Neighborhooding: Chartrons, Bordeaux

Photo by Nicolas Duffaure

An ancient 14th century neighborhood built around the Chartreux Abbey, Chartrons is a neighborhood in Bordeaux that is packed with beautiful streets, restaurants, bars, antique shops, cafes, wine shops, boulangeries and more. It’s not only a destination for all our favorite restaurants, it’s a beautiful neighborhood to just walk around and do some window shopping. It’s about a 10 minute walk north of central Bordeaux.


Check in

Bill on the rooftop at Maison La Course.

Maison La Course: This is a great boutique guesthouse that’s within walking distance of the Chartrons neighborhood with a lot of our favorite bars and restaurants. Located on a quiet residential street bordering the Jardin Public, La Course offers free bikes for exploring the city and an over-the-top breakfast that you can’t miss. If it’s available, try to book the room on the top floor, which includes a private terrace and your very own pool! Website / Instagram


Where to Eat

At El Nacional in Bordeaux, drinking wine from the vineyard where we got engaged.

El Nacional: This Argentinian steakhouse (with a sister location in Buenos Aires) is where we had dinner the night we got engaged. Website / Instagram

Bill strolling along the Chartrons neighborhood. I took this photo in 2022 but we’d visit La Pointe for the first time in 2023. Weird!

La Pointe: In the same popular Chartrons courtyard as El Nacional, this seafood-centric restaurant is our new favorite, after a staff member at Maison La Course made the recommendation during our stay in February 2023. Grab a seat on the line and watch the chefs prepare whole fish and other amazing raw bar items. The incredibly friendly owner summered in Rhode Island when he was younger so we had lots to talk about. Website / Instagram

Both El Nacional and La Pointe are located in the same courtyard with a bunch of other bars and restaurants, so it’s a great destination for apero, dinner & after-dinner drinks.


Where to Drink

Cocktails at Apothek

Apothek: A very comfortable and creative cocktail lounge that takes reservations, though depending on the time of day, may not be necessary. Website / Instagram


Stalk the Stylish Locals

 

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Yolanda Edwards (@yolandaedwards) • Instagram photos and videos

Yolanda is an American writer/editor who is renovating her second chateau a little north of Bordeaux in the Medoc.

 

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Camille In Bordeaux (@camilleinbordeaux) • Instagram photos and videos

Camille highlights the best Bordeaux restaurant and day trip ideas.

 

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Bérénice 🌞 (@bbcvl) • Instagram photos and videos

Fashion amidst Bordeaux and Biarritz.


Excursion-Worthy

Trippy neon, bomb pizza and the best truffle pasta I’ve ever had at Palatino.

Palatino: When you need a break from escargots and steak frites, hit up this Italian trattoria for truffle pasta and burrata pizza in downtown Bordeaux from the Big Mamma Group of Paris. Same people as the IG-famous Pink Mamma spot in Pigalle, but I think the food, drinks & service are wayyy better at Palatino. Website / Instagram

Papa Lello: Apparently when I’m in Bordeaux, all I want to eat is Italian?! This spot along the Quai des Chartrons was a lifesaver when Bill and I rolled into Bordeaux as zombies off a red-eye. We were brought back to life with pizza and Aperol Spritzes. Website / Instagram


Looking for more on Bordeaux?

Get to know Bordeaux and the region more in my post Why You Should Visit Bordeaux.

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