On May 11th, the Buvette Saint-Antoine nearly lost everything in a fire that broke out in the early morning. Just as the beautiful days were starting to peek through, the flames wreaked havoc at the establishment located along the Quai des Célestins, leaving the people of Lyon without one of their favorite spots to sip a drink with a view of the Fourvière hill. The dolce vita vibe by the Saône? Gone up in smoke. Thankfully, there were no casualties, but the incident forced the operators to close urgently, ruining what was supposed to be a sizzling summer season.
After weeks of navigating insurance paperwork, repairs, and big doubts, the bar is finally reopening its doors this Friday. Despite the slightly late timing – as August is often a calmer month – the teams are determined to take advantage of the back-to-school energy and an Indian summer that we hope will last a bit longer. The spot is... Ready to get back in action: the taps are hooked up, the tables are out, and the loyal patrons can’t wait to raise a glass to the return of this Lyon hangout.
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A highly anticipated comeback
While a complaint has been filed, the cause of the fire remains uncertain. The surveillance cameras did capture an individual turning around.Around the establishment before the fire broke out, there were no criminal leads identified to date. It's just another scare for the managers, who are already on edge after the incident. But today, it doesn't matter: the curtain rises, and an entire neighborhood is about to buzz with the sound of clinking glasses along the docks.
La Buvette Saint-Antoine is more than just a simple outdoor bar: it's an institution, a breath of fresh air in the urban chaos. Its reopening symbolizes a joyful resilience, a small return to normalcy in a rollercoaster summer of 2025. So this weekend, no more questions: let's head to the docks!