxurious. The room service was great. The porter brought all our luggage, which was a lot with a baby!

Breakfast in our room was great, and a lot of choice. We only stayed the one night, but if I had to come down to this area of France again, I would stay here.

It is supposedly one of the only 5 star hotels in Lyon, but I do not think it deserves them. Comfort is OK and as often in Sofitel, beds are very comfy, but that's the only thing that stands out. Plus there was no bathtub in my room (and I checked the floor map, it was not smaller than other ones). Is this really serious when you pretend you're a luxury hotel ? So please, keep your Hermes samples and tell your so-called designers to work seriously.

The hotel is wonderfully well located. It jars in interesting ways as a late 20th century building in amongst earlier buildings. The bar on the top floor has a delightful view, it is a bit too velvety for my taste, but nice nonetheless and worth a visit, although the service was tardy to say the least on the Sunday evening we there. As others have commented the rooms are a bit tired, happens when carpets are used I guess, they stain and wear all too quickly. The bed was marvellous, I slept wonderfully well and delighted in the view of river and cityscape I woke to on a bright winter morning. Service was okay, nothing to write home about (especially in the bar). Recommend for a special night or two but would start to notice the cost if spent much more time there.

Room: I stayed in the junior suite which was really spacious. The style of the room looked kind of tired, but the bathrooms look new and have a very elegant style in dark tones. The room was full of amenities. The bed is super comfortable and so are the thick bathrobes. A great plus is that the (non-alcoholic) minibar comes for free! I previously stayed in another standard room which was also pretty spacious and matched with the comments above. River view rooms are better, yet to really enjoy the view, head to the top floor bar.

Location: the hotel is very well located, a 2-minute walk from Place Bellecourt. Arriving by métro, take the exit Rue de la Charité/Hôtel de Poste - the hotel is just behind the post building, towards the river. Not really attractive by day, the building is nicely lit at night, which gives it a bit more value. The hotel location is ideal for both sightseeing and shopping.

Spa/fitness area: the fitness area features a dozen of modern machines and lays in a stylish glass room. The spa includes a hamam and a "shower path" with three programmes to choose from. The hamam is fine. The shower path is a good idea and it's funny (with light and sound effects to recreate a tropical storm) - it's worth a try. Yet 2 of the 4 showers are so cold that you might not resist through the whole experience. We wanted to try out a massage (reasonably priced for hotel) but they were unfortunately booked out.

Bars: the top floor Melhor bar is the one place you should not miss out on! Beautifully decorated, with a breathtaking view over the river, a great selection of delicious cocktails and professional service. This bar is the pearl of this establishment. The ground floor bar is also very stylish but the service is somehow slower and has no views, if not on the reception area, which is wonderfully decorated!

Reception/concierge/service: All the personnel are very nice and helpful. I somehow got the impression that, while some members of the personnel are very professional, some others lack of initiative and are easily lost when you ask them something. Altogether the service was very good and corresponds with the category of the hotel.

Les 3 Dômes restaurant: we really enjoyed the dinner at this Michelin starred restaurant on the top floor of the hotel. The view over the town centre is wonderful - book well in advance and ask for a window table. In spite of the menus looking small, you'll get plenty of delicious in-betweens that won't make you leave hungry. All the food and the wine selection were excellent! If you are visiting to celebrate a special occasion, don't hesitate to let the personnel know ;)
Top up the experience with a cocktail at the Melhor bar next door!

Breakfast: positive points are the food quality and the view over the town, as breakfast is served in the 3 Dômes restaurant. It's a good option to enjoy the view if you've missed out on the dinner. Unfortunately the personnel is a bit unorganised - you might get your table cleaned up for the next guests while you got up to fill your plate at the buffet or assist to some clumsy behaviours. Despite that the servers are very nice.

To sum up: Although it might lack that "little plus" that other Sofitels get you used to, this hotel is a good choice as it is well located, features a great restaurant, an excellent bar, the whole with wonderful views!