Eating Out in Strasbourg
The Alsace region’s history of switching between two countries is reflected in Strasbourg’s local cuisine, which combines the best of German heartiness and French flair. The perfect place to sample this is in a traditional old inn, called a Winstub (pronounced “veen-shtub”), which is always atmospheric and usually reasonably priced.
You’ll find the highest concentration of eateries in the historic centre, particularly in Grand Île and neighbouring La Petite France. This is where you’ll find the oldest and most characterful Winstubs. There’s also a mouth-watering array of more modern restaurants, serving French food as well as international cuisine from Asia to Southern Europe.
If you’re staying in the southern suburb of Illkirch you’ll find another concentration of restaurants, particularly along central Route du Lyon. Most places here serve French and Alsace food, although international options are also available.
The chef recommends...
- Choucroute (sauerkraut): fermented cabbage, served in a hearty heap with potatoes and a selection of cured and smoked meats and sausage.
- Baeckeoffa (baker’s oven): a casserole of meats (usually mutton, beef and pork) marinated in white wine and juniper berries, slow-cooked with potatoes and onions.
- Fleischschnacka: a cooked stuffing of minced meat, eggs, onions and parsley, rolled in fresh egg pasta. The roll is cut into thick slices, then fried in butter and served with broth.
- Flammekueches (tartes flambées): ultra-thin bread dough, covered with crème fraîche, sliced onions and lardons. Like pizza, but lighter and served without tomato.
Shopping in Strasbourg
There are plenty of shopping opportunities in Strasbourg, from colourful markets to shopping malls. One regional speciality is the range of local Alsace wine wines, from dry Riesling to spicy Gewürztraminer. Haggling is acceptable in markets, but less so in other shops.
Souvenir shops selling pottery abound in the city centre, especially around the cathedral and in nearby Petite France. North of the cathedral, look along Rue des Orfèvres or Rue de la Mésange for high-end fashion and designer goods. You’ll also find no end of chic boutiques and gourmet food outlets throughout Grand Île.
Also central, you’ll find more down-to-earth high-street brands, including branches of the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores, in the area surrounding Place Kléber.
Just south of the city centre beside the Rhine–Rhône Canal, the Centre Commercial Rivetoile has around 90 retail outlets under one roof.
Top markets in Strasbourg
- On Wednesdays and Saturdays you can browse for bargains in the flea market that stretches along Rue du Vieil Hôpital and Place de la Grande-Boucherie. You’ll find everything from books and jewellery to toys, clothing and art.
- The farmers’ market on Place du Marché aux Poissons every Saturday sells fruit and veg, honey, local sausage, cheeses and fish.
- Enjoy a glass of vin chaud (mulled wine) at the seasonal Christkindelsmärik. Founded in 1570, this is the oldest Christmas market in France. It sets up around Place Broglie and Rue de la Comédie from late November until December 24, then moves to Place de la Cathédrale during Christmas week.
Culture & Nightlife in Strasbourg
Strasbourg’s 40,000+ student population is the second highest in France, and this keeps the nightlife scene lively. Besides clubs and bars, there’s an opera house and a music conservatory. The city also hosts regular concerts, as well as the annual European Fantasy Film Festival.
Most museums cluster in the streets just south of the cathedral.
At night, the hottest clubs and bars are found in the area east of the cathedral, along Rue des Juifs and Rue des Frères, as well as in La Petite France. You’ll also find bars around the university campuses to the south of the centre.
Movie fans can check out the latest releases at several cinemas across the city. Just south of the centre, UGC Ciné Cité Strasbourg Étoile shows films on 22 screens.
Live music venues in Strasbourg
- La Laiterie hosts local and international bands on a regular basis, and organises several festivals – check out L’Ososphère for electro music, or the Festival des Artefacts for folk and rock.
- The Opéra National du Rhin puts on grand opera as well as ballet and contemporary dance events at the city’s opera house on Place du Petit Broglie.
- In the European Quarter, near the European Parliament, the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès convention centre’s live music events range from opera to rock.
- Alternative arts centre La PopArtiserie presents an eclectic range of musical offerings that include a weekly, free “Pop&Jazz Friday”.
Visiting Strasbourg with a Family
Strasbourg has a wealth of distractions to keep children of all ages amused. Older children will enjoy exploring the cathedral and the nearby museums, while toddlers can let off steam in one of many parks and playgrounds.
If you’d like your young ones to appreciate the Cathédrale Notre-Dame and burn off some energy, climb the 330 steps to the base of its spire. The reward for your effort is a panoramic view of the city and beyond.
At 12:30 each day, you can marvel at the mechanical procession of the cathedral’s astronomical clock. This triumph of Renaissance engineering marks the positions of the sun and moon, plus a host of other celestial bodies.
Children will be enchanted by the fairytale half-timber houses of the nearby Petite France district.
Family-friendly attractions in Strasbourg
- Try out the hands-on exhibits at Le Vaisseau, a science centre designed for children. They can learn about the human body, the animal kingdom, and even how to build a house.
- Take to the water with a river cruise. Boats depart from Place du Marché aux Poissons, and standard tours last 75 minutes.
- Meet the flock of resident storks in the Orangerie, Strasbourg’s largest and oldest park. There’s also a zoo and a boating lake.
- Treat your children to Flammekueche, the local version of pizza made with crème fraiche. They are wafer-thin, moreish, and sold fresh-baked across the city.
