My wine tour clients often ask me for suggestions of the best hotels in Bordeaux.
To help you with your choice, I put together a list of the recommended hotels in the city of Bordeaux and Bordeaux wine country (Saint-Emilion, the Medoc, Pessac-Leognan and Sauternes).
City of Bordeaux
When it comes to the center of Bordeaux, in my opinion, it is best to stay in the Golden Triangle district or just a few steps away, in quiet residential areas of Saint Seurin and around Jardin Public.
I would not recommend staying near Gare St. Jean, the Bordeaux train station, especially if you are in Bordeaux for just a short stay.
There are new developments including a couple of chain hotels in that area, eg. The Hilton Garden Inn Bordeaux Centre. You get the convenience of being close to the train station, but these hotels are approximately a 30-minute walk to the city center through a somewhat sketchy neighborhood. If you have a car or need to be close to the train station, you might find this area a good option.
The Meriadeck area is closer to the city center. Its concrete block architecture isn’t that esthetically pleasing to me. However, if you are looking for a good value for money hotel, the Meriadeck has a few great options. See some recommendations on the Meriadeck hotels below.
Le Grand Hotel is a Bordeaux landmark. The 19th-century building is right in front of the Grand Theater.
All Bordeaux attractions are very easy to reach. There are two gastronomic restaurants in the hotel including the Michelin-star Pressoir d’Argent.
The hotel is close to shopping, the Office of Tourism, and is in the Golden Triangle of Bordeaux.
The picture is from the rooftop cocktail bar with great views of the city and fun cocktails.
Located at Allees Tourny, Hotel de Seze is only a few hundred feet away from the Intercontinental
You will be in the center of Bordeaux hustle and bustle, in a Parisian-style grand and classy building with large windows and balconies. Besides, all the regular nice hotel amenities, there is an intriguing cigar room.
You do not need a car to get to anywhere in the Bordeaux centre. However, if you got one, there is a convenient underground garage in front of the hotel.
This hotel is quite popular, I recommend booking in advance.
Also, located in the same area of the Golden Triangle are Hotel de Normandie and Best Western Grand Hotel de Bordeaux (there are two buildings to the latter).
Just crossing Cours George Clemenceau brings you to a posh Bordeaux neighbourhood of Saint Seurin. It may seem a bit grey and treeless, but the best is tucked away from the view.
The area is definitely less touristy than the center, with some local gems to be discovered – Michelin-rated restaurants, trendy bars and high-end hotels.
If you want to stay really close to the center (5 -15 minutes walk), but in a quiet residential area, take a look at these 4 great options.
This 5-star hotel in a traditional French chateau style is tucked away in a quiet neighborhood of Saint Seurin just a short 10-minute walk from the city center.
At Yndo Hotel, you will find top-notch hospitality, elegance, and luxury. The hotel design mixes classic French style of the building with contemporary furniture pieces.
I love its green inner courtyard. You can enjoy a breakfast or an aperitive away from crowds.
Another 5-star hotel in Bordeaux was originally a private residence.
Today, it a quiet boutique hotel with an outdoor pool, a rooftop terrace, a gourmet restaurant, and a cocktail bar.
The hotel was named Le Palais Gallien in memory of the Gallo-Roman amphitheatre, located nearby. Definitely, drop by to see it.
This hotel is a bit further away, but still in a walking distance to the center.
This small hotel in the center of Bordeaux not far from the Tourny square on a residential street, in a traditional Bordeaux house with a cool wine shop in front.
Guests love small but very cozy rooms with balconies, excellent breakfast and friendly atmosphere.
Budget Hotels Near Bordeaux Center
I find Aparthotel Adagio to be quite nice. It looks new and it has a great location, just a few steps from Place Gambetta. Rooms have small kitchenettes.
Mercure Bordeaux Cité Mondiale Centre Ville is a standard chain hotel with excellent location. The hotel is close to Quinconces, the Quays of Bordeaux and the atmospheric rue Notre Dame.
Bassins a Flot Hotels
The new trendy neighborhood of Bordeaux houses Radisson Blu and Renaissance Bordeaux Hotel.
You will be near the La Cite Du Vin wine museum, the submarine base, and the Bacalan market.
It takes approximately 10 minutes by tram or car or 45 minutes on foot from Bassins a Flot area to Bordeaux city center.
The top hotel in Saint-Emilion with incredible views of the town and the wine country. The hotel is owned by the Perse family, the owners of Chateau Pavie, Saint-Emilion First Grand Cru Classe A.
