Bordeaux’s revitalization is more than new tourism initiatives, the sprawling La Cité du Vin and a city that has been awakened like a shiny new diamond emerging from under the black soot. The city long had a reputation for a sub par food scene; one that certainly didn’t match with top notch wines in the Wine Capital of the World. The best restaurants in Bordeaux were few and far between. But that has all changed, along with so many other things, and Bordeaux now offers one of the best foodie scenes in France on par with Lyon and Paris.
So much of the culture in the Port of the Moon is about enjoying good food and good wine. Not only have some of the biggest names in the chefdom added Bordeaux to their always lengthening lists of restaurants, hot new chefs are continually emerging. But like anywhere, it’s definitely possible to find some duds and can be difficult to choose where to eat in Bordeaux from the hundreds of restaurants, bistros and brasseries seemingly gracing every corner and lining every square. To help with that trip planning problem, we put together our local’s take on the best restaurants in Bordeaux.
One thing you’ll notice is that we mention the menu changes seasonally at nearly all of our favorite restaurants. A seasonally changing menu is the hallmark of a good restaurant and something locals look for to indicate locally sourced and quality ingredients. And if you need other French dining out etiquette tips, check out our guide to the must-know rules for eating out in France that will help you fit in like a local.
We highly recommend making a reservation as it’s typical that restaurants in France will only have one seating and once the tables are full, you’ll be turned away. We love using LaFourchette to make reservations. The website and app takes any language barriers out of making restaurant reservations in Bordeaux with an easy to use system to reserve your table in just a few clicks. Popular in Bordeaux and many other cities in France, LaFourchette includes sample menus, photos, directions and one-click reservation booking for many restaurants. Download LaFourchette app or use the links below to book your reservations.
For the Best Bordelais and French Restaurants in Bordeaux
La Brasserie Bordelaise
Located on Rue Saint-Rémi, one of the busiest streets in Bordeaux, La Brasserie Bordelaise is a gem among many restaurants that cater to tourists. Locals will even elbow their way through the crowds on Rue Saint-Remi for a reservation at this Bordeaux restaurant.
It’s all about the meat at La Brasserie Bordelaise and this is where you come when you want a good steak or French comfort food typical of the Southwest where French meets Basque. The menu does change seasonally, like in winter when the famous black truffles of the Perigord grace the mashed potatoes or flavor a penne and foie gras. And the steaks are seriously to die for. They’re so tender they melt in your mouth and only breeds like boeuf de Bazas, the Blonde d’Aquitaine and Simmental are good enough to grace this menu.
The wine list is extensive, with over 700 bottles to choose from. In fact, the wine is coming out of the woodwork with bottles stacked in every nook and cranny. Wander around the various rooms and wine cellar to have a look.
La Brasserie Bordelaise, 50 Rue Saint-Rémi. Reservations recommended. Dog-friendly. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
L’Entrecôte
If you’re looking the French classic steak frites, there’s simply no better place to head to in Bordeaux than L’Entrecôte.
Located right in the heart of Bordeaux steps away from the Grand Théâtre, L’Entrecôte’s menu features one thing and one thing only: 170 grams of sliced beef sirloin served with the restaurant’s famous secret sauce and as many fries as you can eat. It comes with a simple green salad with walnuts as a starter. Your only choice is how you’d like the steak cooked. There’s even only one choice if you’d like red wine to go with it all. If you need a little something sweet to finish off the savory meal, there is a small menu of dessert options.
The formula has been unchanged since 1962 since founder Henri Gineste opened the first location of his now popular restaurant in Toulouse. And since, the well-known restaurant has opened locations here in Bordeaux, Nantes, Montpellier, Lyon and even Barcelona.
The restaurant doesn’t accept reservations, but locals and visitors alike line up come both lunch and dinnertime to snag one of coveted tables. And we’ve been among that line many times. It truly is that good and worth the wait.
There’s two dinner services, and as L’Entrecôte quite literally specializes in one thing, the services are a well-oiled machine. We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes prior to service to ensure you’ll get a table.
L’Entrecôte, 4 Cours du 30 Juillet. Reservations not accepted. Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to service.
La Tupina
La Tupina is a Bordeaux institution and rightfully so. The restaurant is comprised of several rooms, all with rustic vintage furniture giving is a French farmhouse feel. The food is prepared in an open fire pit and in winter, you’ll find soups simmering in the cauldron hanging in the fireplace.
It’s pricey for a meal at La Tupina, but a few bites of the Southwestern France specialties like foie gras terrine and potatoes cooked in duck fat make it oh-so-worth it. Be sure to order dessert too. Bordeaux’s famous little custardy cake, the canelé, typically is on their dessert menu and its deliciously served “stuffed” with homemade ice cream and drizzled with salted caramel.
La Tupina, 6 Rue Porte de la Monnaie. Reservations required. Dog-friendly. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
Le 7 Restaurant
Le 7 Restaurant is on the 7th floor of La Cité du Vin and offers a stunning panoramic view of Bordeaux and the Garonne River. I recommend booking a table about an hour before sunset when dining in the summer so that you can watch the sky turn shades of pink and lavender over fine wine and Bordelaise fare.
The menu features seasonal dishes and an impressive wine list, which you can browse by country on an iPad. We also love their pairing suggestions menu featuring small plates with selections from around the world like salmon from Scotland and tuna from Japan.
Le 7 Restaurant, 4 Rue de Pontac. Reservations recommended. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
Le Chien de Pavlov
I love the ambiance of Le Chien de Pavlov. Expect mismatched antique furniture and tiny Tiffany lights in the cozy restaurant. The menu changes depending on what ingredients are fresh and available seasonally. But one thing you can be assured of is that this restaurant in the heart of Bordeaux’s Saint Pierre district is excellent value.
Actually, I like to tell people that Le Chien de Pavlov offers the best value glass of wine in Bordeaux. With an entree, a glass of the white or red on offer for the day is just €2. And the food is delicious too.
Le Chien de Pavlov, 45 Rue de la Devise. Reservations recommended. Dog-friendly.
Symbiose
Symbiose is a restaurant/cocktail bar that is incredibly difficult to get a table at. The brainchild of four friends, it’s Lucas, Simon and Thomas that are in charge of the pickling and the bar menu. While Félix is at the helm of their much-talked-about cuisine.
It’s only open as a restaurant Monday – Friday for lunch and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for dinner. The rest of the time it’s a speakeasy known for their craft cocktails – and the vibe entirely changes. If you dine at one of the dozen hard-to-reserve tables, take note of the grandfather clock at the back of the restaurant. It has a secret…opening up to an entirely hidden room where the nightly speakeasy is a Bordeaux hot spot.
As for the food, the rumors circulating Bordeaux are true and it’s exquisite. The lunch menu is a particularly good value, too, for a high quality gastronomic restaurant. You have a menu for €20 that includes a starter, main and dessert. As usual with the restaurants we seek out, the menu changes often and is based on local, fresh seasonal ingredients. It has just two choices each for the starter, main and dessert.
