Perched between the vineyards of the Alsace wine route and the cobblestone lanes of its medieval old town, Colmar offers a visual feast unlike any other in France. While the city is famed for its half-timbered houses and flower-lined canals, viewing it from above adds an entirely new dimension to the experience. The gentle hum of the city below, combined with the panoramic vistas of the Vosges mountains, creates a serene atmosphere that is hard to match.
Rooftop venues in Colmar are more than just places to grab a drink; they are curated viewpoints that offer a unique perspective on the architectural heritage of the region. From hidden terraces tucked behind historic facades to modern lounges overlooking the Lauch river, these elevated escapes provide a welcome respite from the bustling tourist streets below. They allow visitors to appreciate the unique "Colmarien" aesthetic—a blend of German and French influences—from a bird’s-eye view.
Finding the perfect spot to watch the sunset cast a golden glow over the terracotta rooftops is a highlight for many travelers. Whether you are seeking a quiet morning espresso or a vibrant evening cocktail, the city’s elevated hospitality scene caters to a variety of moods and budgets. Many of these spaces have mastered the art of "art de vivre," pairing local Alsatian wines with unobstructed views of the surrounding countryside.
In this guide, we have curated a selection of the finest elevated terraces and panoramic bars the city has to offer. We have evaluated each location based not only on the quality of the view but also on the standard of service, the authenticity of the menu, and the overall atmosphere. Our goal is to help you bypass the tourist traps and discover the terraces where locals actually go to unwind.
The criteria for our selection include the uniqueness of the vantage point, the comfort of the seating, and the quality of the beverages and cuisine. We have also considered the practicalities of visiting, such as accessibility and the best times to secure a prime table. Each recommendation aims to enhance your visit, ensuring you experience the "Little Venice" district and the Rhine plain from a truly memorable angle.
Below, you will find our handpicked selection of the best rooftop cafes in Colmar, each offering a distinct and elevated experience. Whether you are a photographer chasing the perfect light or a couple looking for a romantic hideaway, these venues promise a fresh perspective on the city.
The Little Roof
| Address | 3 Rue du Malsbach, 68420 Eguisheim |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 4:00 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 4:00 – 9:00 PM Sunday: 4:00 – 9:00 PM |
| Phone | — |
Excellent food, a super cosy atmosphere and an easy-going owner. The place is great — the kids are super happy to use the bikes and scooters that are available for guests.
They have re-opened except when its raining. I highly recommend this wonderful Biergarten, the nicest place to go in the evening before sunset. I cannot wait for the warm summer weather. Its a great place to meet up with friends and chat.
Wide range of beers, other alcoholic drings and non-alcoholic drinks. Also some snacks available.
The best and only biergarten in the area, wonderful place to go in spring, summer and autumn. It’s away from the tourists in Eguisheim and is a little corner of sanity.
Good selection of beers and other drinks. Their pizzas and tarte flambé are excellent.
Wonderful place but the barman likes skiing a lot
Good beer and food in a cool, calm environment. Worth the walk out of town.
La Bonneterie - Café Brunch & Bar Apéritif
| Address | 10A Rue de la Poissonnerie, 68000 Colmar |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Phone | 03 67 30 13 23 |
Excellent cafe with lovely service and a wonderful, comfy ambiance. We enjoyed our drinks (dirty chai latte, espresso martini, cremant rosé, riesling), chatting, and reading in this warm space. Merci!
Update: we returned 2 days later for a tasty brunch. It was a Sunday and many other places were full or closed. There was a short line waiting to get in, but the friendly host assured us they would soon have room. 5 minutes later we had a cosy table. Despite the busy hour, the staff was always friendly and felt unstressed. Great experience, again! Kudos.
The restaurant is spacious with plenty of seating, and one of the best things about it is the large indoor air-conditioned dining area, which is perfect on hot days. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, all of which look delicious, so there’s something for everyone. They also provide free Wi-Fi, making it a comfortable place to relax and enjoy a meal.
