Bordeaux Travel Guide
A port city straddling the sleepy Garonne River, Bordeaux was once known as La Belle au Bois Dormant (‘the Sleeping Beauty’), but following more than two decades of renovation, she has woken up revitalized.
At its heart is the UNESCO-listed city centre, which has romantic parks, landscaped quaysides and 18th-century warehouses that now brim with chic bars and restaurants. Indeed, so complete was the makeover from tired backwater to glamorous modern city that the Queen concluded that Bordeaux was “the very essence of elegance” following a visit.
The so-called ‘Golden Triangle’ that occupies the area bookended by Cours Clémenceau, Cours de l’Intendance and Allée de Tourny is a prime example of this innate sophistication, featuring a spectacular collection of 18th-century, golden stone neoclassical architecture.
Dotted with shops and restaurants, and overshadowed by the mighty Palais de la Bourse, the Garonne riverfront is another spot not to be missed – especially with the shimmering Miroir d’Eau water mirror that reflects the elegant palace.
The riverfront has been transformed into one long pleasure park, with a wide quayside that’s perfect for strolling, jogging and cycling. It’s also a new shopping magnet, thanks to the shops that mingle with the riverfront cafés along the Quai des Marques. Just beyond is the rejuvenated Bassins à Flot, a formerly run-down warehouse area that’s now home to the sparkling Cité du Vin.
It might be famous for its vino but a brief fling with this French femme fatale is all you need to tell you that there’s more to Bordeaux than booze.
Known as Burdigala to its original inhabitants, the Celtic Bituriges Vivisci tribe, Bordeaux has a history that is almost as long as it is interesting.
Founded around 300BC on the Rive Gauche (left bank) of the River Garonne, its early years were peaceful until the Romans arrived. Not at all happy about the idea of submission, the Bituriges Vivsci fought back and chalked up a rare victory against the men of Rome at the bloody Battle of Burdigala in 107BC.
By 60BC, however, the Celts had been defeated and Bordeaux became an important Roman centre for lead and tin mining. The city was so significant that it eventually became the capital of Roman Aquitaine, although its success also made it a target. Sacked in 236AD by the Vandals and again in 409, further damage was caused when the Visigoths attacked in 414 and the Franks in 498.
Nevertheless, by the dawn of the 6th century, Bordeaux was rising once again, this time under the auspices of the Merovingians and their successor dynasty, the Carolingians. This growth continued throughout the Middle Ages (the odd sacking notwithstanding), especially after its Duchess Eleanor married Henry II of England.
Further expansion followed in the 16th century when it branched out from wine growing and became the primary point of departure and arrival for slaves. Sugar cane also headed to and from the West Indies from here.
But despite its riches, it wasn’t until the 18th century that Bordeaux’s golden age arrived. Inspired by their increasing wealth, the burghers of the period decided to give their city a facelift. Its winding medieval streets were duly cleared to make way for grand squares and elegant tree-lined avenues, lined with monumental buildings.
Although the World Wars briefly arrested Bordeaux’s development and turned it into a base for the Italian Navy for a while, its real decline set in during the post-war years.
However, a recent redevelopment has given the city back its spark and today, Bordeaux is growing once more.
Bordeaux is home to more than 5,000 buildings, many of which date from the 16th and 18th centuries.
The Bordeaux Grand Theatre, which still hosts a nightly performance, was inaugurated in 1780.
Maurius Petipa staged some of his earliest ballets at Bordeaux’s Grand Théâtre.
The best time to visit Bordeaux is between April and October, excluding the months of July and August which can get very crowded and hot. In addition, a lot of the vineyards, which are otherwise open, are closed during these two months to prepare for the harvest season.
June is a very good time to visit, as the city’s festivals, fairs and flea markets spring into action, while September and October are also good months to visit. Winters in Bordeaux tend to be wet and mild.
Getting around Bordeaux
Transports Bordeaux Métropole ( TBC )
Telephone +33 5 5757 8888
Website:
www.infotbc.com
Runs an efficient network of buses that join up with three tram lines, connecting the city centre with the surrounding area of Bordeaux. The tram system also connects with car parks outside the centre, to avoid traffic jams and parking fares.A Tickarte (valid for one or seven days) allows unlimited travel on the network and access to the car parks outside the centre. The City Pass (one, two or three days) includes travel on buses and trams plus entry to more than 20 attractions.