On the day we dined at Symbiose, we started with a marinated langoustine with asparagus and carrot and citrus purées that was topped with tuile (a type of French wafer) made of squid ink. Roasted lamb with bok choy, mushrooms and parsnip purée followed as the main course. And dessert was an oh-so-delicious chocolate whisky tart topped with salted caramel butter that I’ll be dreaming of for some time to come.
Symbiose, 4 Quai des Chartrons. Reservations required. Dog-friendly. Email [email protected] to request a reservation.
Le Canopée Café
Le Canopée Café is a rooftop restaurant located in Mérignac, just 20 minutes by car from the center of Bordeaux or 3o minutes by the Line 1 bus. And it’s definitely worth the short journey out of town.
The restaurant has a lunch service, which can be seated indoors in their chic restaurant space with an open kitchen where you can see the chef and staff preparing the meals, or on the outdoor terrace when the weather is nice. In the summer evenings, there’s also the option of the outdoor tapas bar where there is a selection of small plates, wine and cocktails and several pétanque playing areas (pétanque is a French game sort of similar to Italian bocce, where you throw hollow steel balls as close as possible to a jack).
We definitely want to go back with some friends one evening for France’s answer to a pool bar and pub in the US. For now, we can highly recommend the restaurant for either lunch or dinner. We sampled a variety of Le Canopée Café’s dishes and all were artfully crafted dishes full of flavor that play on the local Bordelaise cuisine with a modern twist.
We opted for our waiter’s recommendations, since the entire menu looked enticing. We tried the shrimp tartare in a yuzu cream and a poached egg with ham. As our main courses, we tried their signature dish (and one of the owner’s favorites), a squid ink spaghetti carbonara topped with calamari as our starters. We also had the veal with potatoes. The meal was finished off with a little plate of chocolate bliss with six different chocolate creations from the pastry chef.
Le Canopée Café, 1 Chemin de Pouchon, Mérignac. Reservations recommended.
Bistro du Musée
Bistro du Musée is located just across from Cathédrale Saint-André, one of the main sights of Bordeaux. While we would usually recommend you steer clear of restaurants in the vicinity of a major tourist attraction, Bistro du Musée is a temple of wine with over 50 bottle choices and many on offer by the glass. The bistro also offers a menu of local dishes that changes regularly with what’s in season.
We’ve eaten a lot of lamb shanks over the years and Tim declared the seven-hour roasted lamb shank the best he’s ever had. Our friends who we dined with for lunch also ordered the lamb shank and nodded in agreement between bites. Between the cozy atmosphere decorated with a wine atmosphere and the delicious, homemade food, you can bet we’ll be back. And next time, there’s no doubt that I’ll also be ordering the lamb shank.
Bistro du Musée, 37 Place Pey Berland. Reservations recommended. Dog-friendly. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
Le Chiopot
Le Chiopot has been a Bordeaux institution for more than 75 years. The restaurant, which is actually located just a 15-minute taxi ride from Bordeaux Center, was located close to the slaughterhouses supplying meat to Bordeaux when it opened in 1927. Le Chiopot, not surprisingly because of the location, became well-known as one of the best spots in Bordeaux for meat dishes.
The decor has been modernized, but the menu remains meat-centric and still offers some of the best in Bordeaux. Bring friends, because menu items like the 1.5 kilograms of prime rib or the leg of lamb from the Pyrenees that we had are meant to be shared among at least 2-3 people. Believe us, it’s well worth the taxi ride for a meal at Le Chiopot.
Le Chiopot, 281 Allée des Quatre Castéra, Bègles. Reservations recommended. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
Restaurant LouLou
LouLou is still relatively new on the Bordeaux scene. It’s located just steps away from Place de la Bourse and the interior is everything you expect of a French bistro. It’s cozy and has a gorgeous fireplace. You can definitely imagine you’re in France, even when dining indoors – which we think is sometimes lost in restaurants that are decorated with modern decor.
As you’ve probably come to realize, we like when there’s a chalkboard menu that changes with what’s fresh and in season. It’s a great indicator of a good restaurant. And that’s exactly what LouLou’s menu is – a chalkboard menu of the day. Though, there seem to be a few staples like the beef tataki, that simply change their accompaniments with what’s in season.
The beef tataki is the French version, not the Japanese. It’s beef cheek that is so incredibly tender it melts in your mouth. On an early winter day, it was accompanied by pumpkin puree and snap peas.
Restaurant LouLou, 16 Rue de la Cour des Aides. Dog-friendly. Reservations recommended.
Arcada
Nestled in the heart of Old Bordeaux and tucked away on a tiny street just a few minutes from the Porte Cailhau, Arcada is a new address in Bordeaux open since May 2019. At the helm is the young, but experienced chef/owner Sofiane Bouhabib. He’s worked in several other Bordeaux restaurants we recommend, as well as in Biarritz and Bayonne.
The menu changes regularly to reflect the best seasonal ingredients from the region, and small producers from around the original supply the ingredients to the restaurant.
The restaurant has an impressive wine cellar with some 50 references that reflect not only the best of France, but also wine regions from around the world.
And if you’re a cigar lover, you’re in for a treat. Ask Chef Bouhabib about his cigar collection.
Arcada, 13 Rue de la Rousselle. Reservations recommended. Dog-friendly. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
For the Best Seafood in Bordeaux
Chez Serge
For an upscale dining experience where fish is turned in to art on a plate, head to Chez Serge. Located just steps away from Place de la Bourse, this restaurant can easily be overlooked. But once you’ve discovered Yeled, you’ll want to return again and again.
Yeled is an experience. There are two dinner services, with the first at 7pm and the second at 10pm. From midnight, Chez Serge turns in to a cocktail bar and is one of few establishments in Bordeaux where you can still order food past midnight. Be sure to book one of the chef’s tables where you can watch the artists work.
Executive chef Jean-Christophe Martinez creates a new menu each week, and the concept is mezze-style small plates meant to be shared. Here you don’t order the traditional starter, main course and dessert. With a focus on vegetal and seafood flavors, you’ll find dishes like barbecued brussel sprouts in a peanut butter sauce, grilled octopus and delicate scallop tartare.
You can select your dishes a la carte or let the chef surprise you with the discovery menu (only available for the whole table and a minimum of 4 guests). The sommelier expertly pairs wines with each round of dishes, offering up many surprises beyond the typical Bordeaux wines. And in upscale dining fashion, dessert is also a multi-dessert affair. Be sure to stay for the celebratory shots passed round – which are likely as much for the team to get hyped up for the next round of service as they are a dinner send off to their guests.
Chez Serge, 14 Cours du Chapeau-Rouge. Reservations recommended.
