Feast on crispy Flammekueche with citrusy Rieslings, sniff out Strasbourg's southern spice and reach for the Michelin stars.

Strasbourg's labyrinthine lanes serve up hearty Alsatian fare like choucroute (Sauerkraut and pork) and Coq au Riesling in moody brasseries and café terraces. In the cathedral's shadow try vibrant Place de la Cathédrale and Place du Marché-Gayot. Splurge on two-starred Michelin cuisine at sky-lit restaurant Au Crocodile, or savour Coq au Riesling beneath the Gothic arches at Maison Kammerzell.

For romance on the water's edge, seek out an intimate bistro or traditional winstub in Petite France. The banks of the River Ill are fringed with black-and-white houses and geranium-strewn terraces. Pull up a chair at the canalside Maison des Tanneurs, a 16th-century former tannery, for a dish of choucroute and pork.

To the south lies the funky student district of Krutenau, where there's an eclectic mix of hole-in-the-wall restaurants serving everything from spicy Lebanese kebabs to freshly baked pizza and rich Thai curries. Most are on Rue de la Krutenau, Rue Saint-Louis and Rue de Zurich.

Stay central for late-night dining. Most restaurants include a 15% service charge, but feel free to leave a small tip if the service was good.