There are 24-hour taxi ranks at the railway station, on place Gambetta and in key locations all over Bordeaux, including the Grand Théâtre and the Hôtel de Ville.Reputable taxi companies in Bordeaux include;
Allo Taxis Girondins
Telephone: +33 5 5680 7037
Aquitaine Taxi Radio
Telephone: +33 5 5686 8030
If bringing your car to Bordeaux, it can be a good idea to take advantage of the car parks (parc-relais) next to outlying tram stations and then travel by tram into the city centre. Tbc has a list of car parks on
Website:
www.infotbc.com
Bordeaux’s bikeshare scheme is called
VCub
Telephone:
+33 9 6939 0303
Website:
www.vcub.fr
Bikes are available 24 hours a day from more than 160 stations across the city. You need to register in advance, then you can pay for access for 24 hours, seven days, a month or a year. The first 30 minutes are always free.
La Maison du Vélo
Address: 69 Cr Pasteur, 33000 Bordeaux.
Telephone: +33 974 763 033
Website: www.sedeplacer.bordeaux-metropole.fr
Benefit from Travoley’s great deals available all year round for a seamless car hire experience in Bordeaux. Travel your way by choosing from our collection of brand new cars. Whether you are looking for car rental in Bordeaux as part of a vacation, or renting a car for a special event, you will be sure to find a car to suit your needs from our wide range of economy and luxury models.
In order to hire a car, drivers must be at least 21 years old, depending on company policy. All drivers without an EU licence must carry an International Driving Permit.
Our simple booking system makes it easy to reserve online before you go, offering flexible short- and long-term rental, all at great prices with no hidden charges, so when you arrive all that’s left is to discover the best of this exciting city.
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Book popular activities in Bordeaux
Things to see in Bordeaux
Attractions
Although its architecture isn’t very easy on the eye, the Marché des Capucins is Bordeaux’s largest food market and the place to pick up the best in local produce. There’s a large and tantalising selection of goodies on offer, from cheeses and meats to cakes, chocolates and, of course, wine.
Address:
Pl. des Capucins, 33800 Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 92 26 29
Opening times: Tues-Sun 06:00-15:00.
Website:
www.marchedescapucins.com
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
This transformation of a military barracks on the right bank is one of the most exciting signs of Bordeaux’s renaissance. Within Darwin’s sprawling site are an arts venue, workshops, outdoor cinema, urban farm and skate park. The Magasin Général houses a supermarket and a rustic-chic restaurant with a large covered terrace.
Address:
87 Quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 556 775 206
Opening times: Daily 08:00-21:00.
Website:
www.darwin.camp
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
This superb museum has a rich collection of archaeological, historical and ethnographic artefacts illustrating Bordeaux’s history from prehistoric times to the present. One highlight is a magnificent bronze statue of Hercules, which once stood at the entrance to the port. Another is the tomb of one of France’s greatest writers, Michel de Montaigne.
Address:
20 cours Pasteur, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 01 51 00
Opening times: Tues-Sun 11:00-18:00.
Website:
www.musee-aquitaine-bordeaux.fr
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
One of three Bordeaux churches listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, the gothic Cathédrale St-André, built during the 13th and 15th centuries, is on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. The top of the lofty free-standing bell tower commands superb views over Bordeaux.
Address:
Place Pey-Berland, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 556 446 729
Opening times: Daily 10:00-19:00.
Website:
www.cathedrale-bordeaux.fr
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes
Built in the shape of a giant swirling glass of wine, this colossal celebration of wine in the revitalised Bassins à Flot area is a fitting addition to France’s wine capital. Along with an interactive museum, a classy restaurant and an observation deck, there’s the chance to taste hundreds of wines from around the world.
Address:
134 Quai de Bacalan, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 16 20 20
Opening times: Daily 10:00-19:00.
Website:
www.laciteduvin.com
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
After centuries of having the Jardin Botanique on the left bank of the Garonne, the authorities decided to move this large garden to the right bank in 1997. Along with wonderful views of the Vieux Bordeaux, the gardens feature an arboretum, graceful glasshouses and a creatively designed water garden.
