Where to Eat in Colmar at Christmas: The Restaurants Worth Booking Ahead

Colmar is tiny enough that you might assume dinner will be something you can figure out after you’ve finished wandering the Christmas markets.

Do not do this.

Especially in December.

Colmar punches above its weight when it comes to food. There are Michelin-starred restaurants, elegant tasting menus, excellent modern French cooking, and plenty of casual places that are still very good. The problem is that the city is also packed during Christmas-market season, and the best restaurants do fill up.

So if there’s somewhere you really want to eat, reserve it.

This is also one of the places where I think a splurge dinner makes sense. You’re already in one of the prettiest little cities in France, you’ve probably spent the afternoon drinking hot wine under Christmas lights, and Colmar has enough genuinely excellent restaurants that “fancy dinner” doesn’t feel like wasting money just for the sake of saying you did it.

If you want to go big, start here:

The festive Ferris wheel at the Colmar Christmas Market is one of the best ways to see the city’s lights and decorated rooftops from above, especially after dark.

The Splurge: Colmar Does Fancy Very Well

JY’S — The Full Michelin Experience

If you want one major meal in Colmar, JY’S is the obvious “we are really doing this” option.

It holds two Michelin stars and serves highly creative cuisine from chef Jean-Yves Schillinger, whose cooking pulls from Alsace, Japan, Brittany, and his time working in New York. Michelin describes it as a full-on culinary experience, right down to an elaborate dessert trolley. This is not a quick dinner before heading back to the markets.

This is the event.

Best for: milestone trips, couples, grown-up families, serious food people, or anyone who wants one unforgettable meal.

L’Atelier du Peintre — Michelin-Starred Without Going Quite so Hard

L’Atelier du Peintre currently holds one Michelin star and serves modern French cuisine in a chic contemporary room tucked into a Renaissance-era building. Michelin specifically praises chef Loïc Lefebvre’s precise, seasonal cooking and creative twists.

And while this is absolutely a splurge, there are a few ways to approach it. Current menus range from a €55 weekday lunch to €85 and €120 tasting menus, with the larger “Galerie Collection” menu at €145.

That makes this one especially interesting if you want Michelin-starred food without committing to the very highest-end price point.

Best for: food-focused travelers, couples, or anyone who wants the Michelin experience without turning dinner into a mortgage payment.

Restaurant Girardin — Elegant and Very French

Restaurant Girardin is another Michelin-starred Colmar option, currently listed by Michelin as creative cuisine in the €€€€ category. This is the pick I’d look at if your idea of a Christmas splurge is something polished, quiet, elegant, and centered around the meal itself.

Best for: romantic dinners, special occasions, or anyone who enjoys a proper long French meal.

Colmar goes all-in on Christmas, with lights, garlands, decorated facades, and storybook displays filling the old town throughout the holiday season.

Fancy, But Not Quite Michelin-Tasting-Menu Fancy

Bord’eau — Beautiful Setting, Excellent Food, Slightly Less Painful Bill

Bord’eau is a really strong middle ground. It serves modern French food, and current dishes include fish, duck, beef tartare and more refined seasonal plates. It’s also listed in the Michelin Guide, which is a nice little reassurance that you’re not just paying for a pretty view.

Best for: couples, families with older kids, and anyone who wants beautiful food in an equally beautiful setting.

Lucas & Chris Restaurant — Modern French, Excellent Reviews

Lucas & Chris sits in that same sweet spot: definitely a nice dinner, but still accessible compared with the Michelin-starred heavy hitters. TheFork currently lists the average price around €65 with a 9.5 rating, and the menu leans modern French with dishes like grilled octopus, roasted fish, duck and seasonal sides. Reviewers consistently praise both the food and the relaxed atmosphere.

This is the kind of place I’d choose if you want excellent food but don’t want dinner to feel overly formal.

Best for: couples, families with older children, or anyone who wants “special dinner” without “ceremonial dinner.”

A classic beef tartare served with crisp fries and a fresh green salad—exactly the kind of satisfying French meal that makes a long day at the Colmar Christmas markets even better.

More Budget-Friendly, Still Actually Good

Because not every meal in Colmar needs to involve tweezers.

Les Racines — French Comfort Food Done Well

One of the strongest-value options I found. TheFork currently lists an average price of about €39, with mains like steak tartare and fries, beef, veal, fish, and French comfort-food dishes in the €19–€32 range.

Reviews are consistently strong, and several recent diners specifically mention that it feels a little removed from the most tourist-heavy part of town.

Best for: families, couples, or anyone who wants very good French food without turning dinner into an occasion.

Sahmeran — Turkish and Much Easier on the Budget

After several days of cream, potatoes, cheese, sausage, and Christmas-market food, there may come a moment when your body begs you to eat something else. Sahmeran is a Turkish restaurant just outside the very center of Colmar, with grilled meats, traditional dishes and a more casual feel. TheFork currently lists the average price around €26 and a 9.5 rating.

My Advice: Book the Dinner You Care About Before You Arrive

Colmar is small. Christmas crowds are not.

You can absolutely grab something casual, snack your way through the markets, or find a simpler meal another night.

But if you want the Michelin-starred dinner, the canal-side table, or the long ridiculous Christmas feast where someone brings you a plate arranged like modern art? Book it.

You can be spontaneous about the mulled wine.

What else do you need to book ahead for a perfect holiday at the European Christmas Markets? Check out my guide!

My free Christmas Guide for a fantastic week in Germany and France!