There is a 2-star Michelin restaurant in the hotel, La Table de Plaisance that specializes in French cuisine.
My wine tour clients love this small hotel in the center of St Emilion.
This stylish, warm and welcoming hotel with a Michelin-star restaurant on site is run by the owners of iconic Chateau Angelus.
Great location right in the village of Saint-Emilion.
Small, cozy and clean rooms with air conditioning make Auberge de la Commanderie a good value for money choice in this pricey area.
Each room has a character at this charming hotel in the center of Saint-Emilion.
Just 5 minutes away from Saint-Emilion, this hotel is a on the border of Pomerol.
You will stay in a romantic castle surrounded by world-famous vineyards. The hotel is neighbouring Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Figeac.
Stay at a real Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe Winery in St. Christophe-des-Bardes, a small village just a couple of miles (3.9 km) away from the town of Saint- Emilion.
Bernard Magrez is big name in French wine industry. The wine mogul owns more than 40 wineries across the world. You will have a chance to taste many of his wines in the chateau boutique.
To find more Saint-Emilion accommodation options see the map below.
You will need a car to move around the villages in the Saint-Emilion/Pomerol area.
If you are looking to stay at a winery on the Right Bank, I have listed some options in this article at All Wine Tours.
Some wineries offer chambres – serviced rooms in the chateaux.
I listed my favourite stays from the north to the south of the Medoc penninusula.
Would you like to stay at the top Bordeaux winery?
Chateau Cos D’Estournel, the 1855 Grand Cru Classe, is in Saint-Estephe, a secluded area of the Medoc away from traffic and crowds.
Since 2000, Cos D’Estournel, s owned by Michel Reybier, a French food industry mogul.
The chateau houses a hotel and a gastronomic restaurant.
From La Maison d’Estournel, you can explore top wineries of Saint Estephe and Pauillac, including Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Pedesclaux, Chateau Lafon-Rochet, Chateau Pichon Baron, and many others.
Another relaxing stay in Saint-Estephe is the 18th-century guest house of Château Ormes de Pez.
This is a tiny place to stay with only five bedrooms with views of vineyards and the swimming pool.
The estate is among the wineries run by the prominent Cazes family, the owners of Chateau Lynch Bages and Chateau Cordeillan Bages.
Сhateau Cordeillan Bages is surrounded by the iconic wineries of Pauillac.
Owned by the Cazes family (Chateau Lynch Bages, Chateau Ormes de Pez) this property is a member of the Relais & Châteaux network.
The building is the 17th-century Bordeaux chartreuse. The chateau houses a 25-meter heated outdoor pool, a sauna, and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Chateau Cordeillan Bages is an excellent base for Medoc wine tours.
At Chateau La Tour Carnet you will stay in a real castle surrounded by a mot. The castle interior is full of Medieval history, knights, arms and historic furniture.
There are only two suites. If you rent them both, you get the whole castle to yourself!
Chateau La Tour Carnet is famous for its 1855 Grand Cru Classe Haut Medoc wine. The boutique also offers wines from various other Bordeaux and French estates produced by the Bernard Magrez Group.
Inside Chateau La Tour Carnet.
Chateau Grattequina in Blanquefort is on the river, Garonne, within a 15-minute drive of Bordeaux and close to the Medoc wineries.
See more Left Bank accommodations below.
Located in Martillac, Hotel Les Sources de Caudalie is adjacent to the most beautiful chateau of the region, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte.
There is a beautiful park, a spa, a Michelin-star restaurant, a bistro and a wine bar.
The hotel is approximately 30-minutes away from Bordeaux city center by car.
Chateau Pape Clement is the closest chateau to the city of Bordeaux. You will be a short Uber drive away from the city.
The chateau offers guest rooms in the neo-Gothic castle built in 1864, which is a recent structure, given that the first harvest at the estate took place in 1252.
Since 1980s the chateau is owned by wine entrepreneur Bernard Magrez who brought back the fame of the chateau and brought it to success.
Wine tasting is obligatory! In 2009, the white of Chateau Pape Clement was given 100 Parker points and so did the red wine a year later.
Beautiful romantic property in the middle of the Leognan wine country.
The winery was transformed into a luxury bed and breakfast.
Choose a room with vineyard views.
Enjoy the pool and bike rides through the vineyards.
See my pictures of the property below.
Very quiet and secluded place to stay at a winery near Leognan.
Make sure you opt in for a tasting at this chateau.
