Passage du Désir

An address in the heart of downtown

Passage du Désir keeps shop at 58 rue de la République, right in the heart of Lyon's 2nd arrondissement, a stone's throw from the big brand names and terraces of the Presqu'île. Nothing on the outside shouts "sex shop", and that's rather the whole point of the place.

The brand describes itself as the anti sex shop of the city centre, a phrase that sums up the mood well: understated storefront, carefully done interior, no explicit imagery lying about. You walk in here the way you'd walk into a perfumery or a lingerie shop, with nothing to justify.

Selection and advice

Inside, the logic is one of intimate wellbeing rather than the traditional sex shop: products are chosen one by one, tested, and presented without vulgarity. The staff know their subject and take the time to explain, whether it's a first purchase or fine-tuning a choice already made elsewhere.

This calm, judgment-free approach comes up often in customer feedback, which praises both the quality of the selection and the team's availability. The overall atmosphere, chic and comfortable, is one of the points that comes up most often when people talk about this shop.

Practical services

The shop also works as a pickup point for orders placed online, with in-store availability within two hours, free of charge. Handy for anyone who wants to avoid a parcel showing up at home or simply wants to save time.

• Discreet gift wrapping on every order
• Gift cards available
• Purple Club loyalty programme
• Free in-store pickup within 2h

These details, the plain packaging above all, matter a lot to customers who care about their privacy, whether for a personal purchase or a gift.

Hours and access

The shop is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 8pm, and stays closed on Sunday. Plenty of room to swing by on a lunch break during the week or for a Saturday afternoon of shopping, no particular hassle.

What regulars say

Comments left about the shop are overwhelmingly positive, with a clear trend: customers highlight the staff's expertise, the quality of the selection on offer and an atmosphere that puts you at ease from the moment you walk in. Few negative reviews stand out, which points to a fairly consistent shopping experience from one customer to the next.