The Must-Get Reservations

As with everything in this storied city, Bordeaux’s culinary scene is rooted in tradition. But not every dish you’ll taste here is old-fashioned Bordelais. Joining the bastions of hearty classics are evolving restaurants where both Michelin-starred chefs and up-and-coming talent are spinning local produce, fish, and wine into something entirely of-the-moment. Here, we take a tour of the best establishments, both old and new.

Le Grande Maison

Nothing quite rivals the artful cuisine and presentation at Pierre Gagnaire’s Michelin two-star restaurant, which is perhaps the hottest dinner reservation in all of Bordeaux. Situated inside Le Grande Maison, an elegant 19th-century mansion that houses six rooms and two suites, the restaurant serves the inventive and meticulously presented cuisine that made Gagnaire famous. The menu features dishes inspired by Bordeaux’s terroir, and while many of the dishes change seasonally, the restaurant also offers a selection of some of the chef’s most celebrated dishes—including his langoustine appetizer, which presents the crustacean prepared five ways, from cooked in a custard to raw in a galette. Also on the menu is Gagnaire’s famous take on duck, smoked in a bitter chocolate shell and dramatically hammered open tableside. Of course, there is also an exceptional wine list, with many bottles sourced from the private stock of the restaurant’s owner, Bernard Magrez, a local wine baron who owns four Bordeaux grand crus and 40 wine estates around the world.

Le Pressoir d’Argent Gordon Ramsay

Le Pressoir d’Argent Gordon Ramsay—Ramsay’s Michelin two-star restaurant in the InterContinental Bordeaux–Le Grand Hotel—takes advantage of the local bounty with a menu that highlights Breton lobster, foie gras from the Landes, and organic vegetables from Basque country.

La Table de Plaisance

Touted by some as the best restaurant in Saint-Émilion, La Table de Plaisance is a Michelin two-star eatery in the charming Relais & Châteaux Hostellerie Plaisance. It serves a mouthwatering menu that includes white truffles, bar de ligne, and other local specialties. If you’re spending a day in the vineyards, nothing beats chef Ronan Kervarrec’s gourmet picnics.

Logis de la Cadène

Established in Saint-Émilion in 1848 and held by the family that owns the celebrated Château Angélus, Logis de la Cadène is a charming Michelin one-star restaurant run by chef Alexandre Baumard, who gives classical French dishes a light, modern flavor.

La Chapon Fin

Founded in 1825, La Chapon Fin is a fine-dining stalwart that was one of the first-ever Michelin three-star restaurants. It initially earned its trio of stars in 1933. Today, its menu offers contemporary cuisine with a nod to local traditions and produce.

La Table d’Hôtes

One of Bordeaux’s best-kept secrets, the 12-seat dining room at the Grand Théâtre opera house’s Le Quatrième Mur called La Table d’Hôtes just earned its first Michelin star thanks to chef Philippe Etchebest’s inventive seven-course tasting menus.

La Tupina

Queen Elizabeth and Nicolas Sarkozy have both dined at La Tupina, a cozy portside restaurant where southwestern French cuisine is cooked the traditional way: on an open hearth.

Garopapilles

Helmed by Tanguy Laviale— one of Bordeaux’s most promising young chefs, who earned his first Michelin star this year—Garopapilles is a charming 20-seat restaurant is in high demand for its ultra-fresh dishes using herbs from its courtyard garden.

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La Grande MaisonLa Grande Maison

Le Pressoir d’Argent Gordon RamsayLe Pressoir d’Argent Gordon Ramsay

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