Very nice restaurant with friendly staff. I had never been to a restaurant that serves only brunch before, so I learned something new as well haha. We ordered Porc Shawarma and Burger poulet au za’atar since it was already lunchtime, and those seemed like the only options that could replace a meal we would normally eat for lunch. The food is tasty, but a bit more seasoned than I expected and I didn’t like the sauce very much. Everything else was nicely and well prepared. The price–quality ratio is okay. All the best. 🙃
Friendly and great shakshuka. Great prices.... The shakshuka brought me back to a time I was in Barcelona ,I went to a corgi cafe and had an unfortunate experience where the corgi mauled me. He bit my face, I was bleeding profusely. It was because I had an empanada in my bag he wanted. Other that the corgi mauling, I give that cafe in Barcelona 5 stars and would go back..
Anyways, I am delirious from the Willy bus, but the shakshuka here is great and I recommend you dine in. 🥚
We ordered shaksuka and salmon pancake. Shaksuka was delicious. We preferred the spicy one and it was so good. I ordered salmon pancake and it looked and tasted so nice. If I go there again I will again order it. We waited like 25 minutes to get in. There there is a line usually. Ice tea was not that good. I want order it again. The place is small. You sit close to people. Overall it was nice and worth the hype.
Flamm’Anna
| Address | 21 Quai de la Poissonnerie, 68000 Colmar |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM |
| Phone | 03 89 29 99 37 |
This place is so cute. We had an option to eat outside, inside or rooftop. The service was friendly and he food was yummy and filling. The ambiance was cozy and cute! Would highly recommend here!
Wonderful and relaxing view. Great tarte flambé. Great drinks. Staff were friendly and attentive. Prices were modest. All in all it has to be 5 out of 5 stars.
Great place to grab a bite to eat. Service is good and the atmosphere is charming and quaint. If you can get in I would recommend.
This place is the cutest! It has a very cozy and relaxed feel, a great place to end the day in Colmar! The service was great and very timely. The Caesar salad is fire and all the tarte flameé we tried were delicious: the truffle, dolce and garlic! So great we went back the next night! Peep the rooftop seating vibes 🤩👌🏼
The person who served us was very rude and even forgot to bring one of the dishes. They were unfriendly, but since we had already waited such a long time outside, we had no other choice.
Café des Marchands
| Address | 9 Rue des Marchands, 68000 Colmar |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Phone | — |
Small mom and pop cafe. Perfect service. Good home made food and Hoppy Nobilis is amazing! Highly recommend!
I happened to walk into this bar by chance during my solo trip, and it became one of the happiest moments of my journey.
Thanks to the kindness and warmth of Pascal and his friends, what started as a lonely evening turned into a wonderful memory.
I haven’t tried many wines before, but every wine they recommended was truly amazing!!
I don’t usually leave reviews, but I really wanted to express my gratitude this time.
Thank you for the unforgettable night — I hope to visit again someday.
From the Korean girl 🙂
I passed this place and took a picture exactly this pic because I found it pretty, and got passively aggressively insulted by a staff woman for taking it.
She said it loudly in front of other people clearly to make me feel bad. I guess she thought she could say it because she assumed I don’t speak French, well, you were wrong..
Faites attention quand vous insultez des gens que vous ne connaissez pas. Et apprenez à dire les choses directement si vous avez quelque chose à dire au lieu d’être une femme passive agressive et impolie..
Why are you not happy that people find something beautiful about the place you work at? Do you really think I have to ask permission to take a picture of a public place?
Honestly, very sick and horrible manners for staff working in hospitality.
Ew.
🚏⏹️🚏 If you are looking for a quick stop, under a shade ⛱️ and just grab some water, refreshments and a light meal in a hot summer day, you can visit this cafe and catch your breath during a trip on foot in Colmar. ⛱️🥗🧊🧀
📍A Cafe Centrally Located in Colmar. It was very hot ☀️in Colmar when we visited in July 2024. We made a quick stop at this Cafe. The Owner was very polite and Well coming. Because it was too hot, we did not get indoors and just set at the table outside of the Cafe. 🍽️☕️🍵
We ate salad and bread with local cheese. 🧀🥖🥗We really enjoyed the local cheese. it was delicious😋 My daughter is very picky and even she enjoyed the food. 😋🧀
⛱️We sat under large umbrellas⛱️⛱️
Watched the shoppers in the street, We cooled down with water and cooled refreshments 🧃🧊🧋.
