Bordeaux will entrap you with its splendor. Be it the city’s beautiful location on the banks of the River Garonne or its magnificent wine culture stretching back to the days of the Romans, visit Bordeaux for a day, and you’ll be inspired to stay for an eternity.

This is a city where high culture, cuisine, and architecture all rival the best that Paris or any of France’s other larger cities has to offer. As only the nation’s sixth biggest city, though, you’ll love just how easy it is to reach the vineyards, chateaus, and countryside of Aquitaine even when you’re staying in the best city center hotels. 

But before you venture outside Bordeaux, there’s much to see within the boundaries of this ancient city. Start with the ruins of Palais Gallien in Bordeaux, a Roman amphitheater that once entertained thousands in the heart of this Roman provincial city. 

If you’re planning a trip to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southern France, then keep reading as we go over the best places to stay in Bordeaux before giving our top picks for the best boutique hotels in Bordeaux! 

Don’t forget to check out our web story: The 12 Best Luxury Hotels in Bordeaux, France 

The 12 Best Luxury Hotels in Bordeaux, France

1. Le Boutique Hotel & Spa

One of the best hotels in Bordeaux is Le Boutique Hotel & Spa, where you’ll be staying in the historic yet masterfully restored rooms of a traditional 18th-century townhouse. As the hotel’s name suggests, Le Boutique Hotel & Spa is a boutique through and through. With five stars to its name, this is a boutique that offers history, heritage, comfort, and luxury all under one elegant Bordelais roof. 

You’ll love the high ceilings and tall windows of the magnificent Elegance Rooms, where you’ll have cozy views of the hotel’s inner courtyard or wider views of Bordeaux’s city center streets. Each room has a unique design, but underfoot you’ll find wooden parquet flooring in the bedroom area and Pyrenean slate in the bathrooms. 

Each room has unique decor that’s complemented by unique artwork, all of which have been personally selected by the owners. And those owners aren’t some large corporation but a father and daughter team named Christophe and Anais who simply fell in love with the property and then converted it into their dream boutique hotel. 

After a day of sightseeing in Bordeaux, you’ll appreciate this boutique retreat’s shady terrace, where you can sit in the shadow of a chestnut tree that’s been growing here for a century. Upgrade from the standard Elegance Room, and you could also find yourself reclining on a private terrace while you wait for your personal hot tub to heat up on the balcony!

2. Villas Foch Boutique Hotel & Spa

If you love your five-star luxuries, then stop scrolling and book a boutique room at Villas Foch Boutique Hotel & Spa for your stay in Bordeaux. This is one of the city’s best, not least because this extravagant hotel is home to just 20 individually designed rooms and eight marvelous suites. 

Your experience starts at check-in as you stroll purposefully through the magnificent 19th-century entranceway and into the lobby of this historic Bordelais townhouse. You’ll notice that many of the original features, like the grand staircase, have been preserved, while new touches, like the modern chandeliers, add a sense of rejuvenation to the timeless decor.

Once you’re checked in, sink back into the plush bedding of your queen or king-size bed or enjoy the delightful comforts of your velvet armchair. There are soft carpets or traditional wooden parquet flooring in each room and a wonderful mix of high-tech amenities and period furnishings. 

You’ll love the Roman-style swimming pool at Villas Foch Boutique Hotel & Spa, especially if you need to wind down and relax before heading for a few glasses of Saint-Emilion wine at Bar Le Ferdinand. The local Bordeaux wines served from the underground vault at this exclusive hotel bar are a real treat after you’ve enjoyed a stimulating session in the hotel’s Scandi-style sauna!

3. InterContinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel

InterContinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel is, without a doubt, one of the best places to stay in Bordeaux. This five-star hotel is the height of Bordelais luxury, and it’s found in a supremely historic location directly opposite the Grand Theatre. 

Le Grand Hotel has been welcoming guests for two centuries. It should be no surprise then that Le Pressoir d’Argent Restaurant has two Michelin stars to match. At the hotel’s gourmet, fine dining restaurant (which perhaps surprisingly is overseen by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay), you’ll find an exquisite menu that includes black truffles and blue lobster. 

Le Bordeaux Restaurant offers an equally exquisite menu (but no Michelin stars) alongside a delightful summer terrace where Barons de Rothschild champagne flows freely during Brunch and Bubbles on the weekends. There’s a rooftop bar, too, where you can enjoy refined cocktails and local wines with a view of the city center. 

