France
Bordeaux is one of France's great food cities — often overshadowed by Lyon and Paris but undeservedly so. The local cuisine is rich and wine-friendly: entrecôte bordelaise, lamproie (lamprey) in red wine, and canelés (the city's iconic rum-and-vanilla custard pastry). The Chartrons neighbourhood has become Bordeaux's dining destination.
Bordeaux city · Classic French gastronomy
Bordeaux's most storied restaurant — opened 1825. Extraordinary grotto dining room. Proper French service. The wine list is the reference for Bordeaux.
Order: Turbot, anything with Périgord truffle in season
Book aheadBordeaux city · Southwest French
The soul of Bordeaux dining. An open kitchen with a wood fire, hanging charcuterie, and Jean-Pierre Xiradakis's obsessive regional cooking. Book at least a week ahead.
Order: Entrecôte à la bordelaise, duck confit, house foie gras
Book aheadBordeaux city · Contemporary French
Spectacular room on the Place de la Bourse. 2 Michelin stars. Modern cooking with classical roots. The wine pairings are exceptional.
Order: Tasting menu — changes with the market
Book aheadBordeaux city · French wine bar / cheese
A legendary Bordeaux wine bar with 2,000+ bottle list and 180+ cheeses. Informal, joyful, and perfect for an evening of grazing after château visits.
Order: The cheese board, anything with Bordeaux wine accompaniment
Bordeaux city · Market / oysters / charcuterie
Bordeaux's covered market — open from 6am. The Sunday morning oyster experience (Arcachon oysters with sausage and white wine) is a Bordeaux institution.
Order: Arcachon oysters with lemon and rye bread, andouille sausage
Saint-Émilion · Contemporary Gascon
Perched above Saint-Émilion's vineyards with panoramic views. 2 Michelin stars. The ultimate end to a day in the Right Bank. Reserve weeks ahead.
Order: Whatever the chef de cuisine is showcasing from local terroir
Book aheadThe Chartrons district (Bordeaux city's wine merchant quarter) has transformed into an excellent restaurant and wine bar neighbourhood. Bar à Vin (CIVB) pours 16 wines by the glass for €3–8. Darwin Ecosystème offers craft beer and street food in a converted military barracks. An evening walk from Chartrons to the Quai des Chartrons is Bordeaux at its best.