Grand-Est, France

1741

Opposite Palais Rohan, an architectural masterpiece completed in 1741, this ‘1741’ is the quintessence of stylish, depicted by cosy, pleasantly hushed dining rooms and a counter that shines the spotlight on the consummate handiwork of the kitchen team and chef Jérémy Page. The chef, a former disciple of Robuchon, signs delicate, precise recipes, strewn with nods to Alsace. His creativity is particularly notable in sauces and jus: seaweed soup, curry-laced scallop stock or a Grand Veneur game sauce…

A ten - minute walk from the Centre Pompidou - Metz, this pleasant restaurant showcases Italian food, through carefully selected ingredients (charcuterie, burrata, pasta, wild fish, purebred meats). And to accompany it all, a fine selection of Italin wines!

In this Alsace inn dating from 1769, catering has been a family affair for seven generations. The two sisters now at the helm serve traditional cuisine that is in lockstep with the seasons and which they vary with the odd modern touch (we recommend the knuckle end of lamb confit for three nights, accompanied by bulgur wheat with sultanas and aromatic coriander).

At one corner of this imposing village house, the wrought-iron eagle seems to herald your arrival. Inside, tuck into classic dishes (home-made goose foie gras terrine with port jelly, Paul Haeberlin's mousseline of frogs’ legs, sole meunière prepared tableside…) in a traditional and inviting setting. Less formal atmosphere in the winstub.

Mr Fritz is the chef - patron but the restaurant name also refers to the novel by Erckmann and Chatrian (1854), in which the hero sacrifices everything for good food. Quite a patronage for well - made Alsace cuisine, served in an interior that also showcases all the charm of the region.

In the heart of Colmar's Little Venice, this half-timbered building houses the Le Maréchal hotel as well as its restaurant, which is done out in a very classical style. Try to reserve a table in the blue room with exposed timberwork and a view of the River Lauch. Expect modern cuisine that revisits the classics of the local terroir and gastronomy.

Tucked away in a small Alsace village on the Mont Sainte Odile road, this traditional hostelry, opened in 1920, is today run by the fourth generation. A warm welcome and honest, homely recipes, starring market-fresh produce and a slate menu. For example, start with a waffle piled high with smoked salmon and citrus fruit, while offal fans won’t be able to resist the fried kidneys and sweetbread.

This has been the fiefdom of the François family since it was founded in 1954. After a worthwhile experience at the Bras family's Laguiole restaurant, Thomas (in the kitchen) and Laura, his charming partner (on the restaurant floor), have both returned to the fold in Delme. So it's now the third generation at the helm of this contemporary restaurant, which is popular with locals and visiting guests alike. The menu is both indulgent and delicate, oscillating between tradition and modernity, showcasing an appreciation for herbs and spices. Uplifting!

This new establishment in the town centre is the project of Lucas Engel, a young chef who first donned his apron at the restaurant Enfin, in Barr. In a chic and cosy setting (wood, velvet-upholstered banquettes and a tasteful palette of green), take a punt on one of the set menus. Behind the slightly mysterious names, the appealing modern cuisine has flashes of creativity.

Alchémille

This old bar has been transformed into a “living space” by a chef born in the village who has accumulated an impressive number of food awards. The son and grandson of a butcher, Jérôme Jaegle is just as much a market gardener and permaculture enthusiast as he is a chef with an impressive CV, having worked with famous names such as Jean-Yves Schillinger and Christian Têtedoie. Almost Scandinavian in appearance, his restaurant is decorated in light wood and natural materials and is named after Alchemilla, the favourite plant of alchemists. His creative and individual cuisine focuses, unsurprisingly, on herbs and vegetables grown in his kitchen garden, as well as other locally sourced ingredients. The set menus have different themes, with a focus on vegetables and the sea.

Alcôve

Business is booming in this luxurious hotel surrounded by vineyards, thanks to plush guestrooms, a rose garden... and its restaurant, established in a bright, modern dining room whose large bow window affords a beautiful view of the landscaped grounds. Chef Nawal Rezagui crafts a precise score rich in character and ambition: a briny flan of smoked tuna and Aquitaine caviar; loin of veal in Brittany curry spices with salsifies and garlic and olive seasoning; a creamy iced extravaganza of bergamot, grapefruit, kombucha and dill oil… Bistronomic menu at lunchtime.

Alexis Baudin

Alexis Baudin has had extensive work carried out on this building to transform it into a spacious contemporary restaurant. Lovely high ceilings and a palette of beiges bring understated elegance to this space opening onto a pleasant garden terrace with a hundred-year-old cedar tree. The chef aims to showcase local produce in his carte blanche menus: delicious ingredients such as vegetables from small market gardeners, mushrooms from the Meuse, saffron from Guémar, Wagyu beef from cows reared in Lorraine go into beautifully presented and perfectly balanced dishes. Flawless service.