Les Moules du Cabanon
While moules frites is a fairly popular dish across France, it’s actually not too common here in Bordeaux. Mussels are an invasive species for oyster farmers in the Bassin of Arcachon. So while oysters appear on menus all over the city, moules frites are a little harder to find.
Mussels fans should head to Les Moules du Cabanon on the quay. As the name implies, this restaurant specializes in gigantic pots of steaming mussels – and at a very reasonable price, too. The formula comes with a salad, home made fries and your choice from nine different sauces: marinières, Roquefort, cream, maraichères, curry, Ardennaise (mushroom, shallots, bacon, white wine and cream), Provençale (black olive, eggplant and peppers in a tomato and herbs from Provence sauce), Basquaise (chorizo, Espelette pepper and peppers in a tomato garlic sauce) or gratinées.
We highly recommend the curry and Basquaise, which are our go-to favorites. We order one of each and trade half way through for a bit of each. Pair the moules frites with a bottle of Entre-Deux-Mers white wine from Bordeaux’s Right Bank.
Les Moules du Cabanon, 12 Quai Richelieu. Dog-friendly. Reservations recommended.
For the Best Michelin Starred Restaurants in Bordeaux
Le Pressoir d’Argent Gordon Ramsay
We’ve yet to be disappointed by a Gordon Ramsay restaurant and you just know any restaurant under the infamous Hell’s Kitchen chef is worth the splurge. The menu changes seasonally, but you can expect local products from the Aquitaine like beef de Baza, a local breed of beef that is basically the wagyu beef of France and oysters from Cap Ferret. Le Pressoir d’Argent is named after their rare silver lobster press, so the lobster is a signature dish. Be sure to save room for dessert because Ramsay selected a top-notch and champion pastry chef for his restaurant.
Le Pressoir d’Argent, 2-5 Place de la Comedie. Reservations required.
Le Saint-James
Le Saint-James is just a few minutes drive across the Garonne in Boulliac, but it’s definitely worth heading out of the city for. Bordelaise chef Nicholas Magie is known for his innovative spin on Bordelaise cuisine and our meal was both delicious and stunningly plated. {Read the full review}
The menu changes depending on ingredients available seasonally and everything comes from local producers. Order a la carte or let Chef Magie really wow you with a multi-course tasting menu. Also ask for one of the wine pairings to be Le Saint-James own wine produced from their small onsite vineyard, which is actually the smallest vineyard in Bordeaux.
Le Saint-James, 3 Place Camille Hostein, Boulliac. Reservations required. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
For the Best Italian in Bordeaux and the Best Pizza in Bordeaux
Delizia da Bartolo
A new address in Bordeaux since 2022, Delizia da Bartolo is the fourth establishment by the Neapolitan living in Bordeaux, Bartolo Russo. Delizia da Bartolo, located on the increasingly chic Rue Palais Gallien, offers a menu of specialties of the Amalfi Coast and Neapolitan-style pizza.
Stepping in to the restaurant, we were immediately transported back to our years living in Italy. The restaurant is bright and airy with the traditional pottery of the Amalfi Coast adorning both the walls and the tables. One sip of a perfectly concoted Aperol spritz, and I could practically feel the sea breeze.
Fresh products are all prepared right in house with ingredients sourced from Italy. The menu is a delight of seafood like the octopus carpaccio (some of the best I’ve had outside of Italy), flavorful pastas and wood-fired Neapolitan pizza.
Delizia da Bartolo, 54 Rue du Palais Gallien. Reservations recommended. Dog-friendly. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
Peppone
Peppone was our neighbor and the scents of pizza and pizza oven-baked lasagna that wafted in our window daily was enough to make us drool. This Grands Hommes neighborhood restaurant is perpetually busy with both locals and tourists. They don’t take reservations, so the line starts forming a good 30 minutes before their lunch and dinner openings.
The menu features dishes from all over Italy, and it’s entirely authentic. They even travel to Italy regularly and bring back all their ingredients and the pasta is handmade. You can see wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano and legs of prosciutto. Wander the giant wine cellar to make your selection, including many of our of Italian favorites.
Peppone, 31 Georges Clemenceau. Dog-friendly. Reservations not accepted.
Bocce
Bocce is serious when it comes to Neopolitan-style pizza. They’ve imported their pizza ovens from Naples, Italy. The dough is made with organic flour and worked according to all the Neopolitan rules and tradition. Even all their ingredients are 100% Italian DOP or Presidio Slow Food certified.
As we lived in Italy for seven years before moving to France, we know authentic Italian pizza and top-quality ingredients. Bocce’s two Bordeaux locations deliver on both, making Bocce one of our go-tos when it comes to a pizza craving.
Bocce, 45 Rue Lachassaigne or 31 Rue Bouquière. Dog-friendly. Reservations recommended.
La Mama
La Mama is totally unpretentious and the paper-topped tables remind us of restaurants in Italy. It’s been a little slice of Italy in Bordeaux since the ’70s. They specialize in pizzas, though do have several other Italian specialties on their menu. The wine list isn’t very extensive, but unlike Peppone they do take reservations.
La Mama, 21 Rue des Remparts. Dog-friendly. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
Restaurant Pizzeria Masaniello
The three brothers Salvatore, Alessandro and Davide hail from Naples and brought their Neopolitan pizza with them here to Bordeaux. Their members of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, a non-profit that was founded in Naples in 1984 to ensure the authenticity of Neopolitan pizza, so you can be assured you’re getting the real deal.
Aside from the Neopolitan pizzas that Masaniello specializes in, you’ll find pastas and other Neopolitan dishes made from fresh and seasonal ingredients straight from Naples. We highly recommend the pizza. They’ll even do a half and half pizza since the hardest thing about Masaniello is selecting which pizza you want – and you’ll want them all with ingredients like mozzarella bufala straight from the buffalo farms in Campania.
Restaurant Pizzeria Masaniello, 10 Rue Maucoudinat. Dog-friendly. Reservations recommended.
For the Best Burger Restaurants in Bordeaux
Edmond Pure Burger
As Americans, we know a good burger. And while just about every bistrot offers a burger and there’s seemingly a burger joint on just about every corner, we find it’s actually few and far between that have a truly good burger.
Edmond Pure Burger tops our list of the truly best burgers in Bordeaux. Family-run with two Bordeaux locations, Edmond specializes in burgers. Their buns are baked twice daily right there in house, the beef is sourced only from France and the cheese comes from locally.
Edmond Pure Burger, 34 Rue Palais Gallien and 158 Cours Victor Hugo. Dog-friendly.
For the Best International Restaurants in Bordeaux
Le Bordeaux Gordon Ramsay
Le Bordeaux Gordon Ramsay is Ramsay’s second restaurant in Bordeaux, this one serving up a menu with a mix of British and French fare. We’ve long been fans of Ramsay’s beef wellington and after years of watching him on Hell’s Kitchen, we just had to try it at the now sadly closed Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s in London. We’ve seen had this dish at some of Ramsay’s other restaurants like Gordon Ramsay Steak in the Paris Las Vegas and now we’re thrilled it’s on the menu at Le Bordeaux Gordon Ramsay.
