Hostellerie Du Pape - Eguisheim

We opted for this known hotel restaurant because the place looked promising and being already rather late (1:30pm!!! it was also a pragmatic choice since...

First impressions were not great. It may have been a rainy day but no care had been taken with the outside tables and it all looked rather haphazard and unwelcoming. Didn’t bode well. We had upgraded to a Superior room which turned out to be distinctly average and very gloomy. Entered straight from main throughfare terrace (also very ramshackle) which was, fortunately, not in use due to change of season. There’s a lot of footfall going past. No tea making facilities although that seems to be fairly standard in France and no black breakfast tea available anyway, even when I wanted to pay for it! I don’t rate the room, including the horsehair esque mattress or the bathroom no shelving space for any toiletries and none provided, apart from a hand wash dispenser. However, the evening meal was more than adequate and the waiter very attentive. The breakfast service and choice was also very good, albeit quite chaotic. Served our purposes but we have been fortunate to stay in better hotels for the rest of our time in the Alsace.

We stayed at this hotel just one night but it was a wonderful experience. Eguisheim is an enchanted village in the Alsace region. The hotel is very tidy and it has a rustic appeal which is fascinating and peculiar. The room was a good size but it was also a little bit dated. However, we had a wonderful culinary experience in the restaurant which serves local food. We regretted not to stay more to try more plates from the local cuisine.

While on above tour, which is in part visit to several wineries, we stopped at this quaint small town on way to local wine producer. La Ferme du Pape restaurant was suggested by our tour guide. When we walked to it we saw a French couple getting out of their car then going in. That cemented my opinion that this local restaurant was worthwhile we were not disappointed. We were lucky that we were seated w/o a reservation, I imagine because it was a week day we arrive just in time because it quickly filled up. The service was quick by European standards, the servers were very courteous, decorations very quaint, food delicious, well presented, of generous portions. It is a strong recommendation.

We arrived late in Eguisheim and picked this restaurant as we stayed in their hotel. No regrets, it was very good. I had the menu of the day, local cuisine, very fair price, and accompanied by a super Leon Beyer wine.