Barabaar is the kind of Croix-Rousse bar where the staff make the place — reviewers consistently rave about the people behind the counter as much as the drinks. You'll find a wide beer selection (classics and craft), cocktails, and tapas to share, all in a warm, industrial-chic space with a coveted terrace that catches the afternoon sun. It's part of a small Lyon mini-chain (Brotteaux, Croix-Rousse, Vaise) but the Croix-Rousse outpost has its own loyal neighborhood following.
A Croix-Rousse neighborhood bar where the staff behind the counter are the real draw — great beer, sunny terrace, and the kind of welcome that turns one drink into three.
Grab a terrace table before 5pm on sunny days — it fills up fast with the afterwork crowd and stays packed into the evening.
The bar where the staff make the magic
Barabaar Croix-Rousse is the sort of bar you stumble into for one beer and end up staying three hours — and honestly, that's mostly down to the team behind the bar. Reviewers keep coming back to the same point: it's the humans at the counter who make this place feel special, not just the drinks. That said, the drinks hold their own. You'll find a genuinely broad beer list that runs from mainstream classics to more adventurous craft picks, plus cocktails and a solid tapas menu if you're peckish.
The space itself has an industrial-warm vibe — think exposed surfaces, casual seating, and a terrace that's prime real estate on a sunny Croix-Rousse afternoon. It's the kind of spot where the afterwork crowd bleeds into the evening crowd without anyone noticing the transition. The atmosphere is loud enough to feel fun but not so deafening you can't hear your friends.
It's not a quiet contemplative bar, and that's the point. Barabaar knows what it is: a neighborhood hangout that doesn't try too hard but gets the basics right — good beer, friendly faces, a terrace, and food when you need it. With a 4.3 rating across hundreds of reviews, the consensus is clear: locals love this place, and once you've been, you'll understand why.
Le Barabaar Croix-Rousse, c'est le genre de bar où tu rentres pour une bière et où tu finis ta soirée — et franchement, c'est surtout grâce à l'équipe derrière le comptoir. Les avis reviennent tous sur le même point : ce sont les humains qui font la magie du lieu. Le Barabaar, c'est un super spot, mais sans les gens derrière le bar, ce ne serait pas pareil. Ça dit quelque chose.
Côté boissons, le choix de bières est large et présente à la fois des grands classiques et des références plus pointues. Il y a aussi des cocktails et des tapas à grignoter, parfait pour l'afterwork. La terrasse est super prisée dès que le soleil pointe le bout de son nez — c'est l'endroit idéal pour un apéro sur les hauteurs de la Croix-Rousse. L'ambiance est chaleureuse, un peu industrielle, et le passage entre l'afterwork et la soirée se fait tout naturellement.
C'est pas un bar où tu vas pour chuchoter, c'est un bar de quartier vivant, assumé. Avec 4,3 sur 5 et plus de 700 avis, les Lyonnais ont voté : le Barabaar fait partie des adresses qu'on recommande à ses potes sans hésiter. Une valeur sûre de la Croix-Rousse.