Address:
Rue Gustave Carde, Esplanade Linné, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 52 18 77
Opening times: Daily 08:00-2000.
Website:
www.jardin-botanique-bordeaux.fr
Admission Fees: Free, but there are charges for temporary exhibitions.
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Fabulously rich European wine merchants built sumptuous residences in this Bordeaux quarter just steps from the Garonne and whose southern border is the Esplanade des Quinconces. The area declined after the French Revolution, but was spruced up and is now home to swanky shops, restaurants and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Address:
Quartier des Chartrons, Bordeaux.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes
One of Europe’s largest squares, this vast open space has the Monument des Girondins (a memorial to the Girondin deputies guillotined during the French Revolution) along one side, and two tall ships’ columns on the riverside. It’s used throughout the year for fairs and circuses, when food stalls start to take over.
Address:
Esplanade des Quinconces, Bordeaux.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes
Arts This handsome 1881 building covers several centuries of art in two wings. Check out the south wing for works from the 16th to the 18th centuries, including Rubens, Brueghel, Veronese and Van Dyck. The north wing features works from the 19th and 20th centuries by Picasso, Matisse, and Renoir, among others.
Address:
20 cours d’Albret, Bordeaux.
Telephone: +33 5 56 10 20 56
Opening times: Wed-Mon 11:00-18:00.
Website:
www.musba-bordeaux.fr
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Musée d’Art Contemporain (CAPC)
This Bordeaux museum of contemporary art is housed in a monumental former warehouse. As the permanent collection is a small one, the focus of the museum is on large temporary exhibitions featuring contemporary artists from around the world. Head up to the roof terrace for lovely views of the city.
Address:
7 rue Ferrère, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 00 81 50
Opening times: Tues-Sun 11:00-18:00.
Website:
www.capc-bordeaux.fr
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
- Office de Tourisme de Bordeaux
Address:
12 cours du 30 Juillet, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 00 66 00
Opening times: Daily 09:00-18:30.
Website:
www.bordeaux-tourisme.com
The main tourist office in Bordeaux organises city tours – on foot, by bicycle and by boat – as well as guided tours of the vineyards. There’s also a tourist information office at St-Jean railway station.
Tourist passes
The Bordeaux Metropole CityPass covers one, two or three days and gives you free public transport and admission to most of the city’s museums as well as guided tours, bus tours and vineyard visits. There’s also a 10 per cent discount to the Cité du Vin.
Things to do in Bordeaux
Place de la Bourse is a historic place for Bordeaux, located in the Saint-Pierre district, right in the centre of the city. Built during the 18th century, it marked the end of the medieval period for Bordeaux by expanding the city beyond the old walls. Part of the historical district of Bordeaux, the Place de la Bourse was upgraded in 2006 with the addition of le Miroir d’Eau – the water mirror. The reflection of the historical buildings in the water is definitely worth a photo or two, especially at night. Have a drink on the terrace of Le Gabriel, a gastro restaurant located right on the square, behind the Fountain of the 3 Graces.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 00 66 00
Website:
www.bordeaux-tourisme.com
Head to La Cité du Vin – The Wine City – on the Quai du Bacalan to learn everything about the Bordeaux châteaux and wine labels. You’ll also be able to book wine-tasting tours at some of the most famous châteaux in the region, like Saint-Émilion, Saint-Julien, Margaux, and Médoc, just to name a few. Excellent wines are produced all around France, but Bordeaux is considered the wine capital of the country. Going to Bordeaux is like a journey into the rich world of wine.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 16 20 20
Website:
www.laciteduvin.com
- Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux
The Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux is at the same time an impressive mid-18th-century neo-classical building and a lively venue that host operas, dance and music performances. Located on the Place de la Comédie, its façade features 12 columns on which stand 9 muses and 3 goddess statues, making the edifice like an antique Temple of the arts. Even if you don’t want to see a show, you should join a guided tour to visit the theatre. The backstage areas and the sumptuous interior décor and ornaments are worth an hour of your time.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 00 85 95
Website:
www.opera-bordeaux.com
Originally built in Roman style in the early-11th century, Bordeaux Cathedral went through the tumultuous history of France, and was almost entirely rebuilt in Gothic style during the 14th century. Declared a National Monument of France, it’s home to an impressive art collection dating from between the 14th and 17th centuries, that includes statues, paintings and religious artefacts and ornaments. Being right in the centre of Bordeaux, you’ll find a good choice of cool bars and restaurants nearby. Guided tours are available.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 00 85 95
Website:
www.cathedrale-bordeaux.fr
The Museum of Aquitaine shows you the history of Bordeaux and of its region from the Stone Age to the 19th century through a good variety of exhibits. Controversially, the displays include reflections on French colonialism and the relation between Bordeaux and the slave trade. From splendid model ships to Montaigne’s Tomb, the museum is home to rare artefacts and objects as well as a reconstruction of an early 20th-century grocer’s shop. It’s a nice place to visit upon arrival in Bordeaux, to get into the mood of the region.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 01 51 00
Website:
www.musee-aquitaine-bordeaux.fr
- Get in on the local wine action
Bordeaux wine is rightly feted the world over, so it would be a crime to not get a look at where it all comes from. You can book tours through the;
The Tourist Office is at your disposal 7 days a week to advise you, guide you, offer excursions, guided tours and river trips. Do not hesitate to contact us: it is with pleasure that we will make you discover the heritage and vineyards.
