TL;DR

Hilltop luxury – a sleek contemporary boutique hotel with views over Lyon from Fourvière.
Modern design – architecture by Jean-Michel Wilmotte and interiors by Jacques Grange bring the sophistication.
Exceptional wellness – The Baths offers a 20-metre heated pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and fitness facilities.

This sleek boutique hotel sits on the top of Lyon’s most lovely hill, Fourvière.

It’s contemporary at its finest, yet it actually fits into the fabric of this old city surprisingly well. We suspect it’s all the windows.

Created by French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and designer Jacques Grange, the architecture takes a delicately considered modern approach.

It does err on the side of beige, with a neutral colour palette that might benefit from a little zhuzh.

Those views, though… Lyon’s beauty is on full display from Villa Maïa, particularly at sunset, with the River Saône winding slowly through the city as the lights begin to sparkle.

What are the rooms like?

33 rooms – guest rooms start at 20 square metres, with Suites offering substantially more space.
Beautiful bathrooms – glass, marble and heated floors make these a particular highlight.
Luxury details – silk duvets, private terraces, stylish minibars and dramatic artwork add comfort and character.
Top-floor apartment – the swishest option overlooks the entire city and is ideal for a special stay.
See each room in detail here

Villa Maïa’s guest rooms suffer the most from too much modernity, we feel.

Without the well-chosen wall pieces and some charming striped upholstery, they might be a bit boring.

Yet, we like the dramatic artwork, and they are just so comfortable.

They also have bathrooms to die for; we’re talking glass, marble, and heated floors.

Silk duvets add an extra luxury feel, as do the extra swanky minibars and those private terraces have such amazing views.

The rooms start at 20 square metres, which is more than enough room, but if you’re feeling indulgent, and want a terrace to go with the stunning views we’ll steer you towards the suites.

These start at 60 square metres; plenty of room for plenty of extra furniture that makes each one feel much more like a homely flat than a hotel room.

There’s also a superbly swish apartment tucked on the top of the building, overlooking the entire city. If you need to impress someone, this is absolutely the spot.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Excellent breakfast – table service and a generous buffet cover all the bases.
Dining options – fine dining, a casual Bistrot, a glowing hotel bar and cosy library give plenty of choice.
The Baths – the standout wellness facility includes a 20-metre heated pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.
Fitness facilities – a solid fitness room rounds out the hotel’s wellness offering.

The complimentary breakfast offers both table service and a delightful buffet. Any way you want your morning meal, that’s the way you got it.

And once dinnertime rolls around, you’ve got some excellent options.

Most hotels on the top of Lyon’s most iconic hill have excellent restaurants, and Villa Maïa is a keen collaborator.

A Tetedoie complex just across the way from the hotel offers fine dining, superb views, and a chic Bistrot for the days when you’re feeling just a smidge more casual.

The hotel bar is a lovely option, all glowy lights and cheerful colours, also connected to a cosy library perfect for a glass of Beaujolais.

But really, the magic of Villa Maïa lies in its wellness programme.

Titled ‘The Baths,’ the onsite spa and wellness area is made for relaxation. The contemporary charm holds, but it’s tempered by classic architecture elements that make each section of The Baths feel like it could have been made yesterday or centuries ago.

The 20-metre heated swimming pool is a definite highlight, perfect for laps, lounging, whatever you need.

We’d say lounging might be best in the Jacuzzi, sauna, or steam room, but you do you.

There’s also a solid fitness room, though we won’t blame you if you decide walking up and down the hill is enough exercise to be going on with.

How is the neighbourhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Hilltop setting – Fourvière is picturesque and exclusive-feeling, though less accessible than central Lyon.
Scenic walks – beautiful paths lead downhill towards Vieux Lyon and the city’s historic sights.
Roman history – the Théâtre Gallo Romain is just five minutes away on foot.
Easy access – the funicular provides a convenient way to get between Fourvière and the city below.

The neighbourhood is incredibly picturesque but, of course, not so accessible, though in a nice, exclusive-feeling kind of way, and there’s the funicular to get you up and down anyway.

To get the most out of it though, it’s helpful to enjoy walking, because it’s just gorgeous around here, with scenic paths and the famed Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière.

Our favourite move is to amble down on foot towards Vieux Lyon taking all the time we need, then catch the funicular back up to Fourvière.

If you’re staying at Villa Maïa you also just have to visit the Théâtre Gallo Romain, ancient Gaul’s oldest Roman theatre, on the same hill, about five minutes walk from the hotel.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“Amazing service. The property is beautiful but the quality of service is exceptional….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”Nothing much to complain about, at most the aircon which kept turning back on by itself….”

See all guest reviews on Booking.com