We sat there till the hottest hours of the day went by. 🔥☀️🥵
Then after we refreshed and rested, we continued our Trip in Colmar. 👣👣👣
Small wine bar in the heart of Colmar. The owner was super friendly and welcoming. We had tried several local wines and the owner shared fascinating insights about the region’s wine history. The cozy atmosphere made it feel like a hidden gem, and we left with a deeper appreciation for the unique flavors of Alsace.
LA TERRASSE DU MARCHE
| Address | 13 Rue des Écoles, 68000 Colmar |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: Closed Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: Closed |
| Phone | — |
Delicious and freshly made Tarte flambée! They found us a table quickly on a Saturday. Was good mix of locals and tourists. Friendly service and good drinks too - one of the best beers we had! Loved the Hansi water glasses too.
Stopped in for a quick lunch on our day trip to Colmar. Very accommodating friendly staff. We enjoyed dining by the canal and having the ‘mini Venise’ experience. The tarte flambé was very good and drinks were also great. Get the flambé with 3 beer sampler!
Great pizza place in the market with a big balcony right over the water and a beautiful view. Delicious flat bread (thin crust pizzas) with the freshest ingredients from the market.
Beautiful little cafe on the side of the river. We enjoyed our light lunch and seeing the sights.
We were here spontaneously and they were bustling with customers and even then they were very nice and accommodated us. We had some hot chocolate and veggie flamm Kuchen and it was so light, crispy and just delicious!
Would reccomend 10/10 ☺️
Café de la Lauch
| Address | 7 Rue de la Poissonnerie, 68000 Colmar |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:30 – 6:00 PM Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:30 – 6:00 PM Friday: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:30 – 6:00 PM Saturday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: Closed |
| Phone | 03 68 61 36 59 |
The most perfect bakery in Colmar! Delicious croissiants and hot chocolate! Awesome view of the canals in the back! You can see so many swans and gondalas going by! 12/10 would recommend this spot!
This was definitely the worst experience of our holiday.
The young blonde woman working there treated us with an astonishing level of arrogance and rudeness.
Long story short, we walked in and were deciding where to sit for a coffee. She approached us and asked what we wanted. We explained that we would just like to have a quick look at the outdoor area at the back so we could decide whether to sit there or inside. She told us it was a nice area, so we politely asked if we could have a look.
To our surprise, she replied: “No, this is not to see it it’s for sitting. This is not a museum!”
I genuinely cannot remember ever being spoken to like this by someone working in a café. We had simply walked in intending to have a coffee and wanted to see where we preferred to sit.
The irony is that Colmar itself is an absolutely beautiful town — nobody needs to walk into a café to do some sightseeing.
We simply replied, “Thank you. In that case, you’ve lost two customers,” and left.
A completely unnecessary and unpleasant interaction that unfortunately left us with a very poor impression of this place. There are plenty of welcoming cafés in Colmar where customers are treated with basic courtesy.
Perfect cozy spot for a morning coffee. Very tasty croissants and the staff is really friendly
Super friendly staff. Very nice pastries and coffee. Lovely terrace and inside cozy atmosphere. Delicious drinks
A hidden gem amidst the touristic chaos of Colmar. The view from the terrace alone makes it worth visiting. The coffee is nice, the pastries delicious, and the service excellent. It is beautifully decorated too. One of the very few places in Colmar that didn’t disappoint us.
L'Artémise
| Address | 10 Rue des Écoles, 68000 Colmar |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Phone | 03 89 29 57 35 |
This place is gorgeous and full of love! After a warm welcome and a friendly chat about the different types of cake and cookies, we sat down in a super cozy area upstairs. The love for details makes this place absolutely beautiful. The food was tasty and also prepared with so much love. Thank you for having us!
A dreamlike experience! Everything was absolutely perfect, from the aromatic tea to the delicious, fresh scones. The pastries and coffee were also top-notch. The decor is incredibly beautiful, creating a cozy and unique atmosphere. On top of that, the staff were very friendly and welcoming. It's a must-visit in Colmar if you’re looking for a magical breakfast or teatime!
