Champagne is one of my favorite places in France. It's less than an hour to Paris, yet feels like a totally different world. Of course the most important question when visiting Champagne is where you're going to drink, but the second most important question is, where do I eat!?
I've visited the region more times than I can count, and one thing that keeps me coming back is the food. There is so much great food in Champagne, from classic French brasseries to casual local spots, coffee shops, cocktail bars, and special-occasion restaurants.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of every restaurant in the Champagne region. These are the places I would send a friend if they asked me where to eat in Champagne, especially if they were spending time in Reims and Épernay.
Reims
Reims is the largest city in the region and has some of the area's best restaurants. It also has more choice, and diversity of cuisine than other towns. Some of my favorite spots in Reims include:
Moklair Coffee Roasters
If you're serious about coffee, then you are definitely going to want to start your morning at Moklair. This place has earned a number of awards in recent years, and is genuinely one of the best coffee spots I've found anywhere in France. You can go in for something simple, or completely nerd out with their unique blends and roasts.
Le Tablier
If you have a number of people with different tastes, or you're looking for something to eat outside of France's stringent meal hours, Le Tablier is a great choice. It's a casual spot, with a varied menu, but the food is consistently good. Whether you want to try some local cheeses, a burger, pastas or fish, the menu suits pretty much everyone. I personally love that they offer some huge salads, but be warned, salads in France are not exactly the "healthy" option that they are in many other places, there's often a lot of meat and cheese on these things!
L'Alambic
L'Alambic is a great choice for a slightly fancier, more special dinner in Reims. The bottom half of the dining room is set in an old cave, making it a super unique and fitting atmosphere. The food here is more refined French cooking, with a focus on regional products. They also have a great wine list, featuring champagne, of course, as well as bottles from other regions of France.
Brasserie le Boulingrin
Picture a typical French bistro in your mind, and what you see is probably something similar to Brasserie le Boulingrin. You go here for the classics, things like oysters (which pair great with champagne), steak tartare, vol-au-vent, and sole meunière. It's a bustling spot, with a large corner terrace and the perfect I'm-living-my-best-life-in-France vibes.
Épernay
While Épernay has more options for champagne tours and tastings, there are fewer great options for food here. But, there are definitely enough places to keep you well fed for a few days. These are some of the places I tend to visit when I'm in Épernay.
Sacré Bistro
I eat at Sacré Bistro on just about every trip to Épernay, and almost every time, I get the burger. It's just basically the most perfectly crafted burger. A brioche bun, a juicy beef patty, crispy and fresh toppings and delicious fries. Plus, they often change it up for the seasons, meaning it's new and exciting each time. Of course, they have other options too, and a really great champagne list.
Le Vintage, Cocktail Bar
Le Vintage is a cocktail bar with a menu to suit almost anyone. Sure, they have champagne, but they also have cocktails, wine and beer, in a comfortable space. It's a great place to stop if you want some small bites to share, or something other than champagne to round out your visit.
Au Petit Fourneau
If you want something a little more local and authentic, get out of the center of Épernay and head to Au Petit Fourneau. The daily specials are written out on a chalkboard, the place is cozy, and you'll be more likely to be eating next to a local than a tourist. It's worth a bit of a walk for an authentic meal like this.
Chez Ali
At some point, you might want to seek out some non-French food, and luckily, Chez Ali delivers with delicious Moroccan dishes. If you've never had Moroccan food before, this is a great place to try it. The tajine and couscous are both plentiful and full of flavor. When I'm in the mood for something I can't find in many other places, this is where I head.
Final Thoughts on Where to Eat in Champagne
These are just a few of my favorite places to eat in Champagne, mostly focused on Reims and Épernay, since those are the two places most visitors are likely to spend time.
If you're planning a trip to the Champagne region, I'd recommend mixing it up: do one classic French brasserie, one casual bistro, one more special dinner, and at least one spot that gives you a break from the usual champagne tasting itinerary.
And if you want my full Champagne map, with all of my favorite restaurants, champagne houses, coffee shops, wine bars, and travel stops pinned, it's available on Substack for paid subscribers.