Sofitel Lyon Bellecour

The Sofitel Lyon Bellecour is situated in a square white building that directly faces the Rhone. The hotel opened 1969, and interiors combine modern decor with some more outdated vestiges from the hotel's past. A high-ceilinged lobby welcomes guests with dark accents, velvety purple couches, and large vases filled with flowers. A silk mural covers one wall -- a nod to Lyon's silk industry -- and makes an appearance again in the chic, red-silk ceiling bar on the eighth story. With a Michelin-starred restaurant, river views, high-end service, and other amenities, this is certainly a luxury affair, but it's former five-pearl status has lost some luster over the years. Some common areas, and rooms in particular, still have a '70s vibe that feels outdated. The silk-theme offers a gently romantic air that attracts couples, while the location attracts tourists and business guests.

The Sofitel Lyon Bellecour is situated in the city center, overlooking the Rhône and in easy walking distance to shops, restaurants, and attractions, including the pedestrian promenade on Rue Victor-Hugo and Place Bellecour, each a six-minute walk. The old city center, Vieux Lyon, is a bit further out, a 15- to 20-minute walk. The the Bellecour metro station is an seven-minute walk, and guests can walk to the Gare de Lyon-Perrache train station in about 15 minutes, or get there by car in less than 10. The Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport is about a 30-minute drive. Parking is available on-site, but costs an extra fee.

Compared with the high-end luxury found in most Sofitel properties, guest rooms here feel outdated and somber. Decor varies from room to room, but the air is vaguely 70s -- carpeting might be orange or pea-green with coordinating drapes in stripes or solids. Light wood furniture throughout adds warmth but little style. Guests find the beds comfortable, though, and the beige-tiled bathrooms are roomy with marbled vanities and combination showers and tubs. 

While decor falls short, amenities are high-end, with big flat-screen TVs, Bose sound systems, and free Wi-Fi, in addition to espresso machines, and mini-fridges stocked with free non-alcoholic drinks, like soft drinks, juice, and water, restocked daily. Bathrooms have hairdryers, bathrobes, and posh Hermes toiletries. Classic Rooms measure a nice 215 square feet, while Junior Suites are more than double that size, and Apartments are four times that space. The latter features sitting and dining areas and great views over the Rhone.

While decor and rooms can fall short, features are suitably luxurious. The crown jewel is the reservation-required Michelin-starred rated Les Trois Dômes restaurant, situated on the eighth-story, with panoramic windows that look out onto the city and Rhone. A nice breakfast buffet is also served here daily, though it costs an extra fee. For more casual fare a second restaurant, The Silk Brasserie, serves up French dishes for lunch and dinner in a contemporary atmosphere. The hotel also has a lobby bar and the elegant eighth-story Le Melhor bar, with red silk accents, velvety red chairs, and city views. Room service is available 24 hours.

Wellness facilities include a small gym, hammam, and spa offering massages and other treatments, but there's no pool or whirlpool. The hotel has 12 meeting and event rooms, a terrace with lounge space, and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. For guests traveling with children, the hotel offers kids' menus, cribs, and can arrange childcare, and pets are allowed for an extra nightly fee. Service is high-end, with concierges and porters at the ready.