Strasbourg: Where France and Germany Collide!
Strasbourg is the ultimate European city. It has flavours of both France and Germany, and sits right on the border of the two countries. It's picturesque "la Petite France" neighbourhood looks like something straight out of a fairy tale book, a riverfront neighbourhood with timbered buildings accented by colourful flower boxes.
The home of the European Parliament, this often-overlooked and surprisingly cosmopolitan destination hosts France's oldest Christmas market and features a stunning cathedral. In fact, Strasbourg has often changed hands between the French and Germans over the centuries.
The Black Forest and the legendary Rhine River are just at or beyond the city's edge. There are several wonderful daytrips here into France's Alsace or Germany.
Memorable cuisine. This is one of the best areas in France when it comes to delectable cuisine, and that's saying quite a bit considering this is, well, France. The dishes here have a boldness that is reminiscent of the German roots, while there is attention to quality and detail that is the epitome of the French gourmet philosophy.
Some local cuisine experiences you shouldn't miss include: Visiting a local winstub for the ultimate France/German experience. The wines that are most popular here are white, light and tart, such as Reislings and Gewurztraminers. The Alsatian beers are also wonderful.
Sampling the local "eau de vie." Literally meaning "water of life," this is fruit liquor to the extreme. Unlike American liquors that are typically made with sugar, the Alsatian eau de vie is sweetened entirely by fruit.
Filling up on baeckoffe and coq au Reisling, some of the fabulous local specialties. Baeckoffe consists of a stew of meats, potatoes and spices. Coq au Riesling is much like the better-known coq au vin, but is made with Riesling (and, in my opinion, tastier). It is usually served over fresh-made spaetzle, a German noodle. There are many other local dishes that are divine as well, so be sure to experiment! The Alsatian desserts are among the world's best!
Strasbourg is so huge, one could spend days exploring it. There are certain attractions here you don't dare miss, however, such as: Strasbourg Cathedral is one of Europe's most beautiful example of gothic architecture. The stunning pink sandstone facade is quite unique and breathtaking. Be sure to wander inside, where intricate carvings captivate. Each day at 12:30 p.m., visitors can see the circa-1800s astrological clock with its lengthy show. The cathedral is also a hub of activity, with shops and restaurants nearby. The courtyard out from hosts the city's immensely popular Christmas market.
La Petite France is easily Strasbourg's prettiest and most enchanting neighborhood, and arguably one of the best neighborhoods in all of France. Stroll along its streets, along bridges over the Ill River. Breathe in the scent of fresh-baked gingerbread or the inviting aromas from the restaurants. Gaze at the timbered buildings, bursting with blooming plants that earned this city the prestigious four-flower ranking.
Getting there and getting around. You can fly into Strasbourg, or fly into Paris or Frankfurt and take a two-hour (from Frankfurt) or four-hour (Paris) rail ride into the city. Once you arrive in the city, there is a clean and reliable tramway line, as well as extensive bus routes.
Shopping and people-watching at Place Kleber, a bustling square lined with popular shops and a hub of activity. Their 18 brewpubs and some notable Bars in Strasbourg that are as good place to people watch as any. [updated Nov 2025]They are as follows:-
Overground Brewing, 8 Rue de la Tour
A modern brewpub were the ambiance is wonderful, art everywhere, great lighting, darts, arcade and board games, fantastic beer. What more could you want? Plus the sort of music to survive the apocalypse classic rock provides a cosy nostalgia of being at Overground. Pleasant covered space outdoors. Overground Brewing is a craft brewery with a bar. They offer their own creations, as well as beers from friends, homemade soft drinks, sourced wines, a few cocktails and spirits. All this is accompanied by delicious 100% homemade snacks so you don't leave with an empty stomach.
Brasserie Roue Libre - Brewpub, 17 Rte de Vienne
A great brewpub, located outside the old city to taste some well-made craft beers, they do the reputation of Alsatian beers no harm at all. If you're not into hoppy beer they have fruited sours, lagers and stouts. A nice chilled out vibe. We'll worth visiting if you are nearby.
Crafty Tom's, 69 Rue du Faubourg-de-Pierre
A craft brewery and taproom. It specializes in contemporary craft beer and has its own bar, making it a destination for those interested in local, artisanal brews.
Brasserie 3 Mâts, 8 Rue Jean-Henri Lambert
A top-quality craft brewery with outstanding service. Tours are available during the week and a wonderful welcome awaits, a really friendly team who take the time to open their doors to share a little bit of their history. Their rich and varied beers have never disappointed whether bottled or on tap in the few bars (unfortunately still too few) that offer them.
