We are staying for 3 nights based in Colmar very early September. Our first day/night will definitely be in Colmar (a Sunday) but the next 2 we will be exploring the wine villages so I'm not quite sure where we'll end up for lunch or dinner. I believe next day we'll be in Strasbourg for lunch and then either Turckheim or Colmar again for dinner. Last day will likely be in Riquewhir for lunch and Ribeauville for dinner (bike day). Therefore, making reservations for meals may be a little tough and quite frankly, we don't want our adventures to be restricted by meal (or wine tasting) reservation times. The conundrum is that it seems with so many great restaurants and wineries in the area, I'm concerned about being turned away and missing out on some of the best. For reference, my wife and I very much enjoy a good quality cafe style meal with a local bier or wine and views/people watching rather than a 2-3 hour Michelin sit down. I'd love to have one nice meal similar to that but otherwise, we're all about the tarte flambee and quick local options. Same with wineries...would love to just be able to walk in to do a nice tasting on a whim. Is this feasible or should we go ahead and reserve a few things. I do not mind, but would rather not ha! Thanks for any help!!
Posted by
Chicagoland
1088 posts
My experience is from staying in Colmar for 7 nights in October 2022.
You can always find somewhere to eat in both the villages and Colmar without a reservation. You may have to wait for a table and it may not be the best restaurant in town.
That said, if you have your heart set on a particular restaurant you should reserve, even at lunch. You will be competing with both the day trippers and the locals.
For the best Tarte Flambée in Colmar, book a table at La Soï, extremely popular and very delicious. There were a few restaurants in Colmar that I couldn't get my first choice of evenings.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
Thank you JeanM. I have La Soi on my list and think we may visit here first day for late lunch. Did you book by phone or email when you made reservations? Any others you can recall that we must try and should reserve. Again, I am not opposed to lining up a reservation or two but didn't want to be frustrated at missing out on decent places all because we did not.
Posted by
Freedonia
17739 posts
I remember many restaurants in Colmar dispalying signs in the evening saying Tables only with reservations.
Posted by
Chicagoland
1088 posts
I believe La Soi only takes phone reservations.
I had another great dinner in Colmar at L'Epicurien. It's not the typical Alsatian menu, more French bistro.
In Turckheim I enjoyed lunch at L'Autrefois. It had only been open a few months when I was there.
In Niedermohrschwihr, for traditional Alsatian food, I had lunch at Caveau Morakopf. Their trout dish was very good. I think we were the only tourists in town with its twisted church spire and WWI memorial recognizing their liberation by US soldiers.
In Eguisheim I had a nice lunch outside at Caveau Heuhaus, traditional Alsatian menu. No reservation, but the restaurant quickly filled inside and out and folks were turned away.
These were the best meals during my week. Enjoy your time in Alsace.