4 Best Restaurants in Alsace-Lorraine, France

At one of the temples of Alsatian-French haute cuisine, you get a real taste of old Alsace with a nouvelle spin. Founded in the early 1800s, its grand salon is still aglow with skylights, and a spectacular 19th-century painting showing the Strasbourgeoisie at a country fair continues to set the tasteful tone. Chef Romain Brillat heads the team and presents some of the most dazzling dishes around. Drawing inspiration from classic produce such as foie gras, truffles, lobster and seasonal game, Chef Brillat creates sublime dishes that are delightful on the palate and the eye. Not surprisingly, the wine list is extensive.

Don’t be beguiled by the historical Imperial façade; this joyous, cavernous independent café is a colorful riot of contemporary creativity and conviviality. In a bric-a-brac décor of airplane seats, 1970s lampshades, and Christmas light-draped bicycles, a stupefying range of coffees and teas is supplemented by locally sourced food, including tempting cakes and cookies. Ask at the counter for free tokens to play the retro arcade machine.

Marlene Dietrich and Spanish opera star Montserrat Caballé are just two of the famous guests who have feasted at this culinary temple, where the current chef, Marc Haeberlin, marries traditional Alsatian cuisine with contemporary nuances. The kitchen's touch is incredibly light, so you'll have room left for the masterful desserts.

This lovely farmhouse, reconstructed in the Orangerie park, warrants a pilgrimage if you're willing to pay for some of the finest cooking in Alsace. Chef Eric Westermann focuses on the freshest of local-terroir specialties, supplemented by the best seafood from the French coast. Look for dishes like free-range Alsace chicken with Vosges truffles braised in a traditional Baeckeoffe ceramic dish, or the chef’s signature sautéed frog legs served with schniederspaetle (onion- and potato-filled ravioli). The seasonal desserts are also noteworthy. Two small salons are cozy, but most tables are set in a modern annex made largely of glass and steel.