Le Chambard is everything you could want in a hotel set in the bucolic wine region of Alsace: historic, charming, recently renovated to modern standards and a food lover’s heaven. It is the home to a Michelin starred restaurant whose chef, Olivier Nasti, was awarded Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2007. For those unacquainted with this distinct honour, the “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” is given to a craftsman who has attained the highest standard of excellence in his or her chosen craft, be it cooking, baking, butchery, making cheese, making chocolate, creating jewellery, and more.
What I love about Le Chambard is that it is a family-run hotel/restaurant which makes you feel at home, pampered and relaxed. Aside from Olivier Nasti, other family members make sure that everything is run for the pleasure and delight of their guests. Emmanuel Nasti, brother of the chef, is the sommelier. Patricia Nasti, wife of Olivier, runs the hotel and the Winstub (the other restaurant in the hotel), which is more informal and features local cooking. Corinne, wife of Emmanuel, is in charge of reception.
Le Chambard’s location is the best in Alsace
The town of Kaysersberg is lovely, quiet, historic and not as overrun by tourists as Riquewihr. Kaysersberg is nestled amidst the vineyards and overlooking it are the ruins of a castle and fortress, which are only a few minutes walk from Le Chambard. You find half-timbered houses, a medieval church, narrow alleys and tiny squares, wine bars, cafes and restaurants. In the morning, you can walk from Le Chambard up to the ruins of the fortress or through the peaceful vineyards behind it. From Kaysersberg, you can drive along the Route du Vin (wine route) that winds its way through villages north and south of Kaysersberg. This town is an excellent base for exploring the Alsace wine region.
Le Chambard’s hotel and spa
There are 32 bedrooms (of which 5 are suites and 6 are superior deluxe bedrooms). Many of the bedrooms have views over the vineyards. The hotel consists of a renovated 18th century building and a modern extension. I stayed in the latter, which was very quiet indeed and furnished with a large comfortable bed, Wi-Fi, TV, and a balcony. The spa consists of a small swimming pool, hammam, sauna, jacuzzi. They offer beauty treatments and massages.
Le Chambard’s gastronomic restaurant and its Winstub
Le Chambard is best known for its Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant which features modern Alsace cooking that uses fresh seasonal ingredients from the region. Oliveri Nasti’s cuisine is absolutely delicious, beautifully presented, light and healthy (unlike traditional Alsatian cooking which tends to be heavy). The other restaurant at the hotel is called the Winstub, a bistro that serves local specialties such as baeckaoffa, magret de canard, munster cheese, and kugelhopf.
View from the fortress castle over Kaysersberg
Le Chambard gastronomic restaurant
Room in Le Chambard
Le Chambard’s historic building
Route from Strasbourg to Kaysersberg
If you arrive in Strasbourg and rent a car, it takes about one hour to get to Kaysersberg.
Le Chambard
9-13 rue du Général de Gaulle
68240 KAYSERSBERG – FRANCE
Telephone +33 (0) 3 89 47 10 17
About Esme Vos
