Strasbourg’s Best Winstub – Our 5 favourite Alsatian restaurants

What is a winstub?

The winstub is a traditional Alsatian restaurant. If you’re visiting Alsace’s capital, a meal in a Strasbourg winstub (win = wine, stub = room) is part of the protocol: a must. To discover local gastronomy in a wooded, intimate, rustic but always warm (even noisy, but that’s part of the charm of the experience) setting, there’s nothing better than one of the town’s many “wine bars”.

On the menu are Alsatian specialties such as traditional sauerkraut, but also Fleischkiechle, Fleischschnecke, Baeckeoffe, Grumbeerekiechle, Lewerknepfle and Bibeleskäs, which are much easier to taste than to pronounce (although after a few glasses of local cuvée…).

1. La Vieille Enseigne – Between Alsatian tradition and modernity

La Vieille Enseigne winstub, located on rue des Tonneliers in Strasbourg’s city center, is a perfect blend of modernity and tradition. We enter the main room, warm and luminous, to reach the second, more hushed room. Covered with the very naughty drawings of Alsatian illustrator Tomi Ungerer, its basalt wall reveals the original framework.

Those little details that remind us that we’re in an Alsatian restaurant ? The “Obernai” dinner service, just like at Grandma’s on Sundays, the little Baeckeoffe terrines in which the side dishes are brought to you, the revisited Betschdorf pottery, the copper kouglof molds adorning the walls, the light wood corner bench and the exposed-beam ceiling.

Enjoy a glass of Gewurz’, mini bretzels and jazzy music under the glow of vintage lampshades. Then we attack with Presskopf, snails or onion tart for starters. Pinot Noir-glazed ham, pike-perch fillet served with sautéed potatoes or spaetzle, 7-meat sauerkraut or Bouchées à la Reine as a main course. The plate is as delicious as it is copious (if you can’t get your knuckle to the bone, take the leftovers away in a doggy bag).

2. Winstub Le Clou – In the heart of Strasbourg

Winstub le Clou is located on rue du Chaudron, in the heart of the Orfèvres district on Strasbourg’s Grande Île. To enter Le Clou is to plunge into a typically Alsatian atmosphere. There’s no doubt about it, this is a winstub: with its wood-panelled ambience, inlaid paintings and depictions of Alsatian landscapes and scenes of life, it’s a perfect change of scenery for visitors. The walls also feature photos of celebrities who have dined at this fine establishment, and there are lots of them!

Le Clou is one of Strasbourg’s best-known Alsatian restaurants, offering both a typical setting and, of course (otherwise it wouldn’t be on our list of best winstubs!), delicious traditional Alsatian cuisine. Here, sauerkraut is sweet and savory, and there are many specialties to choose from. A la carte: foie gras, presskopf, pot-au-feu salad, baeckeoffe, fleischschnaka, jambon en croûte… Among other dishes full of flavour!

3. Finkstuebel – Winstub near Petite France

Housed in an authentic half-timbered house, the Finkstuebel is an Alsatian restaurant and guesthouse located just outside the Petite France district. It’s a good winstub for discovering traditional Alsatian cuisine in a rustic setting that’s just as rustic: half-timbering, painted ceilings, checked tablecloths and regional furniture put you straight in the mood.

The à la carte menu features a wide choice of Alsatian dishes, served generously, some of them more original than the usual. For example, you can try Ribs (Ripple in Alsatian), calf’s head for the more adventurous, Käseknepfle or a potato pancake burger – it’s not so common! Baba alsacien, kouglof glacé, mirabelle and quetsche crumble, the dessert menu is also local. The service is pleasant and polite, just lacking a little warmth.

4. Au Pont Corbeau – Strasbourg’s iconic Winstub

Another very local address, well known in Strasbourg, with a Michelin Bib gourmand! Bottle-bottom windows, checked tablecloths, wood panelling and traditional Alsatian furniture… You’ve arrived at the Pont Corbeau Winstub! This family-run restaurant, run by Christophe Andt, has been in business for over 30 years.

We come to this good winstub to taste traditional homemade dishes prepared with fresh produce, mostly from local producers: SauerkrautPresskopf, grilled knuckle of ham, Fleischkieschle, Späetzle, fish on a bed of sauerkraut… Le Pont Corbeau is the perfect place to indulge in Alsatian gastronomy, with the added bonus of an excellent wine list.

Intimate and warm, the atmosphere is that of an authentic winstub. It’s even a little crowded (the close-knit tables are not to everyone’s taste), but it’s the kind of place where you’d rather come with friends than for a romantic dinner. Don’t forget to book – the place is always packed!

5. Le Tire-Bouchon – Near Strasbourg Cathedral

Le Tire-Bouchon is a fine winstub located a stone’s throw from Strasbourg Cathedral. You could even say it’s an institution! A very popular address in Strasbourg, where you can enjoy tasty traditional Alsatian cuisine. A warm ambience, an ultra-typical, richly-decorated wooded setting: at Le Tire-Bouchon you’ll find all the hallmarks of Alsatian decor and tableware. The menu is just as typical: marrow bones, Fleischkiechle, sauerkraut, Baeckeoffe, braised shank, pike-perch fillet on a bed of sauerkraut – all the flagship dishes of Alsatian gastronomy, cooked to perfection. The service and welcome are impeccable, nothing to say!

The restaurant is housed in a ^16th-century half-timbered house with several floors (the ornate blue facade alone is worth a look). The restaurant is divided into small rooms and private lounges, giving it a pleasantly intimate feel.