After eating and drinking to your heart’s content, take time out at Spa Guerlain, where you can swim laps in the indoor pool or relax in the hammam, sauna, or hot tub. We don’t really need to say it, but the rooms here are luxurious, mixing the traditions of Le Grand Hotel seamlessly with modern amenities and comforts. 

4. Renaissance Bordeaux Hotel

We love the Renaissance Bordeaux Hotel for its top-floor restaurant and wine bar, which both offer stunning views of the city from the highest rooftop in Bordeaux! 

Enjoy a glass of Bordeaux’s finest as (rather fittingly) you take in a panorama that includes Cité du Vin, the city’s excellent wine museum. To the east, you’ll watch boats traversing the River Garonne, while to the west, you can watch the sun go down over the city’s skyline as you enjoy delectable Italian cuisine at Gina Restaurant & Bar. 

Renaissance Bordeaux Hotel is located next to the city’s Old Docks, an up-and-coming district where repurposing is top of the agenda. You’ll see all the developments and modern architecture below you as you enjoy yet more views from the oversized windows of your boutique room, where modern comforts meet industrial-chic. 

To top it all off, there’s an indoor swimming pool and fitness center on the top floor. Enjoy stunning vistas as you work out on the treadmill, or just sit back on a lounger, relax, and take in the panorama.

5. Hotel de Sèze & Spa Bordeaux

Hotel de Sèze & Spa Bordeaux is a beautiful boutique hotel in Bordeaux that’s guaranteed to leave you feeling refreshed and revitalized after your stay. This four-star hotel is right next to the Monument aux Girondins in central Bordeaux, and you’ll love embracing its spa culture after a day out in the city.

In fact, Spa de Sèze is one of Bordeaux’s most well-known and well-equipped city center spas, with a hammam, hot tub, sauna, ice fountain, and sensory shower to enjoy. Make the most of an impressive range of treatments and packages, from massages to brunch and spa sessions. 

Rooms at Hotel de Sèze & Spa Bordeaux draw on the building’s 18th-century origins, featuring original period features and traditional decor. They’re certainly up-to-date, though, with state-of-the-art bathroom facilities alongside high-tech climate control systems. 

The hotel also features a popular restaurant that serves up a fabulous Sunday brunch and an excellent lunch and dinner for the rest of the week. Enjoy fine French cuisine, then retire to the Bar Lounge for a glass of Armagnac or a tipple of cognac.

6. Seeko’o Hotel

If you’re a fan of quirky design hotels, then why not book a room at Seeko’o Hotel? This is one of the most unique hotels in Bordeaux, and you’ll love how this luxury boutique stay seriously stands out from the rest of the crowd.

Seeko’o Hotel doesn’t draw upon Bordeaux’s history and traditions. Instead, this is a fantastic work of modern architecture and design overlooking the River Garonne, close to the city’s repurposed submarine pens. You’ll spot this hotel from a mile away because the contemporary facade, inspired by icebergs, is quite unusual.

There are just 44 rooms at Seeko’o Hotel, each of which is designed with comfort, space, and style in mind. Just as the architecture draws on Bordeaux’s modernist desires, so too does the urban chic decor of your boutique hotel room. 

Rooms are minimalist and practical, yet comfortable and colorful. For the ultimate design hotel experience, upgrade to the Design Suite, where you’ll enjoy sweeping views of modern Bordeaux from the rooftop!

7. Hotel Le Saint-James

One of the coolest boutique hotels in Bordeaux is Hotel Le Saint-James, where you’ll find a uniquely designed hotel situated in a pocket of nature on the right bank of the River Garonne. 

Hotel Le Saint-James is located in Bouliac, a quiet district that’s better known to locals as the “Balcony of Bordeaux.” It’s just a 20-minute drive from the city center, and it’s cliché to say, but you’ll be a world away from Bordeaux’s bustling medieval streets. 

The hotel started life in the 18th century as a humble farmhouse, but the crumbling buildings were completely repurposed and redesigned by architect Jean Nouvel in 1989. Nouvel transformed the farm into a work of modern artistic beauty that’s since seen the hotel recognized as an integral part of France’s architectural heritage by the Ministry of Culture. 

