10 Best places to stay in Bordeaux

You will feel like an aristocrat in this beautiful mansion, complete with its own tower and pretty courtyard, now a five-star hotel in the historic heart of Bordeaux.

Owner and designer Agnes Guiot has deftly combined the original panelling, ornate mouldings and parquet floors with striking and witty contemporary art and furnishings, such as accent chairs shaped like whales’ tales – while the dozen bedrooms (each with its own character) all have king-size beds, iPads loaded with a city guide and well-stocked minibars.

It’s luxurious, welcoming and in a great location, on the fringes of the city’s elegant 18th-century Golden Triangle.

Other pluses include free bikes for guests, a high-end restaurant focusing on seasonal ingredients and local wines, and warm staff for whom no request is too difficult.

It’s expensive but worth it.

A short drive – or long walk – through the vines from the historic town of Saint-Emilion, this classic 16th-century manor house is part of the prestigious Chateau Franc Mayne wine estate.

It’s a rural idyll with tons of character – there are pretty gardens and chic design rooms – including the woodsy Perchoir, perched up in an ancient cedar tree – and lovely views of the vines in every direction.

Beautifully landscaped gardens and a chemical-free swimming pool, cleaned by algae, give it a back-to-nature feel, but there’s luxury in the free wine tastings and tour of the Chateau’s ancient quarry cellars, as well as delicious breakfasts in the elegant dining room or on the terrace.

If you fancy a trip to Bordeaux city, it’s 40 minutes’ drive away. It is, however, a great base for exploring Bordeaux’s wine regions; the hotel hires out mountain bikes for leisurely explorations of picturesque Saint-Emilion’s vineyards.

Immerse yourself in the charm and sophisticated ambience of Bordeaux’s heyday in this elegant 18th-century hotel, set right in the city’s historic Golden Triangle.

Many original features adorn the classic rooms and suites, each with their own specially-designed wallpaper and richly-upholstered furniture; the excellent soundproofing means you’ll sleep undisturbed, in spite of the hotel’s central location.

There’s an excellent spa with a whirlpool tub and spa-day packages, and a popular restaurant, Comptoir de Seze – which hosts a buzzy Sunday brunch – as well as a retro smoking room with Havana cigars.

The hotel even owns a private six-hole golf course 10 minutes outside of the centre, which makes a great breather between sightseeing.

This luxurious stay suits couples who like their creature comforts, and want a holiday feel as well as a city break.

Just opposite the landmark Grand Theatre in the heart of the Golden Triangle, Bordeaux’s 230-year-old Grand Hotel is once again the shining star of its luxury hotel scene.

Originally designed by the great Parisian architect Victor Louis as a vast, private mansion, this neo-classical masterpiece sits proudly in a prime location on Place de la Comédie, Bordeaux’s central square.

Behind the impressive facade, the interiors are equally grand thanks to a thorough renovation by top interior designer Jacques Garcia’ vaulted ceilings, chandeliers, marble surfaces and opulent baroque flourishes. Filled with the spirit of Bordeaux’s renaissance, it oozes colour, elegance and class.

The elegant Michelin-starred Pressoir d’Argent restaurant, named after its silver lobster press, is one highlight; the magnificent Spa Guerlain and roof-terrace Jacuzzi is another.

Wine lovers will adore the dedicated wine concierge for arranging visits to and tastings at Bordeaux’s most prestigious chateaux.

The location is ideal for sightseeing – and you’re in the heartland of Bordeaux’s beautiful architecture here. The surrounding Golden Triangle is a lively, bustling area, busy night and day with cafés, restaurants and high-end shops filled with locals and visitors.

On a quiet street near the Golden Triangle, a short walk away from Bordeaux’s main sights, this friendly, unpretentious little hotel occupies a pair of 18th-century mansions.

The interior stylishly combines old stones and parquet floors with modern furnishings in white, grey and raw woods, as well as large pot plants and mirrors, for a minimalist, Scandi look.

Staff are approachable and helpful, and the affordable parking in a nearby garage makes this a great base for seeing the surrounding wine region as well as the city.

Set in the medieval heart of the city, in a superb location near the Cathedral and Place de la Bourse, L’Hotel Particulier is an excellent base for first-time visitors.

Once the townhouse of Bordeaux’s 19th-century Cardinal Donnet, this historic building now contains home five romantic,  high-ceilinged guest rooms, as well as a handful of more basic self-catering studios and family apartments, which are perfect for longer stays.

Bathtubs, Nespresso machines and balconies add a touch of homey luxury to the rooms; and the charming, English-speaking owners prepare superb breakfasts. There’s a lovely inner courtyard too.

Bordeaux’s main sights, shops, restaurants, bars and waterfront are all within walking distance.

One of the city’s sleek new trams conveniently passes right in front of the door, but it’s so quiet few guests even notice.

Located just outside Bordeaux’s pedestrian-only historic centre, a 10-minute walk from central sights such as the Cathedral, this stylish boutique hotel has sophisticated design and great food.  

Everything about it is soothing, from the soft colours in the rooms to the efficient and helpful staff. The restaurant features contemporary takes on southwestern French classics (duck, oysters, and even the eel-like lamprey, for the bold) accompanied by a superb wine menu.  

Burdigala’s underground garage also makes it a favourite with road-trippers stopping off in the city. A convenient, stylish base for visiting Bordeaux, then touring the surrounding vineyards. 

For wine enthusiasts, this is holy ground. A 17th-century manor house in Medoc, this swish Relais & Chateau hideaway is a retreat into the aristocratic world of Bordeaux-style country living.

Owned by the winemaking Cazes family, the hotel has 28 comfy, contemporary rooms, as well as gardens, a heated outdoor lap pool, sauna and gym – but the main focus is on exquisite wine and food and top-class service, or what the French call l’art de vivre.

In walking distance of Pauillac, the hotel enjoys a quiet setting by its own vines, and the fabled Chateau Lynch-Bages, also owned by the Cazes.

Handy for visiting the vineyards, it’s an hour’s drive from Bordeaux, so better as a stop before or after your city break, rather than as a base for city sightseeing.

This Relais & Chateaux hotel is just made for lovers of contemporary architecture, superb food and fine wine.

Located on the right bank of the Garonne River – on a peaceful, vine-clad hill with views over Bordeaux – it owes its industrial-chic design to architect Jean Nouvel.

Covered in rusted metal latticework, the building evokes the region’s tobacco barns, and is trimmed with verdant gardens and a minimalist swimming pool.

Each luxurious room has its own personality, with contemporary art and design quirks – one has a Harley Davidson parked in the middle of it.

Le Saint James is a delicious rural idyll in France’s biggest wine region – topped off by a Michelin-starred restaurant, with a chef who runs a cooking school here.

But you will need a car – the city itself is 9km away, and world-class wineries are all around the region.

This hotel is an oenophile’s dream – the perfect place to unwind in Bordeaux’s wine country.

Just 20 minutes from the city, it consists of wooden buildings in an enchanting garden setting. Rustic French barn meets zen minimalism here.

You sleep in rustic chic rooms, suites and cottages, and laze between the hydrotherapy pools, steam room, loungers and an outdoor hot tub, created – naturally – from a giant barrel.

Two gastronomic restaurants, including the two Michelin-starred La Grand’Vigne, add yet another layer of lacquer.

The superb concierge service can arrange anything you want to do or visit around Bordeaux, though you will need a car to get around the wine region.