Very beautiful place! The food was good especially the avocado and bun de printemps. But for me the etagere is not worth for the cost.
Really aesthetic place with interesting tart flavours. However, we didn’t feel particularly welcomed, and the service was quite slow, we waited over 30 minutes for two cappuccinos and two tarts. Maybe it’s a cultural thing, but just a bit more warmth and friendliness would have greatly improved the overall experience.
A really good place 100% a recommendation. We had here teatime ☕ and it was amazing. It's a very nice and cozy Interieur and the stuff is a very friendly!
Restaurant À l'Échevin
| Address | 4 Pl. des 6 Montagnes Noires, 68000 Colmar |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 12:00 – 1:30 PM, 7:00 – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 7:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 12:00 – 1:30 PM, 7:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 1:30 PM, 7:00 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 1:30 PM, 7:00 – 9:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 1:30 PM, 7:00 – 9:00 PM |
| Phone | 03 89 41 60 32 |
My dinner experience at Restaurant À l’Échevin was disappointing. The food was good, but the service was the worst I have experienced on this trip.
The evening started with a large table of nine guests next to me spending nearly 20 minutes sorting out a misunderstanding about their set menu. Most of the service staff focused on that table while I sat alone waiting just to place my order.
The bigger issue involved my dietary restriction. When making my reservation, I clearly noted that I am lactose intolerant. Upon arrival, I reminded the waitress that I cannot have cow’s milk, although butter, cream, and aged cheeses are generally not a problem.
After waiting about 15 minutes for my main course, the veal was presented and I was informed it had been poached in milk. When I explained again that I am lactose intolerant, the server repeatedly insisted that the milk had been cooked and therefore should not be an issue. Despite my concerns, he continued to argue the point rather than simply offering an alternative.
After several uncomfortable minutes, I firmly explained that I had no intention of becoming ill and that the dish needed to be replaced. While the server later apologized and acknowledged his misunderstanding, the damage was done. What should have been a relaxing evening was overshadowed by an avoidable situation and a lack of respect for a clearly communicated dietary restriction.
Good food cannot fully compensate for poor service, and unfortunately the experience left a lasting negative impression.
What a beautiful experience at l'Échevin restaurant! Enchanting place, lovely old-style design with cosy sittings (we had a table from where we could enjoy the direct view of a picturesque canal), delicious food, fantastic wines and overall elegant and friendly serving (especially the top sommelier). Touristy for sure, but with class. It's not very expensive, but neither cheap, I think it's a good balance for the price of the service one receives.
We spent a wonderful evening at l'échevin. It has an upmarket feel, whilst being laid back at the same time. Service was top notch from start to finish, staff were friendly and efficient without being overbearing. Then the food - just wow! We had the signature menu and the flavours and quality of cooking were exceptional, refined and surprising. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Restaurant À l'Échevin serves very good dessert, I will definitely come back again for their sweets.
It's the Michelin Recommend restaurant I'm the hotel of À l'Échevin, part of the Little Venice area.
The Signature Menu starts from their duck liver, À l'Échevin served it with kiwi and chestnut 🌰, probably the best combination I've ever encountered, love it !!!
Not a fan of their smoked eel and the filled cake of sea bass and lobster, smoked eel tasted like smoked salmon, and the lobster stole the tenderness of sea bass.
As to the roasted doe, too dry.
But have to give BIG credits to their desserts, the pre-dessert is the barley ice on black garlic jelly, very interesting chemistry blended together in your mouth, love it !!!
As to the final dessert, they barley ice on the ice pears, it's sweet but very mild and smooth, melt right into your mouth; as to the barley rice pudding, the kick of buckwheat caramel is the spotlight.
We requested for seats by the canal but was informed that they were reserved. We were then seated at the inner area with red plush seats.
We ordered steaks and sea bass which were decently plated. The sea bass was good for me.
Au Croissant Doré
| Address | 28 Rue des Marchands, 68000 Colmar |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Phone | 03 89 23 70 81 |
Best place to taste a real authentic sweet pies, their lemon tart is so tasty and the four berries fruit as well so fresh and amazing. The service is so good, cafe au lait as well was so nice and the place vibes are so fine for those who love to stay in an old decorative place. Highly recommended while roaming around Colmar beautiful streets.
