Given its global reputation for beauty and bounty, there’s no shortage of reasons for visiting Bordeaux—and yet it’s all the better that the city chosen as “European Best Destination 2015” offers some truly extraordinary hotels.
A UNESCO World Heritage site for its 18th-century architecture, which is second only to Paris in number, Bordeaux is located in the heart of the largest wine region of the world. The city’s historic squares and numerous outdoor cafés foster a convivial atmosphere befitting a global wine capital. With more than 2,000 wine estates open to visitors, Bordeaux is but an hour from Paris by plane and less than three hours by train.
This summer, consider a holiday in Bordeaux at some of the city’s finest residences listed below.
© La Grande Maison Bordeaux
La Grande Maison Bordeaux: Imagine life in a grand 19th-century mansion, furnished in Napoleon III style with fabric-draped walls—and a restaurant by Joël Robuchon, the most Michelin-starred chef in the world.
Owned by Robuchon and the art connoisseur and wine magnate Bernard Magrez, La Grande Maison Bordeaux opened in December 2014 in a residence built in the late 19th century for a prominent Bordeaux lawyer.
Utilizing an opulent floral style, designer Frédérique Fournier created a home that honors the mansion’s provenance as a cultural and literary salon, with six luxurious guest rooms named for Magrez’s vineyards and wines. Period pieces by Houlès and Moissonnier complement the Braquenié embroidered fabrics by Pierre Frey in silk taffeta. The sleekly minimalist bathrooms feature Carrara marble and toiletries by Hermès including Terre d’Hermès perfume for him and Jour d’Hermès for her.
© La Grande Maison Bordeaux
The hotel-restaurant’s two dining rooms are a testament to Robuchon’s punctilious attention to sophisticated elegance, with Baccarat chandeliers and crystal, cutlery by Christofle, and a degustation that features signature dishes such as caviar jelly with cream of cauliflower, crispy truffle tart, and Robuchon’s fabled mashed potatoes. The 1,000-wine list includes more than 250 “Grands Crus Classés” alongside wines from the world’s best vineyards.
Across the street from La Grande Maison Bordeaux, the Bernard Magrez Cultural Institute is housed in the 18th-century Labottière mansion. A place of cultural discovery and interaction, the institute hosts two exhibitions a year, as well as an artists’ residency for young artists.
©Le Boutique Hotel Bordeaux
Le Boutique Hotel Bordeaux: Hidden behind a pair of impressive wooden doors in the historic center of Bordeaux awaits a luxurious courtyard that is the centerpiece of Le Boutique Hotel Bordeaux. Housed in an 18th-century sandstone townhouse with a majestic central staircase, the 4-star hotel is located in the Golden Triangle of Bordeaux between the city’s public gardens and its best restaurants.
Offering a luxury experience with all the hospitality of a family home, Le Boutique Hotel Bordeaux was the erstwhile residence of a minister to Louis XVIII who entertained guests such as Baron Haussmann, the architect of Paris, as well as Victor Hugo.
The hotel’s neo-renaissance façade and its paved courtyard retain their historic character amidst the contemporary luxury of the 27-room hotel. Accommodations include deluxe rooms, junior suites, and apartments, several of which include Jacuzzi and private terrace. Bathroom products are by Hermès.
©Le Boutique Hotel Bordeaux
Inspired by viticulture, the hotel’s spa and fitness center combines wood and stonework for a calming atmosphere marked by treatments that include a grapefruit and sea salt exfoliation.
Not unlike a secret garden, the courtyard conservatory of Le Boutique Hotel Bordeaux is a verdant sanctuary of calm. Nestled on the open-air terrace, The Wine Bar offers blind wine tastings and over 150 wines with bistro seating by Starck. Breakfast is served on the hotel terrace or in the designer dining room.
©L’Hôtel de Sèze
L’Hôtel de Sèze: Named for Marie Antoinette’s lawyer during the “Affair of the Diamond Necklace,” L’Hôtel de Sèze features eight different design schemes, including Celestial Empire, which was popular during the 18th century, as well as a room in soft rose in honor of Antoinette.
Apart from the Queen, Count Raymond de Sèze also defended King Louis XVI—and the 55-room, 4-star hotel features three suites appointed with 18th-century décor and custom-made leather furnishings fit for a king. High-tech gadgetry and entertainment options complement the period décor.
Serving breakfast, brunch, and lunch, Le Comptoir de Sèze offers authentic creative French cuisine prepared with regional products. Afternoon tea is served in the Salon des Illustres. Cigar aficionados gather at Bar du Comptoir de Sèze for classic cocktails and fine whiskey.
©L’Hôtel de Sèze
The “Queen’s Necklace” signature treatment at the spa at L’Hôtel de Sèze utilizes fine diamond particles to gently exfoliate and polish the skin. With three treatment rooms, as well as Turkish steam bath, sauna, Jacuzzi, the spa at L’Hôtel de Sèze insures that you’ll keep your head—and emerge feeling completely relaxed and revivified.
For those desirous of sport, L’Hôtel de Sèze offers a private, 11-acre golf course located just 7 miles from the city—reserved exclusively for hotel guests.
©Hotel Burdigala
Hotel Burdigala: A bastion of contemporary chic situated in the heart of Bordeaux, the 5-star Hotel Burdigala underwent a complete renovation in 2011. Named for the ancient Gallo-Roman city now known as Bordeaux, Hotel Burdigala features 68 bedrooms and 15 suites furnished in a sleek urban style, fragranced with a scent created exclusively for the hotel.
Beneath a glass roof, the light-filled restaurant La Table de Burdigala serves breakfast daily, as well as lunch and dinner. Located alongside the restaurant on a covered terrace, Le Bacchus Bar offers an exceptional cellar of prestigious wines from the Bordeaux region—as well as a brasserie menu for light snacks.
©Hotel Burdigala
A nearby fitness center is available for hotel guests, as is a neighboring spa. A member of the M Gallery collection, the refined and relaxed Hotel Burdigala serves as an ideal starting point from which to discover the vineyards of Bordeaux.