Address:
12 cours du juillet 33080 Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 00 66 00
Website:
www.bordeaux-tourisme.comBordeaux tours and excursions
Bordeaux tours
Get to know Bordeaux from a totally different angle with a 90-minute boat cruise along the Garonne. You get a guided commentary in English and French aboard either the Aquitainia or the Burdigala as you discover centuries of Bordeaux riverside history.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 49 36 88
Website:
www.croisieresburdigala.fr
The Bordeaux tourist office and the Maison du Vin offer excellent guided tours including one-day tours of Bordeaux, the wine merchants’ district of Chartrons, as well as tours to the area’s vineyards and châteaux. The Bordeaux Wine Experience specialises in English-language wine and culinary tours in the Bordeaux region.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 00 66 00 ,
+33 5 56 20 64 12
Website:
www.bordeaux-tourisme.com
Bordeaux excursions
The Bassin d’Arcachon is France’s fourth largest oyster producer. Consequently Arcachon, 55km (34 miles) from Bordeaux, has many seafood restaurants where the excellent oysters can be sampled.
Around Arcachon are many sheltered beaches popular with the Bordelais, as well as the Dune du Pilat, the largest sand dune in Europe. Office de Tourisme d’Arcachon (Esplanade Georges Pompidou) can provide further information.
Telephone:
+33 5 57 52 97 97
Website:
www.arcachon.com
Some of the world’s greatest wines are produced in the Gironde estuary, the area around Bordeaux. It is possible to visit the vineyards and châteaux, but is best to make an appointment in advance. Among the most celebrated are châteaux Latour Martillac, Margaux, Lafite-Rothschild and Mouton-Rothschild.
Website:
www.gironde-tourisme.frShopping in Bordeaux
The Golden Triangle, formed by the allée de Tourny, cours de l’intendance and cours Clemenceau, is the location of Bordeaux’s smartest shops, with designer labels, trendy homeware shops and gourmet food stores, including one of France’s most stunning wine shops. L’Intendant, 2 allée de Tourny, has thousands of wine bottles stacked around a spiral staircase.
Another excellent wine shop is the Vinothèque de Bordeaux, 8 cours du 30 Juillet. Running south of this triangle is Bordeaux’s main shopping street, the pedestrianised rue Ste-Catherine. The rue Notre-Dame in the Chartrons district is good for antiques shops, while the passage St-Michel has interesting junk shops.
A daily flea market is held on the place St-Michel, and on Sunday morning a food and book market takes places along the quai des Chartons.
Opening times for shopping in Bordeaux are Tuesdays to Saturdays 09:00/10:00-19:00. Some shops close for lunch from 12:30-14:00/15;00.
Restaurants in Bordeaux
Bordeaux’s restaurant scene has experienced the same rejuvenation as the rest of the city. Restaurateurs have wholeheartedly embraced the concept of “bistronomie” which celebrates bistro-style gastronomy. Wander round the squares and streets of the historic centre and you won’t go hungry – the choice is dizzying. The Bordeaux restaurants below have been grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over €50)
Moderate (€25 to €50)
Cheap (up to €25)
These Bordeaux restaurant prices are for a three-course meal per person, including half a bottle of wine or equivalent, tax and service.