Cute little cafe!
Very limited food options, BUT IT TASTED REALLY GOOD, especially the Pain au Chocolat, I really enjoyed it so much! Croissant was great too.
Homemade hot chocolate is better than the normal hot chocolate (was wondering what’s the different so we ordered to compare it, homemade one have fragrance of milk/cream 😋
First of all, if you are reading this and trying to understand if the croissants are worth a visit or not...I tell you: NO.
The croissant was the most average and least special croissant I have had in France. Even my hotel served better croissants.
Soft, doughy and not crispy on the outside.
It was simply not good. Tasted like a supermarket croissant.
I was a victim of Chatgpt who told me this place is famous for its croissants.
And more over, when you hear "French people are rude", that image is the spitting image of the female owner of this place.
She was very rude from the moment she looked at us.
We asked for 1 croissant in English.
She said Ferme!!! Which we learned by now that means "Closed".
Another worker (apparently the nice personality hire) who was more cultured understood us and told the owner we only wanted a croissant and not to sit so we were allowed to have one croissant😂.
Croissant was 2€. Too much for what it is.
Also came with an extra flavour of our first rude French experience😂.
Everything was good, but they didn't bring us the second eclair, although they did add it to the bill later.
If you want to stop for a coffee and experience something completely different, make sure to go in. They don’t have a professional coffee machine; it’s a traditional setup. The interior feels like it’s straight out of a movie, and the atmosphere is quite surprising. However, if you don’t have patience, this place might not be for you. But I recommend it to anyone who enjoys observing and experiencing something new while sightseeing. The staff is quite elderly, which adds to the unique atmosphere. I stopped there with a friend for coffee. The coffee was good, and we had traditional macarons, which were tasty. Of course, I didn’t get the one I ordered, but that just added to the whole interesting visit. I highly recommend it, but again, if you’re not patient, don’t go in, as I saw some people leave. Go if you’re curious about the experience and want to take a break from sightseeing.
La Fleur de Sel
| Address | 9 Quai de la Poissonnerie, 68000 Colmar |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM |
| Phone | 03 89 41 09 32 |
While walking in the old town you come across this nice cafe with a terrace along the river. They have a good selection of small bites including cakes, bruschetta and ice creams and waffles.
They have a staffs are attentive and fast.
The location is great for its view of the city and river.
Price is not an issue here. Overall worthy of trying.
Wait before opening to get seated fast. The view is unbearable located with a look of a bridge over the canal.
Such a cute place with tasty food!
The view from the terrace is stunning. Food really good.
Note that they only serve meals (flammkuchen) until 14:00, afterward only appetizers and desserts.
Additionally, no reservation is possible, so you might have to wait for a table when it is busy (definitely in high season).
Wow! I was amazed by the service of this restaurant. Very friendly staff. A limited choise of options on the menucard but they offer the local dishes of the region.
The food was amazing! The views on the terrace are beautiful.
Food and service was great! Very nice restaurant with outdoor seating right by the water and one small bathroom.
The only issue was the five bees that kept coming to our table and food that made it very hard to eat. Otherwise, food was tasty and simple.
Café Rapp
| Address | 1 Place Rapp, 68000 Colmar |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Sunday: Closed |
| Phone | 03 89 23 35 77 |
Had a drink before hotel check-in time.
Drink was good. Staff friendly.
Nice place for a lunch before visiting Colmar. The food is good, but the service a bit slow.
We loved the place, and the coctails💞 especially Emie was very kind, helpful and nice❤️
After a long day on the train this place was a godsend. Tasty. Had a few beers in the warm evening light.
I always stop here for a hot chocolate or a coffee because of the great location & sun facing!.
Good music & ambiance too.
Today I tried the food, and wow 👌
Camille is just the sweetest waitress, so kind & professional. I will return. Thank you
Tinto
| Address | 5 Rte de Selestat, 68000 Colmar |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Phone | 06 33 57 69 67 |
The young nice lady who served me was absolutely sweet and friendly. The poached eggs with salmon exceeded my expectations. And coffee here was the best I've drunk within my 3 days of stay in Alsace Region. Wish you much nspiration and many happy customers! High quality of food, drinks and service is something that you already have 🤗
Cheers from Berlin!
