Le Purgatoire: a wine bar in a former chapel
Drinking under the vaults of a former chapel: the most surprising room in the Krutenau, a bold wine list and one of the best scores in the quarter.
The verdict
The room first: a former chapel on rue de Zurich, vaults and all, converted into a wine bar. The atmosphere, halfway between a warm tavern and a repurposed sacred space, has no equal in Strasbourg, and the list keeps up: a wide selection whose slightly wild choices the local press applauds, serious sharing plates, and one of the sunniest terraces in the quarter. The Google score is close to unanimous, which is a fine joke for a place of penance.
What to drink
A long and curious list: classics from Alsace and elsewhere, bold natural cuvées (unfiltered, with little or no added sulphur), and genuine advice on what to take by the glass. The sharing plates go well beyond the standard cold cuts board.
Visiting tip
The setting draws a crowd: come on a weekday, or book if you are a group at the weekend. In fine weather the terrace is spoken for from 6pm. In winter, the candlelit vaults are one of the most romantic rooms in the city.
Frequently asked questions
Is Le Purgatoire really inside a chapel?
What should I budget at Le Purgatoire?
Camille Roth
Born in Schiltigheim, Camille spent ten years working in Strasbourg kitchens before swapping the apron for a notebook. She writes about winstubs, the city's newer tables and Alsatian produce. Her rule: never recommend an address she would not send her own parents to.