Aside from this obviously personal favorite, the bistro is set on the best terrace in Bordeaux on Place de la Comédie. I’m convinced if you sit there long enough, every tourist in Bordeaux that day will pass by. It is definitely one of my favorite people watching spots and the little fireplace heaters make it possible to comfortably enjoy the terrace even on Bordeaux’s coldest days.
Other bistro favorites are the seasonal soups (I’m totally waiting for summer and the strawberry gazpacho to hopefully make a reappearance!) and the burgers.
Le Bordeaux Gordon Ramsay, 2 Place de la Comédie. Reservations recommended.
El Nacional
If you want to find the best steak frites in Bordeaux, skip the massive queue that forms outside of L’Entrecôte and instead head to a gem loved by locals in the Chartrons neighborhood. El Nacional is an Argentinean steak house in the clásico bodegón porteño style you’ll find in Argentina. It’s known for its meats and is popular with locals, particularly to bring someone for a business dinner.
This restaurant is all about the meat, and the menu features both Argentian and French cuts of beef cooked on the plancha. The wine list has 200 references, with a good selection of both Argentinian and Bordeaux wines. Come hungry, because you certainly won’t leave that way.
El Nacional, 23 Rue Rode. Reservations recommended.
For the Best Asian Restaurants in Bordeaux
Madame Pang
Madame Pang is a still fairly new glamorous dim sum bar that opened on Rue de la Devise, steps away from Place de la Bourse in the heart of Bordeaux. They don’t take reservations for dinner and if you’re not there right around when it opens, a line for one of the small tables with velvet chairs forms. But unlike the ridiculous always present line wrapping around the block at L’Entrecôte, a wait for a table at Madame Pang is oh-so-worth it.
The dim sum bar is the vision of Jérôme and Harmony Billot, a Chinese-Savoyard couple, and the heritage ensures a delicious fusion of French meets Cantonese and Hong Kong. The small bites are prepared and served up in the traditional bamboo baskets. We suggest starting with 3-4 selections per couple, then ordering more if you’re still hungry. For dinner, we selected 6 menu items in all and it was more than enough for the two of us.
It can be hard to decide with 14 different dim sum, plus other small plates and finger foods to choose from. We highly recommend the Peking Ravioli, a ravioli stuffed with a juicy free range chicken and topped with parmesan and chives. Not quite what we were expecting, but a definitive favorite is the Xiao Long Bao from the rare dim sum menu. It’s a steamed bun filled with pork and jellied broth, then topped with a truffle coulis that almost looks like chocolate. Certainly not for everyone, but if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, the duck hearts with black vinegar are melt-in-your-mouth good. And the sweet and sour pork is flavorful, but not too sweet.
Of course, you can’t come to Madame Pang and not try their selection of cocktails. They also have a good selection of Asian beers, and as this is Bordeaux, a nice wine list.
Madame Pang, 16 Rue de la Devise. Reservations not accepted.
L’Exquis
Nestled on a small street steps away from the Grosse Cloche, I don’t even know how many times we’ve passed within a few feet of this restaurant. Had it not been for a friend recommending it, we might not ever have discovered this hidden gem in Bordeaux.
At L’Exquis, chef Tetsuroh Miyamoto plays with the local products of the Nouvelle Aquitaine to fuse them with his expertise in Japanese cooking. The results are a delightful marriage of the South West’s products like fresh fish and seasonal produce with Asian flavors. The menu is a chalkboard menu that changes regularly offering only in season fresh products.
We both decided on the menu, which includes the entree (appetizer) of the day, a choice from the main courses of the day and a choice of either a cheese plate or a sweet dessert. The menu with a café is only €22, which is quite reasonable for a lunch in an upscale eatery in Bordeaux.
The appetizer was a fish kind of like a sardine with goat cheese and beets. I’m not a fishy person so I was a bit skeptical of this dish, but the flavor was light and the perfect amount of salty to complement the beets and goat cheese. We also both had the main course of monk fish with pea tendrils and peas. Again, it was so light and fresh tasting. A citrus tart is the quintessential Bordeaux dessert, and we finished off the meal with L’Exquis’ version which was topped with mini meringues and served with their homemade ice cream and mini kiwi.
L’Exquis, 3 Rue de Guienne. Reservations recommended. Dog-friendly. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
Sushi DOZO
Sushi DOZO isn’t a spot a tourist will just stumble upon. It’s just a few minutes walk from Place Gambetta, but tucked away from the sights. But it’s definitely worth seeking out for delicious sushi, refined setting and reasonable (for sushi in France) prices.
Go for lunch when they have a lunch menu with a variety of different rolls and sushi on the plate. One mixed lunch plate and a dragon roll was plenty for us to share, but for us to still have room to try the green tea matcha cheesecake for dessert.
You can either sit at the counter, where you can watch the sushi chefs prepare the rolls, or at one of the handful of tables. The ingredients used are clearly high quality and this is a good choice for sushi in Bordeaux.
Sushi DOZO, 36 Rue du Dr Charles Nancel Penard
Bibibap
We’ve tried a few Korean restaurants around Bordeaux, but they just never quite measured up. Tim spent two different stints living in South Korea and knows what good Korea food is. Bibibap on Place Camile Julian is now our go to for Korean food.
Their house dish is bibimbap, a classic Korean dish that quite literally means rice mixture. But their chef has created some other Korean tapas unique to Bibibap, incorporating kimchi, the national dish of Korea into his creations. Our favorite are the kimchi and beef tacos topped with a spicy mayonnaise. The Korean tacos are on the “sides” menu, but the portion of two tacos overflowing with thinly sliced bulgogi-style beef are filling, especially when paired with another side like the perfectly fried, spicy-sweet dak gang jung.
Bibibap, 46 Pas-Saint-Georges. Dog-friendly.
Mokoji Grill
As I mentioned, Tim lived in South Korea. One thing he’d always rave about is Korean BBQ. These restaurants have a grill right at your table where your meat is cooked with fresh vegetables and mushrooms right in front of you.
To our surprise, there are actually a few Korean BBQ restaurants in Bordeaux. But it is Mokoji Grill in the Saint-Pierre district that we find the most authentic and delicious experience. The menu is simple selecting pork, pork and beef or premium black angus beef. But you most certainly won’t leave hungry.
A selection of various Korean salads and sides arrives while your BBQ grill warms up. Then it’s a flurry of meat and cooking while the wait staff expertly grills up the various meats and vegetables. Have your camera ready!
A little more on the expensive end, we like Mokoji Grill for a fun occassion like a birthday or a night out with friends.
