Planning a gourmet getaway from Paris? Strasbourg, France is the capital of Alsace and a super destination for food lovers. Whether you're visiting for a long weekend or stopping on your way to Colmar, here's our food guide to Strasbourg. From our favourite picks of restaurants and cosy winstubs - to bakeries and pâtisseries where macaron lovers won't be disappointed!
Note: While this listing is based on a few recent trips, they may not be everyone's choice. As ever, it's totally subjective.
What's Strasbourg Famous For?
Strasbourg is located in eastern France, right on the border with Germany in the Alsace region and right on the Ill river. Apart from being the seat of the European Parliament (let me know if you find a European umbrella - they're cool!), it's known for:
- Its magnificent Gothic Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg)
- A UNESCO world heritage site, the gorgeous Petite-France district on the river l'Ill with its typical pretty timbered houses (the equivalent is la petite Venise in Colmar). Check out the dam (barrage) built by Vauban in the 1600s
- Christmas markets (marché de noël) and year-round festive boutiques
- And above all… its food!
It's also a photographer's paradise - so much so, that I wanted to include ALL my photos but alas, there's lack of space! I've kept my best for prints - so, if you're interested, let me know. In the above image, spot the singer playing a traditional barrel organ to add to the ambience.
Alsace Weather in Summer
A word on the weather: in summer it can get really hot and humid (up to 100°F/38°C) so come prepared with water bottles, cool clothing and mosquito repellant, if sensitive. Not all smaller hotels or B&Bs come with air conditioning, so check first if you prefer it.
Bonjour to Tourism on the Increase
With more visitors flocking to Paris and Alsace, it's worth sharing a little tip: locals in Alsace are especially warm and welcoming - and a simple effort with the language goes a long way. A friendly bonjour, merci, or au revoir shows respect and can spark an even warmer response in return. Small gestures can often open the biggest doors.
Strasbourg: What to Visit and Do
- Climb the Cathedral tower for panoramic views
- Wander the half-timbered and cobbled streets of Petite-France
- Visit St Thomas Church and see the original organ Mozart played on in 1778
- Browse all-year-round Christmas shops and cook shops for famous artisanal Alsace kougelhopf moulds or stew dishes
- Visit the historic wine cellars of the Strasbourg Hospices
- Visit the Alsatian Museum for local traditions
- Enjoy the free summer light show at the Cathedral. With stunning visuals, though the music is an acquired taste. I personally was missing a story about its history.
Strasbourg Restaurants: Savoury Alsace Specialities
Strasbourg restaurants serve hearty, comforting Alsatian cuisine with both French and German influences. It's more winter fare, with a real lack of vegetables in my humble opinion. For fresh fruit and vegetables, head to the farmers' markets on Saturday mornings (Hautpierre and place du marché aux poissons).
Even on a short trip, don’t miss these must-try dishes:
- Flammekueche (Tarte flambée) – THE thin flatbread topped with crème fraîche, onions, and lardons (bacon bits) with extra choices of toppings
- Spaetzle (Spätzle) – soft egg noodles often pan-fried, served as a side dish
- Baeckeoffe – a rich casserole of 3 meats, potatoes and white wine
- Choucroute - fermented cabbage with juniper served with sausage and ham
- Jambonneau – ham hock, often braised in beer and honey
- Coq au Riesling - using white wine instead of the traditional coq au vin with red.
- Munster cheese – strong, creamy and often served warm with potatoes
- Röstis - grated potato cakes (often served with cream and chives)
- Foie gras - Alsace is famous for its foie gras - try Goerges Bruck (family business since 1852).
Best Alsace Street Food
You’ll spot warm, salted bretzels at every corner - plain, topped with seeds or cheese. Plus tons of soft toy bretzels or ornaments to save for your Christmas decor!
Try fresh sandwiches made with ham and the local Munster cheese. And if that's not enough to whet your appetite, the flammekeuche is for any time: picnics, lunch or dinner with salad.
French Strasbourg Restaurants
Although there are many international alternatives in Strasbourg, here are the more French Strasbourg restaurants serving authentic Alsatian specialities.
Many Strasbourg restaurants offer a set menu that’s excellent value. Winstubs (traditional Alsatian bistros) are perfect for cosy meals in winter climes. From a Flammekueche with a green salad and a glass of local wine at lunch to a more warm, generous dish for dinner. Many you'll need to book ahead, especially on weekends and during festive season.
We also recommend booking at BCBG Café for a relaxed Sunday brunch.
