Where to eat out in Strasbourg

If you love food – you’ll love Strasbourg. The city in the north east of France in the Alsace department takes its food, wine, cakes and desserts seriously. There’s a huge choice of restaurants to choose from. In the main tourist areas, they’re touristy of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean bad, you’ll get gorgeous views and some have excellent food too. But if you’re looking for authentic and the most delicious Alsatian cuisine, the restaurants the locals go to, then these are the ones that will make you very happy… Here’s where to eat out in Strasbourg and where to find the best bars.

The best restaurants in Strasbourg

A taste of yesteryear where Presidents dine

Chez Yvonne was a favourite restaurant of Presidents Chirac and de Gaulle when they were in Strasbourg but I promise you there’s nothing statesmanlike about this place – it’s utterly authentic, old school Alsace, cosy, comfy and traditional Winstub (Alsatian bar and restaurant) style. It looks just as it did 80 years ago in grandma’s Alsatian parlour, though it’s much older than that. Wooden chairs, red and white check curtains, wood panelled rooms, I felt a bit like I was dining chez Hansel and Gretel. Family run, it’s super friendly with a lovely service. They’ll warn you about the horseradish, it’s strong and traditional to have with your dishes in Strasbourg. This is food that makes you smile. You can reserve online at their website: www.restaurant-chez-yvonne.net

Mouth-watering local produce

Maison des Tanneurs built in 1572 on the Petite Ile showcases local gastronomy. Here you’ll find a mix of locals and tourists enjoying the great location alongside the river. 42 Rue du Bain aux Plantes.

Fink’Stuebel is not touristy at all and features real Strasbourg gastronomy. If you want to eat like the locals – go here. It’s lovely inside, friendly, cosy and charming. It’s a great menu – don’t miss the iced Guggelhopf with cherry Schnapps for dessert! 26 Rue Finkwiller.

Alsatian Tapas that’s irresistible

Restaurant Les Chauvins, Père & Fils is family run and specialises in Alsatian tapas and specialities using local products with a clever twist. The tapas menu includes their take on Sushi with locally caught trout, horseradish (of course), local cheese and rice with a superb sauce. The pickled vegetables are just delicious and their home made foie gras with onion chutney is superb.

A funky interior features one long table at which strangers can become dining partners and friends! There are tables for small numbers too. Innovative, very original, great food.

You won’t find typically heavy Alsatian food like Sauerkraut here but it’s a great way to discover the local gastronomy in a seriously delicious way, just a couple of minutes’ walk from the cathedral. You can book online: www.restaurant-les-chauvins.fr

Lunch with a view

Head to the Museum of Contemporary and Modern Art which is worth going to for the amazing collection. But don’t miss the Art Café on the first floor. It has a great outdoor terrace with breath-taking views over the city. Here you can take a break with tea, pastries or lunch.

Night life and bars in Alsace

A gin joint you’ll fall in love with

Supertonic is all about Gin and Saucisse, a genius combination. 57 different types of gin, 12 different tonics, sausages made by a local artisan – everything about this bar is brilliant. I tried a mountain top tonic water from Chilli which was superb mixed with a gin made by a father and son company in the Netherlands and flavoured with a slice of orange and a star anise. I thought it was the best G &T I’d ever had…. until I tried a gin from the US with a Thomas Henry tonic water recommended by owner Joseph Thomas (above left). If you’re a gin lover you’ll love their ginventory (they even have an app) to help you choose your perfect gin and tonic. 1, Place d’Austerlitz

Best wine bar in Strasbourg

In a city where wine bars proliferate, in order to stand out, you need to be special. Black n Wine Hotel Hannong wine bar and Roof top terrace is a bit of a secret place though well known to locals, visitors might miss it as it’s in a hotel but so worth seeking out. The bar is lovely, relaxing and welcoming and there’s a superb wine list. What really made it stand out for me was the advice from the bar man on what wine to have and the absolutely delicious tapas – sensational. 15 Rue du Vingt-Deux Novembre

Strasbourg’s hidden bar

In rue des Aveugles you’ll find Aedaen which consists of several venues: an art gallery, brasserie which is fab for lunch and dinner and has a cake boudoir, the comptoir a dessert, with the most amazing pastry-chef made fancies, pizza restaurant and a secret bar. Aedaen place is gorgeous inside and out, with a kind of indoor jungle theme that is just lovely. The dishes are delish with all fresh products and a menu that changes every three days. They even have a Friday comedy club night, music nights, and cultural events. This would be my go to place if I lived in Strasbourg!

Opposite, the art gallery has a fabulous collection. Locals love to go here to see the exhibitions and have brunch at the weekends.

If you like pizzas, you’ll love their next door pizzeria… but it’s the secret bar that I fell head over heels for. It’s a French take on a speakeasy, and I have to tell you I am not allowed to reveal where it is but I am cleared to tell you to go to the pizzeria to find it. It’s the talk of the town, locals love it when they find it. Known as the “Secret Place” it’s open 7 days a week, it’s friendly and welcoming and very cool, think industrial chic combined with velvet couches and chandeliers plus an erotic cocktail list (yes erotic!)… go and find this place but don’t tell them I told you about it! www.aedaen-place.com

Chill zone

Head to Place d’Austerlitz on the right bank for bars the locals frequent. Try rue Klein and quai des Pecheurs where there are bars on boats. This whole area has been recently rejuvenated and if you came here five years ago you won’t recognise it.

Where to stay

Hotel Hannong in the centre of the city is superb. Everything about this hotel is designed to cosset and pamper you. The bathroom products are lovely, the comfiest bed, nothing jars the eye or the senses from the bedroom to the bathroom, bar and breakfast… www.hotel-hannong.com/

How to get around

It’s really easy to walk everywhere in Strasbourg. However, you can take the tram around town and further afield. Get tickets from vending machine on each platform or at the tourist office.