Hôtel Les Haras

Rooms and decor

Picture a design hotel in the middle of the old-town island whose building was once a royal stable — that's the charm of Hôtel Les Haras. This was the former Haras national, built in the 18th century under Louis XV, before well-known French designer Patrick Jouin reworked it into a striking contemporary hotel. The design keeps the original timber structure and brick walls intact, then adds clean modern lines until it all clicks. Step into the lobby and you feel right away that this isn't a hotel in a new build. The roughly 55 rooms and suites are done in warm, modern tones, leaning on wood and leather for a tasteful, cozy feel; some still show old beams and traces of the original building set against contemporary furniture. Several reviews praise the rooms as quiet and the beds as especially comfortable. Wake up in a room steeped in 200 years of history, then step out into the old town within a few paces — you won't get this atmosphere at an ordinary hotel.

Food and amenities

The highlight everyone mentions from the first step is the curved oak staircase spiraling through the building, Patrick Jouin's showpiece, so striking it works like a sculpture and becomes a photo spot people stop to capture. Next comes Brasserie Les Haras, a restaurant in the stable of Michelin-starred chef Marc Haeberlin of the legendary Auberge de l'Ill, with a gorgeous curved-wood ceiling and an airy feel, serving contemporary Alsatian food that gets talked about by visitors and locals alike — a special meal without stepping outside. There's also an on-site spa for relaxing treatments after a day on your feet, plus common areas designed for an easy drink. Breakfast is another point reviews praise often, both for freshness and a French range. What sets this place apart is the time you spend among design with a story — from the wood staircase to the curved ceiling to the old stable details still on show.

Location and getting there

The location is a dream for old-town lovers. The hotel sits on the Hôpital side of Grande Île, in the heart of Strasbourg's historic quarter, listed in full as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Open the door and you're among old stone lanes, pastry shops, and small squares with charm in every corner. Strasbourg Cathedral, the famous pink-sandstone Gothic landmark, is about a 10-minute walk, while Petite France — with its half-timbered houses, canals, and old covered bridges — is roughly 12 minutes on foot, passing traditional Alsatian restaurants and stylish shops on the way. If your idea of a trip is ditching the car, exploring the city on foot all day, then coming back to a quiet design hotel, this spot delivers. For longer trips, Strasbourg train station is about an 18-minute walk or 7 minutes by car, and from there a high-speed train reaches Paris in no time.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing to weigh is the range of room sizes and layouts: because this is a renovated historic building converted from an old stable, some rooms are fairly compact or oddly shaped by the original structure. If you want a roomier stay, pick a higher room category and check the details carefully when you book — don't assume every room is the same. Second is the buzz from the brasserie: since Brasserie Les Haras is a popular spot that draws plenty of outside diners, the ground floor gets lively at lunch and dinner, and rooms near the restaurant zone may pick up some noise; if you're sensitive to it, ask for a room away from that area. Last is getting around and parking: the location walks easily to the old-town highlights but is a fair distance from the train station (about 18 minutes on foot), so anyone hauling heavy bags may want to budget for a taxi, and because it's in the car-restricted heart of the old-town island, parking is hard to find and paid. Drivers should ask about parking ahead of time.

Our take

From reading through a lot of real reviews, Hôtel Les Haras sells "a former royal stable plus Patrick Jouin design plus a Michelin-starred-chef brasserie" in a way that's hard to match in Strasbourg. If the trip in your head is sleeping in a 200-year-old building brought back to life with striking contemporary design, walking down a beautiful curved-wood staircase to a special meal under a timber ceiling, then strolling a few minutes to the cathedral and Petite France, this is a stay that sticks with you. But if you want every room to be large, full 5-star facilities, or a location next to the train station, the boutique-design-in-an-old-building character here may need a slight reset of expectations. Overall we give it 8.8/10, best for couples and design lovers who fall for an old building with a story in the heart of the old town more than for room size and full amenities.