Expensive
Cuisine: French
Gourmet fixed & tasting menus served in a cozy, elegant dining room with a full bar. Picky eaters might have to think again – or just get used to have one course after another of exquisitely produced dishes laid in front of them. There’s only one six-course dinner – it changes regularly and combines creative flavours that don’t get lost amid the presentation.
Address:
53 Rue Lafaurie de Monbadon, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 556 790 164
Website:
www.restaurantlem.com
Cuisine: French
Joël Robuchon co-founded the Michelin-starred restaurant in La Grande Maison hotel with Bernard Magrez, but left in 2016. Now equally celebrated chef Pierre Gagnaire is in charge, maintaining the same stratospheric level of haute cuisine in elegant surroundings. The menu changes with the seasons but the innovative cooking is consistently excellent.
Address:
10 Rue Labottière, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 557 263 838
Website:
www.lagrandemaison-bordeaux.com
Cuisine: French
The interior is rustic but the quality is sky high in this intimate restaurant in the self-styled “Gourmet Street” – really a cluster of streets around rue Porte de la Monnaie. At its heart is the large fireplace, where the best meats of the South West are grilled to perfection.
Address:
6 rue Porte de la Monnaie, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 91 56 37
Website:
www.latupina.com
Moderate
Cuisine: French
If you want finger food, stay on the ground floor. But for a richer experience, head upstairs for creative cooking that uses ingredients that come within a 250km radius of Bordeaux. It’s all seasonal, but the fish comes from local boats and you can assume duck will appear in some form.
Address:
5 Rue Chauffour, 33000 Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 557 532 806
Website:
www.solena-restaurant.com
Cuisine: French
You’ll think you’ve landed in Paris when you step inside the 1930s interior of Brasserie Le Noailles. The atmosphere might be pure Parisian but the food is firmly from the south west of France, with plenty of bordelaise touches and rich flavours. As expected, the wine list is superb.
Address:
12 allée de Tourny, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 81 94 45
Website:
www.lenoailles.fr
Cuisine: French
Scottish chef Daniel Gallacher wanted to put down roots in Bordeaux, which he has with Racines – which translates as roots. He’s deliberately kept the menu short, with only two choices for each course. Whatever you get is what Gallacher picks up at the market, but it will be cleverly and deliciously French.
Address: 59 rue Georges Bonnac, Bordeaux.
Telephone: +33 5 56 98 43 08
Website: www.racines-bordeaux.com
Cheap
Cuisine: French
You might wonder at the odd name (inspired by a beach café in Bali chanced upon by the owners). But this cute little restaurant with an equally cute courtyard garden is the place for a hearty lunch of slow-cooked meat dishes, pastas and generous salads. They also do a mean Sunday brunch.
Address:
12 Rue Castelnau d’Auros, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 643 278 581
Website:
www.blindbordeaux.com
Cuisine: French
The set menu in this friendly restaurant is astounding value for the quality of cooking you get, and the ambience within its stone interior is wonderfully cocooning. It’s classic south-west French fare – plenty of duck and goose, plus hearty steaks and traditional desserts.
Address: 6 Rue des Faussets, Bordeaux.
Telephone: +33 644 638 605
Website: www.restaurant-melodie.fr
Cuisine: French
Intimate setting for classic dishes from Southwest France, plus a vaulted wine cellar. Come for lunch or an aperitif from Monday to Thursday, as Friday is the only night when dinner is served.
Address:
50 Rue Saint-Rémi, 33000 Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 55 787 1191
Website:
www.brasserie-bordelaise.frBordeaux Nightlife
The animated streets around the place de la Victoire, place St-Pierre, place du Parlement, place Camille Julian and place Gambetta throng with bars, clubs and restaurants. Night owls head for the bars and clubs open until the early morning hours around the quai de Paludate.
For listings on what’s on in and around Bordeaux, check out Clubs et Concerts, available at the Tourist Office, and Bordeaux Plus, for sale at newsstands.
Bars in Bordeaux
For an entertaining introduction to wine-tasting, check out Au Quatre Coins du Vin’s pioneering approach. Use a preloaded card to choose from dozens of wines from around the world and have as little or as big a taste of them as you’d like – all helped by knowledgeable staff.