Bières Artisanales Perle, 10 Pl. de l'Abattoir
A great concept, a place where you can enjoy a good beer right next to the brewery. Plus if the sun is out a beautiful terrace, inside the lovely interior, with its large tables has a nice casual vibe, and the staff are really friendly. They regularly organize fun events which add a real touch of conviviality, plus some great Thai food. You can even buy beers to enjoy at home. Highly recommended
Brasserie Bendorf, 114 Rue Jean Jaurès
This is a fantastic craft brewery, offering a wide range of regular and pop-up beers in incredibly diverse styles. Plus, you can buy growlers and rent taps on-site at very affordable prices. The establishment is run by craft beer enthusiasts who are always eager to chat about their passion. It opens on Saturday for purchases of bottles or growler refills. Otto says, crazy short hours, make sure you have time if walking from downtown. Their black IPA is amazing
Mogwaï Beer Company, 3 Rue du Général Rapp, 67450 Mundolsheim
Crazy brewers who make crazy beers, but so original and good. A wonderful tour awaits you at Mogwaï Beer Co. You can feel the passion when they talk about their beers, it is really great to see how they're made and who's behind them. It's a bit like seeing your favourite band backstage 😁
Au Brasseur; 22 Rue Des Veaux.
Situated to the east of the old city a couple of streets beyond the cathedral. A nice cosy brewpub. Local simple foods, tartes flambées and big salads at fair prices. Also cheep food deals and happy hours. Great homemade Beer! Go there to drink, not only to eat. Go on Friday and Saturday evenings, from 9:30 pm, rock band playing, atmosphere is great.
Brasserie de la Lanterne; 5 rue de la Lanterne (off Rue Gutenburg)
On a side street right in the centre of the old town, three streets west of the cathedral.
Bit of a gem this. The pub is quite small so get there early if you want a table. The brewery is visible adjacent to the bar on the left and the conditioning tanks are on display behind a glass screen which takes up one side of the pub. The food is tartes flambee, traditional little thin pizzas.
Le Petit Tigre, 5 Rue du Faubourg-National
A great pub with micro brewery beer and food in the heart of Strasbourg between the rail station and the Petit France historic city centre. Staff are super friendly and helpful. Otto says, a historic microbrewery featuring airy décor and relaxed meals, plus an outdoor terrace.
Le Grand Tigre, Imp. des Jardiniers
Le Tigre in Strasbourg is a beautiful spot with a stunning interior and great energy. The craft beers are excellent, plus wide range of well-prepared dishes, from flammekueche to hearty mains and fresh salads. The setting, especially under the vibrant glass dome and near the iconic wooden tiger, is truly memorable. Worth a visit for the vibe and beer alone.
Brasserie La Fondation - Fabrication de bières Strasbourg (Alsace), 81 Rue du Rhin Napoléon
A gem for beer lovers. This brewery proves it's already earned its place among the greats. The impeccable quality of their products, combined with an impressive variety of flavour's, will delight all palates, from novices to connoisseurs. Each beer is a true discovery, brewed with care and passion. A must visit for craft beer lover.
Le METEOR, 10 Rue du 22 Novembre
A convivial destination with outdoor seating and a trendy vibe serving An impressive beer selection, wine and meals. They are the main outlet (tap) for the Meteor brewery and serve a good range of their beers, with flights of 3 or 6 available. Inside is quite modem and sparse, with an old brewery dray a nice touch, plus the conditioning tanks are visible. Plus a super nice terrace on the street.
BRASSERIE STORIG - Bière Artisanale d'Alsace, 85 Rte de Bischwiller, 67300 Schiltigheim
A wonderful discovery with a wonderful welcome. Very good beers with a tour and a detailed explanation. Original creations in which wine is taken into account. But also a whisky (eau de vie) for legal reasons because it contains hops. A must-try.
Au Brasseur, 22 Rue des Veaux
This brewery and restaurant offers an authentic experience with very friendly and professional staff. The atmosphere at Au Brasseur is very pleasant, and the staff are super friendly and attentive. It's easy to see why this place is a hit with both locals and tourists, offering a great escape from the usual tourist spots. The price-performance ratio is fantastic, making it a go-to whenever we're in Strasbourg. The vibe is vibrant yet cosy, making it a perfect spot for students and groups of friends to enjoy a great evening out. Their beer is very good and offers many styles. Otto's top Tip; Be sure to try the tasting flight of beer. You can also buy beer to take out.
La Brasserie Du Scala; 96 Route Du Polygone.
As the name suggests this is situated in an old cinema! Situated south of the old town it can be reached by catching the tram to Etoile/Etoile Polygone stop and the start of Route Du Polygone is just to the south east. The pub is a good 10 minutes walk from the tram stop.
Alternatively catch bus no. 14 or 24 to Neudorf Marche and the Brasserie Du Scala is opposite.
The bar & restaurant (it caters more for diners, though there are tables for drinking adjacent to the bar) is on the left after you have climbed the stairs.
The brewery is visible, again through a glass screen, opposite the entrance.