You’ll love the sweeping views of Bouliac, Bordeaux, and the surrounding vineyards from your quirkily designed hotel room’s windows or balcony. There are 18 rooms and suites with panoramic views, and you’ll love sitting back in your plush bed as you open the blinds and enjoy the scenery.

You can spend long summer days lazing around the outdoor swimming pool at Hotel Le Saint or spend winter mornings strolling through frost-covered vineyards. The highlight, no matter the season, is the hotel’s Michelin-guide-listed restaurant. Here, Chef de Cuisine Mathieu Martin serves up an ever-changing menu merging land and sea. 

Enjoy duck filet with cooked oyster, almonds, and cauliflower, or perhaps you might prefer blue lobster in a vegetable sabayon sauce. If you love the food (and you will!), you can even sign up for one of the hotel’s prestigious cooking classes, where you’ll be taught by the very best Bordeaux chefs.

8. Hotel Konti Bordeaux by HappyCulture

One of the most unique Bordeaux hotels is Hotel Konti Bordeaux by HappyCulture. Located in downtown Bordeaux, this quirky four-star boutique hotel merges modern art and industrial chic with the city center’s 18th-century heritage. 

Rooms at Hotel Konti feature bright bedding and pillows alongside wooden headboards, and while you’ll love the up-to-date tech like the flat-screen television and climate control, you’ll also love the retro wind-up phones and vintage decor. 

Solo travelers can book Room One, a cozy, single room that’s perfect for budget travelers who love a little style. Couples might opt for the Executive Cozy Room, while you can splash out on La Sky Suite or La Suite M if you’re looking for luxury. 

Start your day with a buffet breakfast at Hotel Konti’s cafe, where the coffee is freshly roasted and the croissants are glorious. Extend your stay by making use of the hotel’s hourly-booking system, where you can add individual extra hours to your stay rather than check out!

9. Yndo Hotel

Yndo Hotel is swimming in modern elegance, but you’ll love the contrast as this Bordeaux boutique hotel is located within a historic, 19th-century townhouse in the heart of the medieval city. 

Like many of Bordeaux’s classic townhouses, Yndo Hotel features a fantastic courtyard terrace that shelters guests from the fierce Aquitaine sun and the bustle and noise of the city’s busy streets. Unlike a traditional 19th-century townhouse, though, Yndo Hotel comes with outlandish modern decor and curious works of contemporary art.

Each of the rooms here has been masterfully styled to its own designs. Vibrant purple sofas and velvet armchairs by famous designers like Tom Dixon or Hubert Legall are arrayed around original fireplaces, while sleek, freestanding bathtubs sit elegantly in the middle of marbled bathrooms. Many of the quirky design features have been personally selected by the owner, Agnes Guiot du Doignon, including the unique walnut “Cloud” table.

The owner’s tastes have also heavily influenced the restaurant, which is only open to guests of Yndo Hotel. La table d’Agnes features a seasonal menu prepared using ingredients personally selected by Agnes, who visits local farms and markets in search of the best produce. 

Agnes also personally selects the finest local wines, while the restaurant prepares all dishes to order to ensure your taste buds are fully satisfied at the end of the meal. 

10. Villa Reale

Villa Reale is a five-star favorite that’s perfectly located just steps away from Place de la Bourse and the wide banks of the River Garonne. As convenient as this boutique hotel’s location is, though, the real reason to book Villa Reale is for the luxury.

Within the well-worn walls of this historic townhouse, you’ll find just three opulent apartments inside. As you’d expect from a luxury apart-hotel, each of the three apartments has been individually designed and decorated to furnish your stay with character, heritage, and practical high-tech amenities.

The building dates back to 1754, and you’ll appreciate how the owners have preserved period features like traditional fireplaces and vaulted ceilings while providing full furnishings and amenities to make your stay as easy as possible. Apart-hotels here are equipped with kitchens, washing machines, and flat-screen television, as well as freestanding bathtubs, walk-in showers, and plush, comfy bedding. 

Of course, you’ve got all the facilities you need for an extended stay in Bordeaux, and you can keep the fridge stocked with the local vintages and shop at the local markets for the freshest farm-to-fork produce. 

But the hotel also provides a full-service, gourmet breakfast on request, complete with croissants and coffee. Just put in your order before 6 pm, then head to the apart-hotel’s sauna for an evening of blissful relaxation.

