Brasserie Barbotin
Marseille
B3 Designers conceptualised and designed the interiors for La Nouvelle Garde Group’s new brasserie in Lyon, France
In 2025, the Nouvelle Garde group brought their dynamic energy to Lyon, setting up shop in the heart of the city at 68 Rue Mercière. Taking over the legendary Eden Rock Café, a site steeped in history that was once an abbey church and later a basilica, B3 Designers worked to transform it into Brasserie Des Deux Rives, a warm, spirited French brasserie with a distinctly Lyonnais soul.
We drew inspiration from Lyon’s rich silk and textile heritage, paying homage to the haberdasheries that shaped the city’s identity. Throughout, the classic gingham pattern emblematic of Lyon’s working-class dining culture, appears in unexpected ways – boldly woven into wall panels, upholstery, cushions, and even reimagined in metal on the bar front. This cheeky, light-hearted approach invites guests into a space that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly new.
Upon entering, guests are welcomed by an open kitchen and a lively bar anchored by a sculptural staircase leading upstairs. The dining room fully embraces the gingham motif in energetic and fun ways. Upstairs, a wraparound banquette is complemented by a smaller service bar that plays with traditional materials: warm timbers, cascading curtains, and a gantry inspired by fabric rolls.
The brasserie seamlessly connects two attached buildings, creating dynamic transitions and several moments of discovery.
Transforming a listed medieval structure presented significant challenges. Restrictions on interventions, limited locations for essential back-of-house elements, and complex access routes to the basement kitchen demanded innovative problem-solving. We worked to design for a high number of covers – 213 across 2 floors and a terrace.
Brasserie Des Deux Rives ultimately captures the joyful, convivial essence of Lyon, weaving together its culinary and textile legacies with warmth and charm. It’s a space where guests are invited to feel part of a living story that celebrates the city and the client’s ambitious vision for it.
Marseille
London