FirstName
Founded by three hoteliers who wanted to change up the game in Bordeaux, FirstName is a beautiful 4-star establishment in the heart of the Mériadeck district, once an unloved 1960s architectural experiment but now a vibrant part of the city. As soon as you step into the hotel, you’ll sense a true feel-good spirit and a buzzy vibe. Slick, contemporary styling punctuates the rooms and suites, with minimalist overtones and stunning views of the city. At the beating heart of the hotel is an amazing restaurant called “La Bada” (which is short for Badaboum, the hotel’s enormous teddy bear mascot of a dogue bordelais) where consultant chef Cédric Béchade showcases the very best of local produce and French cuisine, such as smoked Pyrenean trout with organic apple and horseradish cream, and pollock from the Port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Music is a central tenet of FirstName’s modus operandi, with live DJs playing in the bar from Thursday through Sunday.
Le Marty
Not far from FirstName and still in the modernist mecca of the Mériadeck district is the Le Marty, a hotel with art and design running through its impeccable veins. In fact, the hotel doubles as an artist incubator, working in tandem with Nell Caritey-Hergué, founder of the gallery L’Artillerie, to showcase talent. Just about every single piece of work you’ll find in Le Marty is for sale, too. There is a total of 61 immaculately appointed contemporary rooms of five different types, providing a real boutique feel throughout. As for dining, Le Marty doesn’t have a dedicated restaurant, but that doesn’t stop it from providing some fantastic food: breakfast consists of viennoiseries and crusty bread from Maison Lamour, the artisan baker once crowned the best bakery in France, while the bar menu focuses on cold platters showcasing local produce.
Mondrian Bordeaux Les Carmes
If you want to push the proverbial boat out then head to Les Chartrons, the city’s traditional wine quarter since the 17th century and home to the 5-star Mondrian Hôtel des Carmes, designed by Philippe Starck. This 19th-century landmark was originally home to the cellars of the prestigious Maison Calvet but has been converted into 97 beautifully presented rooms and suites in that typical Starck version of contemporary opulence. Boasting a serene spa featuring a hammam, a 45m2 heated pool, four private treatment rooms and a 24-hour fitness centre, the Mondrian is also home to one of the finest restaurants in the city – Morimoto Bordeaux – the first European dining experience by celebrated Japanese master chef Masaharu Morimoto, which blends Asian culinary artistry with western flavours and local produce.
book.ennismore.com/hotels/mondrian/bordeaux
Indigo Bordeaux
On the quays, nestled against the banks of the Garonne, is the recently renovated Indigo Bordeaux. Being in the bohemian quarter that is Les Chartrons, Indigo is similarly creative and free-spirited, with an eclectic and colourful interior designed by Stella Cadente, who was inspired by the natural wonders of the Bassin d’Arcachon and its iconic Dune du Pilat when devising the boutique hotel’s charming aesthetic. Besides the beautiful interiors, one of the key draws of Indigo is the rooftop restaurant, Le Tchanqué, which boasts one of the best panoramas of Bordeaux. The sunsets up there are stunning, enhanced by a bottle of local wine and some sharing platters showing off the flavours of French and Basque signature dishes.
Le Palais Gallien Hôtel & Spa
Housed in a former private mansion of a 19th-century Bordeaux shipowner on Rue Abbé de l’Épée, Le Palais Gallien Hôtel & Spa is one of the city’s most iconic boutique hotels. With only 28 rooms and suites, each beautifully decorated in a hushed contemporary style, and affording wonderful views of the city (especially from the jacuzzi terrace of the Montaigne suite), the hotel has a convivial feel. While its name comes from the Gallo-Roman amphitheatre situated just outside of the city, the hotel takes its inspiration from the literary trio of Montaigne, Montesquieu and Mauriac, three philosophers and writers who called Bordeaux home. With a sublime garden courtyard and tranquil swimming pool, Le Palais Gallien is a sandstone oasis from which to explore Bordeaux and its surrounding countryside, but you may well struggle to leave after your first meal at La Table de Montaigne, the restaurant headed up by former Fat Duck chef de cuisine, Oli Williamson. His seven- and nine-course tasting menus for supper are arguably the best meals in the city.
hotel-palais-gallien-bordeaux.com
Château de Léognan
If you really want to get up close and personal with viniculture (or just fancy playing 18th-century French aristocrat for a few days), then we’d recommend a stay at the enchanting Château de Léognan in the heart of the famous Pessac-Léognan vineyards. This beautiful wine estate is as French as it gets, offering three magical lodges hidden among the grounds, as well as a handful of stunning rooms and suites all beautifully decorated with that inimitable Château charm. Gourmands are in for a treat at chef Gael Derrien’s Le Manège restaurant, where dishes such as line-caught sea bass with seaweed butter are perfectly complemented with estate wines. Speaking of which, if you can spare a couple of hours, we’d recommend the gourmet tasting tour of the estate.