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11. Le Palais Gallien Hotel & Spa

Le Palais Gallien Hotel & Spa is another excellent boutique hotel in Bordeaux, not least because the beautiful building you’ll be staying in dates back to 1895. This magnificent turn-of-the-20th-century hotel was originally built by a Swiss architect for a lavishly wealthy Bordeaux citizen, and you’ll love the opulent designs, motifs, and features that still resonate with guests today. 

The hotel itself is named for Bordeaux’s Roman origins (Le Palais Gallien is a reference to the Gallo-Roman era), and you’ll appreciate the Roman-style spa after a day of sightseeing in the city. Spa Nuxe is inspired by, but far removed from, the Roman bathing culture of old. Here you can follow a sensual journey involving massages and treatments before enjoying the refreshing waters of the outdoor swimming pool. 

Rooms at Le Palais Gallien Hotel & Spa are also inspired by history, where you’ll find traditional wooden flooring, marble bathrooms, and wonderfully tall windows offering city or courtyard views. 

Like the spa, your hotel room is at the same time inspired by and removed from its historic roots. You’ll love the contemporary design and decor, flat-screen televisions, and walk-in rain showers. Of the 27 rooms and suites available at this boutique stay, the best offer private terraces with private hot tubs!

Le Palais Gallien Hotel & Spa is also home to an exquisite French restaurant, where Chef Younesse Bouakkaoui serves up Bordelais classics with the freshest local ingredients. The menu at La Table de Montaigne changes with the seasons, but the one constant is the fine wine from the best local chateaux.

12. Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Hotel & Restaurant 

Follow the River Garonne southeast of Bordeaux, and you’ll soon find yourself in the chateaux-lined countryside of Aquitaine. If you’d love a luxury, rural retreat, then you can even stay in one of the region’s most famous chateaus.

Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Hotel & Restaurant is your quintessential French castle. Located in Bommes, less than an hour’s drive from Bordeaux, this five-star boutique hotel is surrounded by 18 hectares of vineyards and is home to a Michelin-guide listed restaurant. 

The first thing you’ll notice when you enter the historic entranceway of this traditional chateau is the Lalique glass furnishings and decor. Crystal Lalique is the essence of French luxury, and each of the hotel’s boutique rooms is brightened by crystal chandeliers and lighting. 

There are just 10 rooms and three suites available at this hotel, so your stay will be personally overseen by Lucie Cozzi, the Maîtresse de Maison. Rooms here have preserved the character of the hotel, but you’ll appreciate the colorful decor and modern amenities.

Once you’ve settled in, head on over to the Vinotheque, where you can enjoy a tour of the vineyard and a tasting of its Grand Vin, which is the highly regarded Premier Grand Cru Classe. Wine is served in Crystal Lalique decanters, but don’t drink too much, because you’ve still got more vintages to taste at the hotel’s restaurant. 

Restaurant Lalique offers views of the vineyard from the 17th-century chateau, where Head Chef Jermore Schilling prepares a seasonal four-course menu served with sommelier-picked wine pairings. Perhaps unusually for a French restaurant, you can even enjoy a full vegetarian menu. 

That completes our list of the 12 best Bordeaux hotels! Did we miss any cool boutique hotels in Bordeaux? Comment below so we can add them to the list!

Where to stay in Bordeaux

Bordeaux is home to a beautiful selection of boutique accommodations. Many of the best hotels date back centuries, while many of the city’s newest offerings are found in repurposed townhouses, often dated to the 18th and 19th centuries. These properties form the core of Bordeaux’s hotel scene, and you’ll find them located in and around Place de la Bourse and Place des Quinconces in the historic heart of the city. 

Head north along the banks of the River Garonne from Bordeaux’s medieval center (an area encompassing the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Port of the Moon), and you’ll find a selection of trendy boutiques focused around the old submarine pens. This area is Bordeaux’s up-and-coming cultural district, where you’ll find design hotels within walking distance of art galleries, cultural centers, and the iconic Cité du Vin. 

But it’s also easy to enjoy a countryside stay in Bordeaux. The surrounding vineyards often offer historic accommodation in centuries-old châteaus, while the nearby commune of Bouliac is home to a famous hotel, restaurant, and vineyard where you’ll be surrounded by nature. 

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