Mokoji Grill, 45 Rue du Pas-Saint-Georges. Reservations recommended.
Naï Naï
For authentic Chinese dishes, head to the new Naï Naï located just steps from Place Gambetta. Owners Romain and his wife Gao Lin come from Wenzhou and Tianjin, bringing with them delicious authenic recipes. The menu is inspired by and a nod to Gao Lin’s grandmother’s recipes.
You’ll find Gao Lin and their staff in the open chef’s kitchen cooking up homemade bao buns, their signature braised barbecue pork and a small menu of other dishes the couple fondly recalls from their childhood in China.
Naï Naï doesn’t accept reservations, and since locals caught on to the light and delicious cuisine served up here, the 30-seat dining room often quickly fills up. So arrive a few minutes before opening to ensure you get a table.
Naï Naï, 23 Ruee du Dr Charles Nancel Penard. Reservations not accepted.
Djawa
Founded by Franco-Indonesians Stéphanie and Frédéric, the first Djawa opened in Paris over 10 years ago. With the success of their Indonesian street food menu feeaturing authentic recipes like satays and curries, Djawa expanded to four Paris locations and their first Bordeaux location.
Try the 5-hour slow cooked beef Rendang or the chicken satay (also available in a vegan version), which are our personal Djawa favorites. Or you can even try their Balinese take on brunch offered every weekend with fried rice, mango sticky rice and banana cake.
Djawa, 12 Ruee des Remparts. Dog-friendly.
Panya Thip at Eurasie
No frills, but absolutely delicious. Eurasie is Bordeaux’s Asian supermarket and now there are actually a couple of locations. The original and the one closest to Bordeaux Center is Eurasie Bordeaux Lac, where you’ll find a no frills deli-style cafeteria. There’s a long counter with countless selection of dim sum, there’s a hot plates stall serving a couple plates of the day with an ever changing menu, and then there’s the little soup stand with a line usually stretching out the door. It’s Panya Thip and their specialty is their authentic Vietnamese pho. Panya Thip also usually has one other soup to choose from, which changes often, like Tom Yum Goong. All their recipes are family recipes and the “soup stall” is family run.
The portion is plentiful and I usually don’t finish it. So as tempting as all the dim sum is, we suggest passing it up if you’re going for a bowl of pho. It comes will all the fixings to add as much herbs and sprouts as you personally like. Just take the tray over to one of the cafeteria tables in the small seating area to enjoy. You can also bring your own container to take pho to go.
Panyaa Thip Eurasie, 10 Avenue de Tourville. Reservations not accepted. Dog-friendly on the terrace. Cash and credit/debit card accepted. Dog-friendly on the outdoor terrace.
Nama Wine Restaurant
Nama is the creation of two chefs, one French and one Japanese. The two cultures collide in delicious Franco-Japanese cuisine. The name “Nama” is Japanese for fresh and authentic, and the regularly changing menu reflects exactly that. The menu showcases fresh ingredients from local producers such as Tauziet & Co Farm, who supplies to some of our favorite Bordeaux restaurateurs and artisan producers.
Choose from the a la carte menu or leave it up to the chefs with a surprise menu including starter, main course and dessert. You’ll find rich dishes like the pork and shrimp filled gyozas cooked in miso with shiitake mushroom, black garlic, white radish and edamame we had most recently at Nama.
You can also expect excellent wine pairing recommendations with the dishes and even blind tastings, as these chefs are also passionate wine connoisseurs.
Nama Wine Restaurant, 24 Rue Lafaurie de Monbadon. Reservations recommended. Dog-friendly. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
For the Best Food Halls in Bordeaux
La Boca FoodCourt
La Boca FoodCourt is one of the newest additions to Bordeaux and currently has 14 different restaurants within the food hall. If you’re thinking your typical American mall food court, think again. There’s a California-style taco restaurant, two different Asian restaurants with noodles, curries and sushi, several pinxtos bars, a burger restaurant, and staples from here in the southwest of France like a seafood bar and a creperie.
The space, which is located where the old slaughterhouses on the quay once were, is gorgeous. Everything radiates out from a central cocktail bar with an impressive selection of beer, wine and spirits. There’s also a beer wall where you serve yourself from the selection of beers on tap.
It’s all cashless, too. Either purchase a card from the machines at the entrances, or download the La Boca app and create an account. Either way, you charge up your account with money and use the card or your unique QR code in the app to pay each individual vendor.
La Boca FoodCourt is an excellent solution for a group with a variety of palettes and taste. Plus, the space is so cool that you truly want to hang out.
La Boca FoodCourt, Euratlantique, Quai de Paludate
For the Best Wine Bars in Bordeaux
Wine bars are just about everywhere in Bordeaux. But often just as with restaurants in France, it can be impossible to get a table without a reservation. Thursday nights, in particular, are the going out on the town night in Bordeaux for locals.
Wine bars can range from everything from upscale establishments where you can both taste and buy wine to rowdy local favorites where a rugby match is always on a tv hung above the bar. The best wine bar really depends on the type of night our you’re looking for.
It’s also good to know that even in the World Capital of Wine, obtaining a licquor license is no easy feat. Most wine bars have the type of license in which the customer is required to purchase a food item in order to also order a glass of wine, a cocktail or a beer. The food offered is typically various charcuterie boards that are ample enough to be a meal for two. If you’re just in it for the glass of wine, some wine bars offer small tapas for just €1-2 – though these small items might not always be listed on the menu, so ask.
There’s also something typically for the non-drinker and a number of wine bars also offer juice or soda.
Le Bar à Vin (CIVB)
A Bordeaux institution, Le Bar à Vin is loved by many locals and you’ll often hear them refer to it at the CIVB. That’s because it’s run by the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux, which is the orginizaiton responsible for representing the wine appellations of Bordeaux. And that’s precisely why I personally love Le Bar à Vin.
You’ll find some of the best priced by-the-glass wine here, along with a small menu of cheese and charcuterie plates to snack on. The wines on offer change regularly, with the CIVB showcasing the various 65 appellations of the Bordeaux wine region.
Le Bar à Vin, 3 Cours du Juillet. Reservations not accepted. Dog-friendly.
The wine list at Vins Urbains in the heart of the Saint-Pierre district is impressive with 400 references from around the world. There’s a good selection of wines by the glass, too.
Vins Urbains is practically famous among locals for their white truffle croque monsieur, and you’ll notice nearly every table orders it. Even if the wine list didn’t take you on a tour of the wine regions of the world, we’d go for the croque monsieur alone. The charcuterie boards are also top notch and the petite version is ample for two.
There’s just a handful of tables, so a reservation is recommended especially if you’re going on the weekend.
Vins Urbains, 27 Rue des Bahutiers. Reservations recommended.
