Le Zeste Gourmand

The story

Le Zeste Gourmand Lyon – Modern Cuisine with Chef Benjamin Bouvard | Bib Gourmand

Le Zeste Gourmand

In the heart of Lyon’s 6th arrondissement, near the Brotteaux district, Le Zeste Gourmand is the realisation of chef Benjamin Bouvard’s ambition. He opened the restaurant in 2017, at the age of 28, to have full creative control over his menu. The name itself reveals his culinary signature: “zeste” for the citrus fruits he loves to work with, and “gourmand” for the generous, layered flavours that define his cooking.

Bouvard’s training is rooted in Lyon’s great houses. He worked at Paul Bocuse in Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or and La Pyramide in Vienne, then spent four years specialising in pastry. In 2013, Valrhôna named him an Expert Valrhôna Chocolatier/Pâtissier, and the following year he represented Best Western France at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris. That technical precision, especially in pastry, carries into his savoury dishes.

The dining room is Scandinavian and chic, with citrus tones that echo the restaurant’s name. It’s a setting suited to both business lunches and romantic dinners — Bouvard and his team welcome guests Tuesday to Friday for lunch, Monday to Friday for dinner.

The cuisine is modern, built on careful sourcing and unexpected combinations of flavour and aroma. The restaurant holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, awarded for good quality, good value cooking. It’s a recognition that matches Bouvard’s approach: refined without pretension, rooted in the product, and always with a touch of zest.