La maison du vannier

In the upper reaches of the village of Steige in the picturesque Villé valley, this old farmhouse inn is the canvas on which chef Yannick Guth expresses his creativity. With a focus on local ingredients (like the herbs and flowers he picks himself), the chef also works with fish from the lake (pike, zander, whitefish). Examples: whitefish in seaweed with a chickpea rouille sauce; cromesquis of pheasant, mountain lovage, parsley and mushrooms… His ingenuity can sometimes surprise, but the striking, consummate result is always succulent. The terrace (for pre-dinner drinks and coffee) overlooks a

Local folklore is celebrated by waiters in traditional costume and a characteristic wooden Vosges decor. In a lively, yet sophisticated atmosphere, you will be treated to tasty, copious regional preparations: sauerkraut, veal kidneys, sweetbread and bouchées à la reine. The food is as heart-warming as the rooms, the grounds and the hotel’s magnificent spa facilities.

Chef Nicolas Stamm-Corby strikes the perfect balance between celebrating the classics and adding an inventive touch that hits the mark. Throughout the seasons, he treats diners to high-calibre dishes that spotlight top-drawer ingredients. In winter, for example, the Alsace venison served two ways with grand veneur sauce is a homage to the terroir. The same ambition is palpable when it comes to the desserts – the selection of petits fours (fruit tarts, kugelhupf, cherry financiers, lavender honey madeleines etc) is particularly memorable. Finally, the warm welcome provided by maître d' Serge Sc

In keeping with its previous vocation as a joiner's workshop, this place has wood as the main element in the decor, and the Scandinavian-style minimalism extends to the dishes, which are vegetable-forward and local. From the dining area, which has been embellished with a handful of contemporary features, you can see the young, efficient and committed brigade hard at work in the open kitchens laid out behind a counter. The set menus may sport rather enigmatic names (translating as "plant-based beef and carrots", "barbecue in the vegetable garden", "Alsace cruise" or "herby freshness") but the c

Thierry Schwartz, who describes himself as an Alsace native by birth and at heart, believes that nature's rightful place is at the centre when it comes to cooking. This ethos is borne out by his commitment to local producers and by his title of Officer of France's Order of Agricultural Merit. To set the scene: think lots of wood, seasonal vegetables on display and a log-burning fire. Thierry concocts three remarkable set menus in which the produce (from Alsace and permaculture) is sufficient in and of itself: pure spelt, arctic char, wild sorrel, organic farm eggs... to be washed down with a f

In this small village perched in the foothills of the Vosges, this hotel-restaurant has been welcoming travellers since the start of the last century. The Buecher brothers, who took over the reins of this family business from their parents, preside with cheerful enthusiasm. The delicious and refined cuisine of the elder brother, Sébastien, showcases the best of the terroir in the form of a menu that is always changing. He puts a creative spin on traditional dishes, as exemplified by the veal chop, double ravioli and sauce ravigote with calf's foot. Most of the fruit and vegetables come from th

Once a village café, then a family inn, it is now a gourmet table with an enviable reputation in the Moselle “lake district”. This illustrious restaurant is in the capable hands of Bruno Poiré, Michèle’s son, who after learning the ropes in the family business as a teenager, honed his skills with Georges Blanc at Vonnas and Antoine Westermann at the Buerehiesel. He prepares precise, generous dishes in tune with the zeitgeist that reveal a soft spot for Mediterranean recipes. A fine dining experience in a contemporary setting, enhanced by attentive service.