La Boutique des Bouleaux: Strasbourg’s Best Ceramic Café

In the last few years, four ceramic cafes popped up in Strasbourg. And, since I am always looking for new activities, I decided to try one out.

I ended up choosing La Boutique des Bouleaux because it had a cozy look from the outside.

They also offered an express service, which I needed because my mom was visiting from out of town.

In this article, I will share my experience at La Boutique des Bouleaux and why I think it’s the best ceramic café in Strasbourg.

This is a selection of pottery pieces on a shelf that are getting ready to go into a fired in kiln at La Boutique des Bouleaux, which is my favorite Ceramic Cafe in Strasbourg. — Freshly Painted Ceramic Pieces at La Boutique des Bouleaux

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The Concept

A ceramic café is a place where you can paint your own pottery pieces. It’s like an art studio and coffee shop combined.

You can choose from a wide range of unpainted ceramic pieces, including mugs, plates, figurines, etc.

Then, you can paint them however you want using various tools and techniques provided by the café.

The best part is that you don’t have to be an expert artist, and I definitely am not, to create something beautiful.

It’s perfect if you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day in Strasbourg.

Why I Picked La Boutique des Bouleaux

Out of all the ceramic cafés in Strasbourg, I chose La Boutique des Bouleaux for several reasons.

First, and most importantly, they offer an express service.

Most ceramic cafés need three to four weeks to complete and fire your piece, but at La Boutique des Bouleaux, they can have it ready in two or three days (for an extra €5).

Helpful Tip: Call or email if you’re on vacation and need your piece before you leave.

Secondly, the café itself looked warm and inviting. The others had a more modern aesthetic, and I wanted something cozy.

Finally, it’s not near the popular tourist sites, which makes the atmosphere far more relaxing.

Helpful Tip: I recommend making reservations. It’s a popular activity, and they only have a few tables.

My Experience

Creating My Ceramic Piece

A selection of the different ceramic pieces at La Boutique des Bouleaux. There are plates, bowls, cups, and picture frames. — A Sample of Ceramic Pieces Available

This is my picture frame before I started painting at La Boutique des Bouleaux. There is a picture frame and five bottles of paint and paint brushes on a round wooden table. — My Picture Frame Before I Started

The process of creating my ceramic piece was surprisingly easy.

Once I arrived, I was shown to my table and the ceramic pieces I could select from.

I ended up picking a picture frame.

Helpful Tip: Ceramic pieces range from €10 to €60. Usually, the bigger the piece, the more expensive it is.

Then, once everyone had chosen their pottery, the staff began explaining how to paint it. They showed us the colors and tools available and the different techniques we could use.

This is the shelf with the colors of paint at La Boutique des Bouleaux. There are four selves lined with tons of bottles of paint. — Colors of Paint Available at La Boutique des Bouleaux

These are the painting tools available at La Boutique des Bouleaux. There are paint brushes, stencils, sponges, and more. — Painting Tools Available at La Boutique des Bouleaux

For example, each color needed at least three layers to ensure the color would pop after it was put in the kiln.

I decided to keep my design simple. I picked a few complementary colors and drew different shapes around the frame with a pencil.

Once I designed my picture frame, I filled in all the shapes with paint.

It took me the full two hours to finish.

My picture frame with my pencil drawings at La Boutique des Bouleaux. The is the picture frame, a pencil, paint bottles, and paint brushes. — My Picture Frame with Penciled Designs

My picture frame fully painted at La Boutique des Bouleaux. There is the picture frame with my painted designs, paint brushes, and paint. — My Picture Frame Ready for the Fired Kiln

Before I turned my pottery over to be fired in the kiln, I wrote my initials and date on the back and took a photo of it (both of which were required when I picked up my final product).

Picking Up My Piece

This is the final product from from La Boutique des Bouleaux. It's a picture frame with different shapes and a photo of my family. — My Final Picture Frame from La Boutique des Bouleaux

I visited with my mom, so I tried both their express and standard service.

My mom’s piece went through the express service, and her ceramic piece was ready in two days.

Helpful Tip: I received a text message when it was ready.

My piece took a month.

Helpful Tip: I didn’t receive a message when it was ready, so I recommend putting a reminder in your calendar. I nearly forgot about it.

The colors had turned out even better than expected, and the final product had a glossy finish that gave it a professional look.

I am not an artist by any means, but it was more about the experience. And I have the picture frame right on my desk with a photo of my family.

General Atmosphere

The overall atmosphere was relaxed, cozy, and welcoming.

The staff was also friendly and helpful. Everything was thoroughly explained, and they spent a lot of time going over the different techniques and how to create the best piece.

The atmosphere was conducive to creativity, so I felt comfortable expressing my own style.

Helpful Tip: Everything was explained in French, and I translated for my mom.

They also had coffee, tea, and snacks available. My mom and I both ordered a cup of coffee, but we were more focused on painting and didn’t finish them.

Practical Tips

Here are some practical tips to make the most out of your experience:

Come prepared with an open mind. The whole purpose is to have fun.
Dress comfortably. Painting can get messy, so it’s best to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting some paint on. You’ll also be sitting for about two hours, so make sure you’re comfortable.
Don’t worry about your skill level. I saw both experienced and beginner artists. (I was definitely in the beginner category.)
Choose a pottery piece that you will use.
Call ahead if you need the express service.

Conclusion

My experience at La Boutique des Bouleaux is one that I won’t forget.

The atmosphere, the staff, and the painting experience all came together to create an enjoyable outing.

I love the picture frame I made and look at it every day on my desk.

I highly recommend giving it a try, whether you’re an experienced artist or looking for a fun activity on a Sunday afternoon.

I hope you enjoyed my post and found it helpful. Here are some other articles that I think you might find interesting.