where to eat & drink in reims
restaurants
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This restaurant is most definitely the priciest of my recommendations, but it’s so worth it. I was fortunate enough to dine here on some special occasions, and each time, I had a wonderful time and a wonderful meal. The location of Gabrielle is perfect. It’s on the second floor/terrasse and offers a spectacular view of the Cathedral. The restaurant has an extensive menu when it comes to caviar, champagne (of course), wine, and delicious food. Their desserts are also delectable.
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This is an Italian restaurant, but when you are living abroad, you get the desire to switch the cuisine! This restaurant is located close to the Hotel de Ville, and it was just one block away from my apartment during my senior year. Which, yes, was very dangerous. The restaurant itself has a great atmosphere, it’s got the greatest decor, and is small enough in size to offer a cozy feel. Their pizzas are what I recommend ordering, but their pasta and other dishes are also yummy. Alba really is the perfect slice of Italy in the heart of Reims!
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Located on the property of Domaine Les Crayèrs (a fancy hotel), you will find two restaurants. Les Crayèrs is located a few miles from the center of the city, closer to the champagne houses (Veuve, Pommery, Tattinger, Ruinart). Their main restaurant, Le Parc, is located inside the hotel and holds 2 Michelin stars. Would I like to eat there? Yes, duh. And if you have that kind of cash, you should definitely eat there. But if you are like me, then you might want to try their Brasserie Le Jardin. It is still pricey, but the food is delicious. One of the best steaks I have ever had, I ate at Le Jardin.
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On the corner of Rue Buirette & Rue Jeanne d’arc you will find an oyster bar/shack/stand. When I was living in Reims, I didn’t like oysters. If we’re looking for a silver lining, it would be that I saved money because I passed this oyster stand almost daily and never once ate an oyster. You’re probably wondering how I’d recommend it if I never ate from this stand. Well, France has some great oysters. And if oysters go with anything, it’s champagne. And I promise next time I go back to Reims, I will personally stop at the oyster stand!
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The food I found myself most often craving or missing from home was a really good burger. When it comes to fries (served with mayo always), France always wins. But finding a good burger can be hit or miss. L’expérience has an extensive menu and a great location right on Place d’Erlon. This street has many restaurants on it, so if you are generally looking for a restaurant, you can find a good one here. However, I found that if I was craving a really delicious burger, this was my go-to spot.
Cafés
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Gosh, the amount of crepes I ate in Reims was ridiculous, and if you personally know me, you know how much I love a crepe. Louise has great coffee and an extensive menu of savory and sweet crepes. It’s a very small cafe, so it’s definitely cozy during the winter months. And in the spring & summer, they have outdoor seating. It’s a perfect spot to take a break after you have shopped on Rue de Vesle.
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Tucked away off Rue de Vesle, you will also find Harold. You can’t really go wrong with coffee from any cafe in Reims or France, really, but there was something about this cafe I always found comforting. I highly recommend ordering the café gourmand, and if you are like I once was, you might not know what that is. It’s a coffee alongside a few smaller pieces of desserts/pastries that the cafe has. It’s so ideal for those of us with a sweet tooth who want to have a few bites of many desserts and not just one.
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If you live in France, you are probably thinking, “This has to be a joke”. No, I honestly love La Mie Caline. Yes, it is a chain, but I absolutely adore it. They have coffee, drinks, sandwiches, and pastries. My absolute favorite place to grab lunch, because for 6 or 8 euros, you get a sandwich, a cookie, and a drink. And a really quality sandwich at that!
Champagne houses
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This is my absolute favorite champagne. It’s definitely on the pricier end, but it’s so delicious. And unfortunately for me, they import very little of it into the States. It’s the only champagne house that I have visited twice. I did the standard cellar tour with my father, which is a great tour. It’s a small number of guests, so you can ask all the questions you want. Buttt, if you can splurge, I recommend doing their brunch. Now, when I say I had the best eggs Benedict at this brunch, I am still thinking of it. The spread of food they offer is incredible, and you, of course, get a few glasses of their champagne to accompany your meal. I was lucky enough to do this with my mom, and it is still an experience that we often talk about.
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This is just a classic. The tour was one of my absolute favorite tours, which I did when my mom visited. Honestly, walking in the caves and hearing each of the histories of the champagne houses is so interesting. But for me, the GH Mumm bottle is so iconic, and the taste is superb. It was also at this champagne house that I learned the proper way to open a champagne bottle!
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tattinger is also a classic, and the champagne is pretty decent. but for me this goes on the list for sentimental reasons. it was my first champagne house i ever visited. my first time in reims as well, and part of the reason i decided to study abroad in the first place!
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The Widow Cliquot! If you don’t know the history of this champagne, I highly recommend going on this tour. While I don’t personally love the taste of Veuve (I think it’s very over hyped, sorry Heather Dubrow!), learning about the history and visiting the cellars is a must. The caves were stunning, and I’ll always support an (originally) female-run empire!!!
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If you recently saw the movie “Champagne Problems” on Netflix, the Boizel Champagne house was featured in the movie. This champagne house is located in Épernay. If you are staying in Reims, a quick tram will take you right from the center to Épernay. This was the only maison I visited outside of Reims, so there’s plenty more to explore in Épernay. But I enjoyed the tour, as it was just Patrick, me, and another couple, so the experience was very personalized, and I enjoyed the champagne.
My honorable mentions are Canard-Duchêne (outside in the hills of the region) and Pommery! But in all honesty, there are TONS of champagne houses, and you can really never go wrong with champagne!