Stopped in for brunch and absolutely loved it. I had the muffin with salmon and a poached egg — it was delicious. The accompanying salad was surprisingly tasty, especially the dressing. The coffee (I had a cappuccino) was amazing: creamy, nutty, and smooth. The food was beautifully presented, with nice tableware, and the place itself is cozy and modern without being crowded. Fast, friendly service. Really enjoyed it!
Cozy café in Colmar, with very kind staff, a bit away from the historic center, but totally worth a try. I had an amazing coffee and a big slice of cake, with lower prices than elsewhere in the city. Highly recommended!
This cafe is very close to the centre of Colmar and has a lovely atmosphere. The staff was very friendly on both occasions (and multilingual) and the coffee itself was delicious. Excellent brunch menu, we recommend the syrup pancakes!
We loved our visit to this nice coffee place. We ordered the best selling items which were the hot dog and the sweet-potato pancakes. We then concluded our stay with the pink and golden lattes which were pleasant in taste. The place was crowded and we had to wait a bit for our food, and to be seated.
Tips for Enjoying Colmar’s Rooftop Cafe Scene
While the views from Colmar’s rooftops are spectacular, a little local knowledge can significantly improve your experience. The city has a unique microclimate and a distinct rhythm of life that differs from larger French metropolises. Understanding the local customs regarding reservations, timing, and dress codes will ensure your visit is as seamless as it is scenic.
1. Time Your Visit for the "Golden Hour"
The late afternoon and early evening light in Colmar is magical, casting a warm glow over the pastel-colored buildings. Arriving an hour before sunset not only guarantees you the best photography conditions but also helps you secure a seat before the evening rush. Keep in mind that many rooftops fill up quickly during the summer months when tourists flock to the Alsace region.
2. Always Check the Weather Forecast
Colmar is situated in one of the driest areas of France, but the weather can shift quickly, especially in spring and autumn. Rooftop terraces are often closed during high winds or heavy rain for safety reasons. It is always wise to call ahead or check the venue’s social media for "open terrace" announcements before making a special trip.
3. Embrace Alsatian Wines
While rooftop bars are often associated with cocktails, you are in the heart of wine country. Instead of defaulting to a generic spritz, ask the sommelier or server for a recommendation of a local Grand Cru. A chilled glass of Riesling or a light Pinot Noir pairs perfectly with the elevated views of the vineyards in the distance.
4. Dress in Layers
Even on a warm summer day, the breeze at a higher elevation can feel significantly cooler, especially once the sun dips behind the Vosges mountains. Bringing a light jacket or a scarf is recommended, even if the temperature at street level feels balmy. This ensures you can stay comfortable and linger longer over your drinks.
5. Be Mindful of Space and Reservations
Many of the best terraces in Colmar are built into historic buildings, which often means space is at a premium. Tables are frequently placed close together, and large groups may be difficult to accommodate without notice. For a guaranteed spot at the most popular venues, especially on weekends, booking a table in advance is strongly advised.
6. Pair Your Visit with Local Landmarks
To make the most of your time, plan your rooftop visit around the opening hours of nearby attractions. For example, visiting a terrace located near the Unterlinden Museum or the Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin allows you to transition seamlessly from cultural exploration to relaxation. This strategy maximizes your time and reduces unnecessary walking in the midday heat.
The charm of Colmar lies in its ability to transport you to a storybook setting, and the view from above only amplifies this magic. Whether you are watching the storks glide over the rooftops or listening to the distant chime of church bells, these elevated cafes offer a moment of pause that enriches the entire travel experience. It is the perfect way to absorb the atmosphere of the capital of Alsatian wine.
As you plan your itinerary, remember that the best travel memories are often made when you slow down and take in the scenery from a new angle. The terraces listed above provide more than just food and drink; they offer a front-row seat to the daily life and architectural beauty of this remarkable French city. We hope this guide helps you find your perfect perch in the sky.