- L'Oignon - A personal favourite for its lovely location, friendly service and generous dishes. Their potato rösti with smoked salmon and chive cream is excellent, and the ham hock (jambonneau) slowly braised in beer and honey falls apart beautifully. Don’t miss the homemade spaetzle.
- La Corde à Linge – known for spaetzle dishes and great terrace seating in the shade
- Le Baeckeoffe d'Asace - known for their traditional stews but we loved their flammekeuche with a light, homemade base (and slightly burned - bliss!)
- Chut! - lovely hidden spot with a terrace overlooking the river, excellent cuisine
- Binchstub Broglie – fabulous cellar, excellent tarte flambée and local wines
- Binchstub Gayot - another popular restaurant/bar for flammekueche but smaller
- Le Gruber – close to the Cathedral, with a classic Alsatian menu
- La Vieille Enseigne - all local produce: choucroute and great fish dishes.
- Aux Armes de Strasbourg – traditional Alsace fare in an iconic location
- Maison Kammerzell – for a classic experience in a historic timbered house
- Flam's - more of a fast-food genre but excellent value if you're on a budget, as various menus feature à volonté (as much as you can eat). However, we found the bases to be quite heavy and rather bland. Swift and friendly service.
What Sweets to Try in Alsace
Alsace is well known for its sweeter side - many with festive, spice-filled notes of cinnamon and ginger. As gingerbread keeps well, it's great for taking home as gifts, otherwise make your homemade gingerbread!
- Kougelhopf (Kuegelhopf) - classic French brioche with raisins, almonds, often served at breakfast but in a traditional mould that you'll spot in many bakeries.
- Pain d’épices (Gingerbread) - available all year, but especially during the holidays. Oster, Gertwiller and Fortwenger are the major Alsatian gingerbread makers, along with top French destinations like Dijon.
- Männele - brioche in the shape of a large gingerbread man
- Rickwihr macarons - these are coconut macaroons (with two o’s), not macarons!
- Macarons - Parisian macarons are in so many pâtisseries (see below).
- Anisbredele - not unlike macaron shells with aniseed (available by the sachet).
- Bettelmann - black cherry mendiants.
Pâtisseries and Bakeries
There are so many to choose from and still need yet more time to discover them all! Let me know your favourites in the comments below. Particular mention to many macaron shops as well as wonderful cake shops:
- Christian - perhaps the most famous pâtisserie and chocolaterie with artisanal ice creams and with a salon de thé tearoom and restaurant right next to the Cathedral.
- Les Mains dans la Farine - also a bakery selling sourdough bread (pain au levain) with delicious cakes and good macarons (not overly coloured).
- Pâtisserie Buhler - known as la Maison du Kougelhopf and where they celebrate the Bredele gingerbread men - plus more gingerbread (pain d'épice).
- Donatien Maître Éclair - as their name suggests, delicious éclairs and macarons.
- Le Lautrec - great for macarons
- Macarons & Inspiration - ever since winning MasterChef in 2011, Elisabeth Biscarrat has gone on to more sweet treats around Alsace.
What Drink is Strasbourg Famous For?
- Beer – Strasbourg has had a strong beer culture since the Middle Ages (961 AC). Many local craft brewers, but best known are the Brasseries Kronenbourg. A beer from Alsace can be white, blonde or amber, known as Elsassbier.
- Alsace wines – mostly white varietals you'll find in every Winstub:
Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat, Tokay, Pinot gris, Gewürztraminer (slightly sweeter side with notes of lychee and rose), and Pinot noir makes lovely light and fruity reds and rosé. - Alsace Water - bottled at source from Lisbeth (Soultzmatt) and Carola (Ribeauvillé).
Should You Tip in Strasbourg?
As in the rest of France, a service charge is included in your bill. But if the service was especially good, feel free to leave a small tip - it's appreciated but not expected.
How to Get from Paris to Strasbourg and Colmar
It's about 1 hour 45 mins by direct TGV from Paris Gare de l’Est, making it ideal for a weekend break. You can also drive from Paris in around 5 hours, depending on traffic.
Just so you know: our previous two trips by train incurred huge delays due to a deer running on to the track. On both occasions, the engine was impacted right in the middle of the journey. Not much luck so just be aware it can happen. So ensure you have a water bottle with you!
Strasbourg to Colmar is just 30 minutes by direct train - a perfect day trip. Driving takes about 1 hour via the A35 motorway.
Note: none of this post is sponsored as this was part of a family trip. As always, all opinions are my own.
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