Les Doux Secretes d’Hélène
Tucked away on a quiet and otherwise residential street, Les Doux Secrets d’Hélène is steps away from the Grosse Cloche. If you didn’t know about this cozy wine bar, you’d likely not discover it on your own. Thankfully, we’ve done the research for you and Les Doux Secrets d’Hélène is definitely a destination worth seeking out.
Named for its’ passionate owner, Hélène Orhon, it’s a place that feels like you’ve been invited over to Hélène’s home for some wine and delicious nibbles. She’s a sommelier and knowledgeable about all 300 references she carries. Don’t hesitate to ask for her suggestions for the best wine she has at the moment. On our recent visit, it just happened to be a red from Italy’s Umbria region.
Hélène offers a tasting menu of five gourmet bites, which she changes weekly to reflect the season’s local products available. It’s called ‘les très gourmand’ and we recommend going with this option.
There’s also a Sunday brunch from 11:30am – 2:30pm for €27 per person.
Les Doux Secrets d’Hélène, 41 Rue Neuve. Reservations recommended. Dog-friendly. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
Le Métropolitain
Le Métropolitain is a fun wine bar in the heart of old Bordeaux. The menu comes clipped to a 45 and the songs on the vinyl are the ones playing at the perfect volume in the background.
The unique thing that Le Métropolitain does is a blind tasting. If you really prefer white or red, you can choose the color of wine. We always opt with the full blind tasting and usually at least guess the color correctly – which is sometimes harder than you might think. For €5 per glass, this is a great way to discover some wines you might not otherwise have tried and test your palette.
All of Le Métropolitan’s charcuterie comes from the Dordogne and their boards are fabulous. A board also has a variety of delicious cheeses, tapenade and fresh veggies. The marmalade is homemade by one of the owner’s father and it’s so good we’ve been trying to convince the owners that they should sell it by the jar.
It’s a family-run wine bar and you’ll likely meet Maxime or one of the other owners during your visit. They spend time talking with every table – an impressive feat when every table is always full.
Le Métropolitain, 49 Cours d’Alsace-et-Lorraine. Reservations recommended. Dog-friendly. Book your reservation on LaFourchette.
For the Best Brunch in Bordeaux
Suzzi Kafe
Suzzi Kafe is a little taste of Nordic cocooning right in the heart of Bordeaux just steps away from the Cathédrale Saint André. The dream of two travel friends who met in Australia, Suzzi is the creation of Margaux (French) and Arvid (Swedish). Unique in Bordeaux, the cafe is a tribute to Arvid’s home country of Sweden and he makes everything homemade.
Suzzi offers brunch every day (Wednesday through Sunday, since Suzzi is closed on Monday and Tuesday). The brunch forumla is fantastic, and it certainly won’t leave you hungry. Included in the €22 brunch formula you have your choice of a smörgås open-faced sandwich, potato pancakes with either bacon and ligonberry jam or veggie, and either their gourmet Swedish waffle with your choice of toppings or Suzzi’s famous cinnamon roll. Brunch also comes with yogurt with their homemade granola, fresh pressed orange juice and either coffee or tea.
Suzzi’s brunch is the perfect blend of savory and sweet, and you’ll definitely be satisfied from this feast all day. Believe me, it’s worth the wait for a table since reservations are not accepted.
Suzzi Kafe, 46 Rue des Trois-Conils. Reservations not accepted.
La Grande Poste
La Grande Poste is a beautiful Art Deco building in Bordeaux’s hyper centre that formally served as the main Post Office of Bordeaux. The Sunday brunch is regularly listed among the best brunches in Bordeaux.
Each weekend there’s a different band that plays live during the brunch beginning at 1pm. And La Grande Poste has two menus you can choose from: one with a hot plate plus the buffet or just the buffet.
Honestly, the buffet alone would have been plenty. The buffet includes many different options such as mini charcuterie plates, mini cheese plates, full croque monsieurs, salads, fruit, pastries and more. There’s also a variety of juices available and coffees including cappuccino are served from the bar. If you do opt for the hot plate, there is one selection prepared for the week’s theme.
La Grande Poste, 7 Rue du Palais Gallien. Reservations required as the brunch books up.
The Frog & Rosbif Bordeaux
The Frog & Rosbif is a micro-brewery housed in a 16th century historic building that was formerly a women’s prison. It’s the first brew pub to brew their own beers right here in the historic center of Bordeaux. On Sundays, the micro-brewery offers a delicious Sunday brunch with a selection of American-style breakfast dishes served up with a pint of their latest on-tap beers.
Try the breakfast tacos filled with layers of pico de gallo, guacamole, BBQ pulled pork, bacon and topped with fried eggs, which is our favorite of the breakfast options. The American-style pancakes are a short stack of fluffy pancakes layered with fried chicken tenders and slices of bacon, then drizzled with maple syrup. Everything comes with a side of fries, a pint of beer (or a glass of wine, juice, or a soft drink) and coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
The Frog & Rosbif Bordeaux, 23 Rue Ausone. Reservations required. Dog-friendly.
For the Best Pâtisserie in Bordeaux
Dunes Blanches chez Pascal
Dunes Blanches chez Pascal sell one thing, and one thing only: their pastries named Dunes Blanches.
The pastries, which are a type of cream puff filled with chantilly cream and then dusted with powdered sugar and candied bits of sugar, are named for the white sand dunes that surround the Bassin of Arcachon. It was in the Bassin that Pascal has his first pastry shop and these bites of heaven were invented. As the story goes, Pascal’s son came home having had a little too much wine early one morning. Pascal was already making the pastry known as chouquettes for the day, and his son grabbed the chantilly cream and filled a chouquette with it. Whether the story is true, we’ll never know for sure. But if it is, we have Pascal’s son’s druken escapades to thank.
You can get the Dunes Blanches by the piece. There’s no tables to sit and enjoy them, but you can take them around the corner to the Place Gambetta and enjoy them in the park like many Bordelaise do. Or L’Alchimiste is a wonderful coffee shop kitty-corner from the patstry shop and just happen to sell Pascal’s dunes blanches as well. These are the only two places you can get them in all of Bordeaux.
Dunes Blanches chez Pascal, 7 Rue de la Vieille Tour
Pâtisserie Miremont
If you visit Pâtisserie Miremont, you’re very likely to find us there. This is our regular haunt and it’s right in our neighborhood.
Owner Romain Ader is extremely friendly and you’ll almost always find him there serving customers himself. He opened the brand here in Bordeaux, but Pâtisserie Miremont has been an institution down the coast in Biarritze since 1872. It’s easy to see why with the beautiful and delicious selection of pastries made fresh daily.
It’s best to go early for the best selection, because it’s not unusual for Miremont’s cases to be empty by the early afternoon. They also serve a light lunch menu and have a wonderful terrace where you can sit outdoors yearround. In the cooler months, don’t miss ordering a pot of the chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) – we think it’s the best in Bordeaux.