Address:
8 Rue de la Devise, 33000 Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 57 34 37 29
Website:
www.aux4coinsduvin.com
- L’Alchimiste torréfaction
Among the many bars and cafés tucked into narrow rue Parlement-St-Pierre, look out for L’Alchimiste’s tiny terrace. Inside the bar’s warm interior of stone walls, the bartenders concoct some of Bordeaux’s best cocktails.
Address:
87, quai de Queyries, Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 76 483 7668
Website:
www.alchimiste-cafes.com
There are few better places to unwind than in Vintage Bar during its daily happy hour. Fans of craft beer have a large choice, as do Belgian beer lovers. But it’s the rum aficionados who make a beeline for this convivial bar – it has more than 150 rums on offer.
Address:
45 Rue Saint-James, 33000 Bordeaux.
Website:
www.vintagegroup.fr
Clubs in Bordeaux
Soak up the Latin vibe in this buzzing club that was inspired by the sounds of Cuba and Miami. It’s all salsa, merengue, Latin house and bacchata in this cosy club. Start off with delicious tapas before moving on to classic cocktails – they make a mean mojito here.
Address:
24 Rue Piliers de Tutelle, 33000 Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 4808 68
Website:
www.calle-ocho.eu
There’s a fun and infectious Caribbean flavour at L’Ane Qui Tousse, whose two dance floors heat up to the sounds of reggae, zouk, kizomba, salsa and kuduro. If you’re lucky, you can arrive in time for the two cocktails-for-one promotion that’s on offer from time to time.
Address:
57 Rue de Bègles, 33800 Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 92 52 98
Opal Club Lounge The disco club serves innovative cocktails to a funky soundtrack of R&B and house music 7 days a week. Unusually for modern France, smokers do not have to take themselves outside as there is already a smoking room inside the club.
Address:
12 Rue Sicard, 33000 Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 614 647 722
Live music in Bordeaux
The Thélonious Café Jazz Club makes you feel as if you’re on holiday ,with live music venuesalsa and merengue. Musicians cover the whole Latin spectrum, with flamenco and rumba adding to the sultry mix as well as the occasional jazz night.
Address:
18 Rue Bourbon, 33300 Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 685 993 242
Website:
www.thelonious-jazz-club-bordeaux.com
In the green depths of the Jardin Botanique, Le Caillou offers live music in a relaxed, civilised setting. There’s a constantly changing bill featuring everything from jazz and world music to French chanson and blues. Come summer, the action spills out into the garden terrace.
Address:
Jardin Botanique de Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 767 711 727
Website:
www.le-caillou-bordeaux.fr
Rock School Barbey has been the breeding ground for Bordeaux rock musicians since 1999. Part concert hall and part music school, it’s the place to hear not just live rock but also world music, reggae and jazz – and even the occasional burlesque cabaret.
Address:
18 Cr Barbey, 33800 Bordeaux.
Telephone:
+33 5 56 33 66 00
Website:
www.rockschool-barbey.comBordeaux Food And Drink
10 Best Local Dishes from Bordeaux
- Foie gras A rich duck liver delicacy usually served as a cold spread
Foie gras is a delicacy made with fatty duck liver. The taste is unique, rich, buttery and delicate. This Bordeaux staple is often served at parties, friendly gatherings, and formal events.
You’ll find foie gras in countless preparations, including cold, seasoned and seared. Supermarkets and charcuteries always have it in stock, in varieties like mousse, pâté and parfait. While it’s served as a spread, you can also see it as a rich garnish on meat at some restaurants. Sample foie gras on your visit to Bordeaux to discover which version is your favourite.
- Aquitaine caviar Carefully farmed soft-coloured caviar with buttery and nutty flavours
Aquitaine caviar has a reputation of being one of the world’s finest, thanks to the time and patience used in its farming. The Siberian sturgeon are raised for 8 years before their eggs, called
perlita, are ready to be harvested.
The colours of the caviar range from shades of grey to light chestnut. It has a slightly salty flavour with buttery and nutty hints. Like a fine wine, this caviar gets better with time. It is aged for at least 3 months, allowing for the taste to mature. It is served chilled with
blini (small pancake or crépe).