🇫🇷 Metz, France | A Surprisingly Delicious Gem in Grand Est! 🥰

This Christmas, I chose Metz—a city in France's Grand Est region famous for its thermal spas. Though the spas were packed during the holidays, the Christmas markets and local eats completely won me over! Here’s my honest review as a traveler: 🍽️ FOODIE PARADISE 👍🏻 Christmas Market = HEAVEN! Choucroute (local specialty): Like Northeastern Chinese sauerkraut—sour, soft, and juicy, served with sausages and bacon. SO GOOD! Hot apple & apricot juice >> mulled wine (yes, I said it!). Fresh oysters & frog legs—unexpectedly delicious! Ate here two days in a row. 👍🏻 PIOPA Italian Restaurant (50m from Pompidou-Metz) €25-26 set menu (main + drink + dessert). Lasagna, risotto (beef/chicken), panna cotta with raspberry sauce—perfection. Big portions, great for both Asian and Western palates. 🎨 CULTURE & SIGHTS 👍🏻 Pompidou-Metz (Way better than Paris’!) Small but curated—less crowded, more intimate. 3rd floor = gaming zone (movies & consoles 🎮). Rooftop lounge with a sofa overlooking Metz—so peaceful! Upcoming: René Magritte exhibition! 👌🏻 Musée de La Cour d’Or (Golden Courtyard Museum) A historical museum—decent if you love history. Nearby thrift stores = super cheap & fun to browse! 👌🏻 Churches (Metz Cathedral & Temple Neuf) Pretty but skippable if short on time. 👌🏻 Quirky Souvenir Shop (Place Saint-Jacques 57000) Vintage fridge magnets (find your birth year!). Dragon-themed goodies (based on Metz’s legend of a hero slaying a dragon 🐉). Also sells chocolates, teas & canned treats. 📍 WHY METZ? Less touristy than Paris—cozy, walkable, and full of charm. Perfect for foodies—unexpectedly amazing eats! Great for day trips (from Paris/Luxembourg). #HiddenGems #FranceTravel #MetzEats #ChristmasMarkets #ArtLovers