The Bars;
Starling Burgers Centre, 7 Rue Hannong
Fantastic craft beer selection. Probably the best found in the city. The burgers are pretty solid too. There is a basement bar and an upstairs dining area which lack's a bit of character. Service was decent. Prices are reasonable. Definitely come again for the beer.
Le Croque Bedaine, 104 Rte du Polygone
Home to Brasserie Bedonnante A cool croque monsieur bar. The servers are super friendly and ready to chat. Superb interior decoration, bourgeois-bohemian atmosphere, with mismatched items that you wouldn't imagine together. Festive atmosphere in the room. Everything is spotless. The room is not very big but in summer there is a terrace. The specialty is the croque monsieur, there is something for everyone, they are served on a board in a box.
Le Garde Fou, 8 Rue du Faubourg-National
A very busy, but very fun bar with nice people and an alternative ambience. If it looks packed on the outside, go in and see if there’s a seat, it’s a pretty good sized space. They’re well known for the beer selection. A nice well laid out room on the ground floor with chunky wooden furniture, in the brick vaulted cellar there are barrels used as tables and an old Citron van. The staff was super friendly and the service was great.
Les Douze Apotres; 7 Rue Merciere.
Probably the most famous of Strasbourg bars and a bit of gem (as well as a tourist trap). Situated opposite the cathedral. A chic local brasserie in a historic building, with craft beers, outdoor tables and daily breakfast.
Le Grincheux, 27 Rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Vins
One of the hidden gems of Strasbourg. Definitely the best destination for amazing craft beers and unique/high quality whiskies and rums. Excellent charcuterie to snack on while you make your way through the list! A cosy, cool ambiance, they often have live music. Friendly welcoming staff.
Les Freres Berthom; 1 Place De Trippiers, Two streets south of Les Douze Apotres.
Definitely one of the best place to drink a beer in Strasbourg ! Ambiance is great, decoration is amazing and there are a lot of Belgian beers here ! It’s a bit expensive, but not enough to dissuade me from coming back !
L'Academie de la Biere; 17 Rue Seybouth.
Up to 75 beers available, with 8 on draught. The Académie de la Bière - or in English, the Beer Academy - is a pub on the island in river Ill, right in the city centre. Food includes the traditional Alsacien Tarte Flambée as well as pub food such as burgers with fries. The beer selection is, as the name of the pub suggests, very wide, a paradise for beer lovers.
Schlosserstub; 25 Rue Serruriers
just to the west of Petite France adjacent to the river. There is a good selection of Alsace beers available. More of a restaurant so you may be expected to eat. Note; Most restaurants and cafes, particularly in Petite France, have Alsace beers available, mainly in bottles.
Lets not forget that there is a rather large brewery in town,
Brasseries Kronenbourg 68, route Oberhausbergen - BP 13 Due to be closed!
Kronenbourg 1664 is the most sold French beer in the world and the market leader for high-end premium beers. It was named after the year the Hatt family, the founders of Kronenbourg, first started commercial brewing. Kronenbourg is the fifth oldest beer brand in the world that still exists today. Its golden hues and delicate bitterness come from selecting the best hops, the 'Strisselspalt', and the unique know-how of Kronenbourg’s master brewers for over 300 years. Strisselspalt is also named the caviar of hops by the expert master brewers around the world for its low bitterness and aromatic qualities. Its specific soil and culture technique requirements makes it rare and quite unique to the Alsace Region and Kronenbourg recipes.
I hope you found my guide to the brewpubs and bars in Strasbourg useful?
Now you just need to get yourself out there and start the beer adventure for yourself!
Go grab a locally brewed pint (or 2) and support your local pub's and brewers!
À votre santé Otto
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R.I.P.
Brasserie de l'Espérance Heineken France, 10 Rue St Charles
Brasserie de l'Espérance is an Alsatian brewery located in Schiltigheim , a town near Strasbourg , in the Bas-Rhin department . Founded in 1746, it was acquired by the Heineken group in 1972. Production ceased permanently at the end of October 2025.
Brasserie Kohler Rehm; Rue Des Grandes Arcades 11/13.
Not the place you'd expect to find a brewery. The pub is opposite the main square and is split into two levels. Very friendly and helpful staff. The place is a bit of a mix between posh and Alsacienne. The beers are mediocre but the food is very nice. Especially the traditional dishes. There is a terrace to the front of the pub which is probably your best bet in good weather.
Le Pilote; 6 Rue des Bouchers
Claims to have 100 beers available. 14 beers on draught.
Pub Nelson; 20 rue des Couples.
One of the most interesting Beer Pub in Strasbourg. Lot of well know beers (Belgian, Irish, French) as well as a nice selection of new products on tap. The ambiance is Celtic and very enjoyable. Don’t miss it if you are in the city centre.