Pâtisserie Miremont, 5 Rue Buffon. Dog-friendly.
We’ve been invited with complimentary meals at some restaurants on this list in order to bring you this story. However, Luxe Adventure Traveler maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site. As always, all thoughts, opinions, and enthusiasm for travel are entirely our own.
Gokul Raj says
Really nice pics. The place has such artistic value and the mouth-watering food.
Leah says
I loved this delicious takeover on the Atout France Instagram. I wish you would have included those cream puffs with powdered sugar. Those were the best things I ate in Bordeaux.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The Dunes Blanches! The shop had just opened here in Bordeaux before my takeover and they didn’t make it in. But I now tell everyone that visits that they must try them.
Monika says
I’ve been to Bordeaux, but it was ages ago and I was a poor student then. Now I’m a foodie and I’d love to go back one day!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It’s definitely time to return then, Monika! I think you’ll find a lot has changed.
Danik says
If like other parts of France, I am sure Bordeau has an amazing food and drink scene. Never been to that city and hopefully I will one day. I love france and its food. Great post and loving your instagram photos.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks Danik! Bordeaux is hot, hot, hot these days. A lot of young and innovative chefs are coming and doing really great things with the food scene. Not only that, several of the most famous chefs have also set up shop. It’s a great city to eat your way through!
Larry says
Wow! Every single dish looks scrumptious. I have tried the Caneles. They are quite good. The oysters paired with a white Bordeaux is something I will definitely try.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Bordeaux is a great place to eat!
Jill BARTH says
We can’t ever say that life isn’t good! Wow. That soft-boiled egg: pure art.
Thanks for sharing, So much fun!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The great thing about Michelin star restaurants is their ability to turn some of the simplest ingredients, like the soft boiled egg, into works of edible art.
marusa says
Looks delicious! So jealous! Can you please tell me what is the price range for the restaurants above? I am looking for a relaxing retreat with my husband and I am choosing the destination based on the culinary possibilities. 🙂 Want to find places where we can eat really well for a decent price (I know that in the center of Paris I will pay enormous amount of money).
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The prices range from €20 per person to over €100 per person depending on the restaurant. We’ve included links to the restaurants that have websites and you can view their menus online to see both the variety of offerings and prices.
Toccara says
Saving this post for future visits to Bordeaux! Looks like many delicious options. Love that the menus change seasonally at several of these restaurants, so you know you’re always getting the freshest ingredients! A lot of meat dishes showcased here, but good to know there are some veggie options as well! I’d be all over that yellow tomato salad with basil, burrata and pomegranate! Yum!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I think France in general is probably a tough country for a vegetarian. There are vegetarian restaurants in Bordeaux, but I haven’t personally tried any.
Dannielle says
My mouth is watering now! I never thought pigeon breast would appeal but that looks and sounds delicious. Need to get to Bordeaux!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I’ve had pigeon a few times and this one at Le Saint-James was definitely my favorite.
Anne says
Wow based on these pictures I would be struggling to choose. I might have to have a glass of wine while I ponder that question. Everything looks so tantalising.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You just need to spend several days in Bordeaux so you can try several of our wonderful restaurants!
Heather says
Your food photography is outstanding. I have seriously found myself salivating after reading your article.
The cuisine in Bordeaux is some of the best I’ve ever had, still thinking about those oysters (my favorite!).
I see from your photos that I have many reasons to return 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks so much! And yes, there’s a reason Cap Ferret oysters are so famous. They are, indeed, the best. Hope you make it back to Bordeaux for another visit soon.
Erin Harris says
I’m drooling over that pizza and yet I’ve avoided gluten for 16 years! 🙂 From all the filets and frites to anything to do with wild mushrooms and Jerusalem artichokes, I want to eat every single thing on this page. Must pin for future reference!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Gluten free options are fairly easy to get these days, including gluten free pizza. Countries like France and Italy may not have started catering to vegetarians and definitely not vegans, but gluten free is relatively easy.
Maria says
Yum, I get hungry just looking at the pictures. This really looks like foodie heaven. The attention to detail on the meals you’ve pictures is incredible. It’s like art on a plate.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Definitely! We search out the best of the best.
Sara Broers says
I have seriously never thought of eating pigeons… that pigeon breast looks interesting. What catches my eye about all of these dishes is the fact that they are all presented in a “delicious” way. They make me want to try each dish. As with any foodie destination~ It’s often about the presentation.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Agree, the presentation is key. Beautiful plates are ones you want to eat and I love how much attention to detail the French give plating.
Carol Perehudoff says
Wow. You have clearly done your homework and eaten a lot of fabulous food in Bordeaux. I’ll have to go to La Capitainerie because I need my oyster fix, too! So many great choices, it would take me a month to try out all these … a task I’m happy to take on.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
LOL, Carol! I can’t wait to add more to this guide as we continue to search out the best of the best in Bordeaux.
Bella says
It seems that Bordeaux has absolutely no shortage of good restaurants. Your photos are spectacular, and the food looks delicious. Because I’m a fan of sweets, I would like to try La Brasserie Bordelaise.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
My next little guide venture is going to be my favorite pâtisserie in Bordeaux, so stay tuned because it sounds like it will be right up your alley!
Sahar says
Oh yumm! That sounds so amazing. I wanna try the yellow tomato with burrata. Will have to try it out myself. The salted caneli looks so good too. That is a beautiful list of places to eat from.
Kate Minor says
You must have had the most fun doing the research for this blog post! I love traveling and one of my favorite things to do while traveling is eating. Thanks for sharing and giving you food for thought to add to my bucket list!
Prateek says
The food looks stunning,Bordeaux seems to offer an amazing variety of food , still in awe over the pigeon breast!
Nadia says
Oh my goodness! Over 700 wines to choose from at La Brasserie Bordelaise! That’s so many! La Salle à Manger des Chartrons sounds like my type of restaurant. I live little restaurants which write up their menus daily. You know they cook with fresh, seasonal produce then. I’ll add it to my bucket list!
Evelyne says
Not having been to Bordeaux before I had no idea the food scene was lacking. Glad to know it was improved so much. I want that canelé plate!
Anna says
My mouth waters at the yellow tomato salad with basil, burrata and pomegranate, what a simple yet oh so delicious combination. If ya ever need a taste testing bunny, I am totes available and more than happy to help. Lol! Bordeaux sure looks like its got a great little foodie scene.
Marlene says
Everything looks so tempting it’s almost hard to chose what to eat first. Can’t wait to try them on my visit in a couple of weeks
Olivia says
French Burger is the worst burger adresse in Bordeaux. To eat a real good one You need to visit Kokomo, funky burgers, Upper and the best is Edmon Burger ?
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Thanks for weighing in Olivia. We’re not fans of Kokomo. We find the burgers are small and just okay. Agree that Edmond Pure Burger is good and also like Guy & Sons.
