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A Wine Lover's Guide to Bordeaux
30
items I first explored Bordeaux a decade ago as an English language teaching assistant. I vaguely remembered its stunning Miroir d’Eau, proximity to the beautiful medieval town of Saint-Emilion, and the way the wine trade was woven into the very fabric of ...
Map
Sections
5
Restaurants, Bakeries + Wine Bars
Hotels + Airbnbs
Monuments
Museums, Parks, and Shops
Wineries + Wine Region Experiences
Restaurants, Bakeries + Wine Bars
Some of my favorite places - from amazing pizza to fine dining.
My husband I have have a running argument about Italian food in France. It’s some of my favorite Italian food in the world (outside of perhaps Italy, the source, of course!), with an emphasis on craftsmanship, exceptional ingredients, and French prec...
Restaurant Peppone
This place is an institution. Located right smack dab in the center of Bordeaux, it has a bustling terrace that’s the perfect spot for people watching. Here, you’ll find classic French food and a great wine list. Worth a visit for lunch or dinner.
Le MICHEL'S, Bordeaux
Located just across from the Cité du Vin, les Halles de Bacalan is a new food hall with nearly two dozen stands and plenty of tables (both indoors and outside overlooking the canal). Almost all the food on offer here is sourced locally, so you’re rea...
Les Halles de Bacalan
New restaurant with a stunning rooftop located in the Chartrons district. You’ll find expansive views of the city and the river, great cocktails (especially the spritzes!), and modern, fresh cuisine. The service is pretty terrible (even my French fri...
TCHANQUÉ / Bar Restaurant Rooftop / Bordeaux
Cute little Lebanese fast-casual restaurant in Chartrons. A great place to go for make-your-own bowls and homemade sauces. There’s a significant Lebanese diaspora in France so I always try to find a good Lebanese spot during my travels. Soukka was pe...
SOUKKA - CAFÉ ET CANTINE ENGAGÉS, Bordeaux
Probably the best meal I had in Bordeaux. This place is small and unassuming but the food packs a punch. It’s hard to be pescatarian in the southwest of France because so much of classic French food relies on meats (especially the duck and charcuteri...
Symbiose
A classic in Bordeaux, everyone loves this place (multiple people recommended it to me!). You can try nearly 50 wines here from all around France, on offer through an automatic wine dispenser system where you pay per ounce. The staff are friendly, ki...
LE SOBRE CHARTRONS
Tucked away on a pedestrian street in the city center, you might miss Complanterra if you’re not looking for it, but a visit here during your stay in Bordeaux is essential. This is my favorite wine bar in Bordeaux. Focused exclusively on organic, bio...
ComplanTerra
This boulangerie’s claim to fame? It’s the oldest continually operating bakery in Bordeaux, with roots dating back to the 1760s (!). To honor their heritage, all their breads are baked in old stone ovens using traditional methods. While you’ll find t...
AU PÉTRIN MOISSAGAIS
A tiny little bakery located just opposite a magnificent gothic church, this place has all the classics, and they’re done so well there’s always a line down the block. They’re part of a larger network of “p’tite boulangeries” that champions the work ...
LA P'TITE BOULANGERIE NOTRE DAME
Hotels + Airbnbs
Two options for your stay! Chez Jeanne is absolutely phenomenal.
3-star hotel in the center of Bordeaux. The location is right downtown, so while it’s convenient to nightlife, shopping, and restaurants, getting a taxi or an Uber can be challenging. You can ask the hotel to call you a professional taxi that will ar...
Mama Shelter Bordeaux
Located in Bordeaux’s best neighborhood, Chartrons, Chez Jeanne is a stunning apartment in a 19th century building with incredible natural light, a beautiful kitchen, and a wonderfully soft living room. The original fireplace is magnificent (not that...
Chez Jeanne - Beautiful apartment in the heart of the city
Monuments
Bordeaux is a stunning place and its monuments are what make it stand out!
You can’t miss this stunning 18th century marvel! Make sure to walk one day into the center of Bordeaux to see it up close. Today, it serves as a meeting and events venue for gatherings from all over the world and I was lucky enough to attend a black...
Bordeaux Palais de la Bourse | Bordeaux Congrès Bureau
Just in front of the Palais de la Bourse is the magnificent “Water Mirror”. It’s a beautiful, flat water fountain they turn on at night in the summer. If you look directly at the Palais de la Bourse at night, the water mirror will reflect back the st...
