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Shot by a City Insiders curator.
Rita-Plage
★ 4.0(1 review)Restaurant
feministcommunityeclectic
About the Vibe
Tucked away on Cours Tolstoï in Villeurbanne’s Totem neighborhood, Rita-Plage is less a typical restaurant and more a community hub with a conscience. This feminist, LGBTQI+-friendly space transforms by day into a vegetarian canteen serving affordable lunch buffets for locals and workers, then by night morphs into a cultural bar hosting everything from neo-cold wave DJ sets to jazz manouche jam sessions. It’s the kind of place where you might catch a queer feminist reading one night and a folk dance party with vegan tapas the next—always with a side of radical kindness. The vibe is intentionally unpolished and welcoming, with a focus on social connection over fine dining. You’ll find a rotating cast of artists, activists, and neighbors mingling over plant-based plates and craft beers. It’s not about perfection; it’s about presence, creativity, and showing up for each other. Known for its feminist ethos, vegan brunches on Sundays, and eclectic cultural programming that feels genuinely rooted in the neighborhood. Best for: solo coffee, group dinners with a cause, or just hanging out in a space that feels like home.
Known For
- •vegan lunch buffets
- •Sunday brunch
- •live music and DJ sets
- •queer feminist events
Best For
lunch with localscultural eveningsbrunch with friends
1 review
City InsidersEditorialApril 2, 2026
A Community Hub with Conscience
Rita-Plage isn’t your average bistro—it’s a living, breathing extension of Villeurbanne’s activist heart. During the week, it serves as a no-frills vegetarian canteen where office workers and neighbors grab affordable, hearty plant-based meals. By evening, the tables clear and the space transforms into a cultural bar where the playlist might shift from jazz manouche to neo-cold wave in the same night. The staff and regulars treat you like family, and the atmosphere hums with a sense of shared purpose rather than pretension.
What sets Rita-Plage apart is its commitment to inclusivity and creativity. You’re just as likely to attend a queer feminist writing workshop as you are to enjoy a well-crafted vegan tart. The food is simple but thoughtful—think seasonal vegetables, homemade bread, and creative tartinades that prove plant-based doesn’t mean plain. It’s not Michelin-starred, but it’s something better: a place that feels like it was built by and for the community it serves.
If you’re looking for a spot that checks every box—good food, great company, and a cause worth supporting—this is it. Just come with an open mind and maybe a willingness to join the next sewing circle or protest planning session.