Jodie Mortimer says
Hi there,
Heading to the area later next week and wanted to visit the centre of Bordeaux on Friday. Can you recommend somewhere really good for lunch with outside seating and that would also be suitable for a toddler?
Many thanks
Jodie
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Jodie,
Most restaurants, unless touristic, do not offer kids menus and rarely have a high chair available. French kids eat the same food as adults. So with that in mind as far as the toddler, any restaurant is suitable really.
It’s also going to be quite hot next week with the temps predicted to go up to around 90F. So you may want to seek out a place out of the sun for a bit of a reprieve from the heat. But the restaurants that have outdoor seating that we recommend are La Tupina, Le Chien de Pavlov, Symbiose, Bistro du Musée and Mampuku. We also just tried an Italian restaurant that is fantastic and we’ll be adding to our recommendations: Masaniello. They also have outdoor seating. Any of these are all really good.
Jo says
Hi there,
Can you recommend any restaurants in Bordeaux that will have a courtyard for dining? We are hoping to travel to Bordeaux to celebrate my birthday and looking for a suitable restaurant that could cater for 15-20 people, but preferably with outdoor seating (that is not on the street).
Kind regards,
Jo
Lili says
Hi,Jennifer and Tim. I’m a tea sommelier and heading to Bordeaux in early June. I love “tea” , any suggestions as where to find the best “tea and food pairings in Bordeaux?
Cheers
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Lili,
I also love tea! I’m sad to tell you that tea is not a big thing in French culture. There are tea salons, and typically tea is drunk with a pastry. Even at Le Grand Hotel, which offers an afternoon tea, it is served only with sweets and not also the savories like a typical afternoon tea you’d go to in the US or England. You won’t find any tea and food pairing workshops in Bordeaux. La Cité du Vin offered a special workshop with tea once, but I don’t think it was very popular because I’ve never seen it on the calendar of events ever again.
As far as tea, you might like to visit some of the tea salons. I can also recommend a visit to Chris’Teas. It’s an independent tea shop and the owner, Christel, blends her own teas. She doesn’t do any food pairing workshops, but you’ll probably enjoy the shop!
Koby says
Hi,
My wife and I are travelling to Bordeaux in about a month. We are looking to make lunch and/or dinner reservations. I’m going through your site and there is a lot to digest. I wanted to see if you had any absolute must go to places we have to eat at to get the best of Bordeaux. Please let me know.
(We will be using your links to make reservations. I work in affiliate marketing so know how things work)
Thanks,
Koby
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Koby,
Depending on when you visit Bordeaux in June, the tall ships festival called Fete le Fleuve is here from June 20 – 23. There will be many pop-up restaurants all along the riverfront for the festival as well. You’ll be able to try many things from the region.
As for restaurants, if we had to just pick a few we would say:
*La Tupina for a dinner. This is a Bordeaux institution and traditional cuisine. Great ambiance with the traditional fire they still use for cooking. It’s a focus on meat, so if you are not a meat eater then I would skip it.
*When we have visitors, we always take them for a lunch at Le Chien de Pavlov. The menu changes constantly and is just a chalkboard menu. It’s the perfect little French bistro with good prices.
*If you can get a reservation at Symbiose, we highly recommend this restaurant for modern French cuisine and top notch cocktails.
*For a splurge and a very nice dinner, Gordon Ramsay’s Le Pressoir d’Argent is truly one of the best of Bordeaux.
Will you visit any wine châteaux? If so, we really recommend the restaurant La Chapelle at Château Guiraud for lunch. It’s traditional Gascony cuisine with a modern twist. We’ve written about it here: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/chateau-guiraud-sauternes/
And truly one of the very best restaurants of the Bordeaux region is the new Michelin-star Restaurant Lalique at Château Lafaurie Peyraguey. Just wow! The food is art. It is most definitely a big splurge to dine here and we recommend dinner when you will experience the sunset. Request a table specifically in the greenhouse. https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/chateau-lafaurie-peyraguey-sauternes-france/
I hope all of that helps narrow things down a bit. Let us know if you have any other questions! We’re always happy to help.
Enjoy your trip to Bordeaux!
Anna says
Really amazing post and super informative ! I love reading your posts. I needed the ones in Bordeaux and you really helped me since I will be travelling with my husband there.
Jordana says
Hello! I love your recommendations but they seem to be a few years back. I am traveling to Bordeaux in 2 weeks and would love any suggestions of your favorite restaurants and vineyards. I only have 3 nights! Thank you!!!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi! I keep everything updated, so these are still my recommendations. Le Chien de Pavlov is my favorite and a must.
As for vineyards, I’ve rounded them up here: https://luxeadventuretraveler.com/best-wineries-in-bordeaux/
Monica says
Hi Jennifer,
Was wondering if you’ve been to Restaurant Melodie and/or Baud et Millet and what you think of them. We only have 1 night in Bordeaux this trip and it’s during the wine festival, so we probably won’t even make a real dinner plan, but just wondering what you think! Thanks for all of the recommendations and can’t wait to set foot in Bordeaux!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Monica, I have been to both and both are great. Be sure you do make a reservation if you’d like to sit down at a restaurant because it will be insanely busy during the wine festival.
Jeanne-Marie Thomas says
Hi Jennifer
First of all, thank you for these wonderful recommendations.
I heard that the restaurant Chez Dupont was very good but you don’t mention it. Have you eaten there? Thanks in advance.
Jeanne-Marie
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Jeanne-Marie,
I know Chez DuPont. I just haven’t eaten there, but I hear good things.
Steve K says
The wife and I are visiting Bordeaux this year. La Tupina is continually recommended in these best of lists but the reviews in google(4.1-4.2), TA(3.5), and Yelp(3.5) are really bad. Makes me wonder if some of these lists get kick backs from the restaurants or maybe I am missing something.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I do not get “kick backs”. In fact, as a Bordeaux local I have visited nearly every restaurant on my own and many I recommend are my personal favorites I eat at over and over.
joe says
thank you so much for your post – i love your recommendations – actually made reservations for la tupina for monday. We are gonna be in Bordeux in a week and for monday was looking to go to a great place for an afternoon lunch but a lot of restaurants are closed. We made la tupina for dinner monday night but needed a place for a lunch that\’s opened on monday that\’s not meat focused, maybe for good seafood? Do you have any recommendations? thank you!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Hi Joe,
Mondays are tough because many restaurants are closed, but there is always somewhere enjoyable to go. Do you like mussels? I really enjoy the restaurant Les Moules du Cabanon! They are open for lunch on Mondays.
Peter H says
I’ve just been to Les Moules du Cabon and unfortunately it was a less than satisfactory experience. My moules gratinees were just OK and my wife’s mariniere had 50% of the mussels opened. When we challenged the staff they were dismissive and quite rude. I hate to leave a -ve feedback but feel it’s important to share our experience.