Miroir d'Eau
This beautiful, unique archway was erected in the 15th century to commemorate a French king’s victory in battle. It was later incorporated into the walls of the city of Bordeaux and today you can walk or bike straight through it to get to one of the ...
Porte Cailhau
One of the largest bells in France, this beauty dates back to the 18th century and today is rung for special and somber occasions. I walked all around and under it, but sadly didn’t get to hear it ring. Guess I’ll have to go back!
Grosse Cloche
Every French city has some version of a gothic cathedral – and Bordeaux is no exception to the rule. Step inside for a lesson in 13th century architecture, to take a break from the crowds, or escape from the heat.
Cathédrale Saint-André
Museums, Parks, and Shops
Don't miss Europe's most incredible wine museum - La Cité du Vin!
This is a MUST VISIT if you love wine (and if you don’t love wine, how on earth did you end up on my blog?!). I was completely blown away by the museum’s sheer size, design, presentation, and modern approach to wine education. From an immersive “dinn...
La Cité du Vin
An immersive art and history museum that focuses on bringing culture to life with light and sound. When I went, the focus exhibit was on Egypt and I learned a ton! Great place to bring kids, too.
Bassins des Lumières | Digital & immersive museum in Bordeaux
This beautiful, expansive park in the middle of Bordeaux has been maintained since the 18th century and remains a favorite among residents today. I posted up here after my museum morning with a sandwich from a local boulangerie to people-watch. It wa...
Jardin Public
France’s largest independent bookstore. Covering multiple floors and several city blocks in the center of Bordeaux, you can find books here in dozens of languages covering all kinds of genres and subject matter (including a whole room on wine, food, ...
Librairie Mollat Bordeaux
Wineries + Wine Region Experiences
Some amazing winery and wine-related experiences. Don't miss booking a tour!
One of the best ways to do so is to book an experience through Bordeaux Wine Trails. These small, intimate bike tours are offered in both French and English and led by wine experts. They offer a wide variety of tours throughout the Bordeaux region, b...
Bordeaux Wine Trails
This is a must visit for anyone going to Bordeaux. If you only have a couple of days for visits, I cannot recommend Cardinale enough. The wines and property would be impressive on their own, but La Maison Cardinale has recently invested in its enotou...
La Maison Cardinale
An absolutely stunning property in Saint-Julien, Château Lagrange was one of my favorite visits of the trip. They offer unique, upscale wine experiences, like a private vineyard tour in a refurbished Méhari and a personalized blending workshop. The g...
Château Lagrange | Grand Cru Classé – Vin de Saint-Julien Médoc
This was the farthest north I ventured during my time in Bordeaux, and while it is a bit of a trek to get all the way up to Pauillac, it’s a beautiful drive and this visit was well worth it. Haut-Bages Libéral essentially pioneered biodynamics in Bor...
Château Haut-Bages Libéral
I stopped by Château Léoville-Poyferré on a sunny afternoon for a light lunch in between visits. Their property is located within the town of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, so you won’t get a direct view of the vines during your visit, but the terrace is ...
Château Léoville Poyferré - 2d Grand Cru Classé Saint-Julien
Château Magnol is the official home of global importer and wine producer Barton & Guestier. They only open their doors for food & wine workshops, the Médoc’s portes ouvertes program every spring, and for professionals, but if you’re lucky eno...
Château Magnol
Climens can trace its history back to the 16th century, but it was more recently acquired by Jérôme Moitry, a passionate propriétaire. All 30 hectares of Sémillon are now certified organic and biodynamic, and the result is some of the most aromatic, ...
Château Climens | Grand Vin de Sauternes | Premier Cru Barsac
Château Guiraud and Château Haut-Bages Libéral share something in common: they were among the first in their respective subregions to push for and become passionate about biodynamic winemaking. Guiraud was the first premier grand cru classé in Sauter...
Château Guiraud · Sauternes
I think Malartic-Lagravière is one of Bordeaux’s best-kept secrets. An exceptional family-run estate, the owners have expanded their holdings with a new world project in Argentina to complement their Bordeaux savoir-faire. It’s a stunning property th...
Château Malartic Lagravière: Grand Cru Classé de Graves