Napoleon

This venerable institution (est. 1789) is far from nostalgic as its refurbished, stylish dining room, dotted in contemporary details, and the conservatory leading out onto a patio, illustrate. The food, also free of culinary cobwebs, is fiendishly tailored to modern tastebuds: crispy scallops with wild prawns, cauliflower and orange vinaigrette; squab pigeon, the breast lightly roasted, the thigh confit in fleischnacka… Slick professional service and knockout wine cellar.

Partners Ludovic Kientz and sommelier Sandie Ling continue to bring life to this country inn standing proud in a large garden. The traditional-style interior is bathed in light. The chef takes obvious pleasure in preparing premium ingredients and vegetables from his own kitchen garden, as well as sauces, to deliver precise cuisine with a touch of classicism: oreiller de la Belle Aurore (pâté en croûte); roasted scallops, black truffle, creamy risotto and Champagne sauce; matured sirloin of Alsace beef, celeriac millefeuille and sauce périgourdine.

The Scandi-inspired decor hints at the culinary ethos: creativity, extractions, fermentations, plants to the fore, a concern for animal welfare, a natural wine list and haikus instead of names of dishes. The textbook-perfect technique features high-precision cooking, big-boned sauces and jus, and bold combinations that never fail to hit the spot. One fully vegetarian menu available.

Chef Guillaume Besson is in a league of his own when it comes to his craft. The setting is a minimalist, contemporary space, its white walls adorned with paintings and photography, parquet floors and wooden objects! The set menu (dubbed "sur le fil") is a masterclass in clean, bold plating, underpinned by exceptional ingredients handled with technical prowess – both in terms of cooking and seasoning. This modern dining experience is very much in tune with the times, and notable for its clarity and occasional flashes of creative daring. N.B. The lunch menu is a real bargain.

Guillaume Scheer and his wife Charlotte are thriving in their new riverside HQ in a peaceful neighbourhood. In a smart, exclusive interior, the chef is going from strength to strength as he skilfully crafts the finest ingredients, including squab, blue lobster from Brittany, Charolais beef fillet. Rich sauces, powerful gravies, flawless technique and packed in flavour: a fine dining feast that is fully in tune with its era! Spot-on service and delightfully peaceful patio to the rear.

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…

The stuffed crocodile in the window, a souvenir brought back from Egypt by a Napoleonic soldier, underlines the historic character of this iconic Strasbourg establishment, which boasted 3 stars under chef Émile Jung. Following a top to toe refurbishment that has preserved the spirit of the venue, it shines brightly on the culinary scene of Strasbourg. Chef Romain Brillat, former second of Gilles Goujon and a distant relative of Brillat-Savarin, the famous French gourmet, has achieved a balance between classicism and sophistication. Examples include his original take on scallops (ravioli and cr