A taste of Bordeaux
Travel Review – Bordeaux
With roughly 250’000 inhabitants, Bordeaux is the ninth largest city in France.
Formerly known as the Belle Endormie, Bordeaux has recently been reawakened from its winter sleep. The cute medieval city centre has been beautifully refurbished. New restaurants, hotels and wine tasting bars have opened and are waiting to be explored. Yes, there is the ubiquitous Bordeaux however the city has more to offer than just its famous wines.
A taste of … Art & Culture
The CAPC musée d’art contemporain de Bordeaux hosts exhibitions in a beautiful former Maritime Bourse of Bordeaux. The building provides a fantastic art space however when we visited was almost empty. Nevertheless, it features regular exhibitions (such as an exhibit by a Japanese Architect while we were visiting).
CAPC, 7 Rue Ferrere, 33000 Bordeaux
Wine and Trade Museum of Bordeaux
The small building features a small but informative exhibition of the history of Bordeaux wines. You can opt for a supplementary wine tasting at the end of your tour through the museum.
41 rue Borie, 33000 Bordeaux
Max Wine Gallery
This wine tasting bar is relatively new to Bordeaux and offers a good variety of Bordeaux wines at different price levels. The room’s interior is clean and modern with wine glasses hanging from the ceiling.
Simply buy a tasting card (available at € 25, € 50, € 100) and start your own tasting tour. You can use the different wine tasting machines which ensure that all wines are stored at the right temperature. A great highlight and also the most expensive wine on offer is the Lafite Rothschild 2004 for EUR 1050. A sip of it (25 ml) costs € 35 which seems like a stiff price considering the quantity however what is the likelihood of ever opening a bottle like that?
Some additional information about the wines on offer would be helpful. Nevertheless, this is a great place for wine novices and connoisseurs who would like to explore different wines in an informal setting. A great addition to Bordeaux
Max Bodeaux, 14 Cours de L’intendance
A taste of …Wining and Dining
Restaurants:
For a city with some of the most renowned wines in the world Bordaeux lacks the gastro scene to pair them with. La Tupina, helmed by Jean-Pierre Xiradakis however is an institution in Bordaeux and attracts, tourists, foodies and celebs such as France’s Ex-President Sarkozy.
The atmosphere: The restaurant is tucked away in a tiny street of Bordeaux not far from the city center. There are a few tables outside however the restaurant’s interior is a real gem. The interior design is a combination of cute and rustic and reminds me of a chic farm house. The dining room is split into different cozy sections. Nevertheless, on a fresh night in March it is a little chilly and a bit of heating wouldn’t have hurt.
The food: The menu includes beef, lamb and pork. The black pig is a classic on La Tupina’s menu. Starters include frog legs and the inevitable Foie Gras. The menu is nothing for fussy eaters and a true paradise for carnivores. Vegetarians however should better avoid this place. For starters we opt for ham with shalottes which is tasty and order the rib beef with potatoe chips as a main course which is good however nothing special. The list of side dishes is limited to French fries. The food is hearty (skip the calorie counting, girls) however do not expect sophistication; this is straightforward peasant food. The service is amicable and charming.
Conclusion: We can’t help but think that La Tupina is a bit overrated and cannot live up to past glories.
La Tupina, 6 Rue Porte de la Monnaie, 33800 Bordeaux
Brasserie Bordelaise – Located in the center of Bordeaux and nearby its main shopping area this is the perfect place for a lazy lunch after some extensive shopping. Like many places the restaurant is relatively new to Bordeaux. This bubbly place is notoriously crowded and you might be asked to wait 15 minutes until your table is ready. The restaurant itself is gigantic. From the entrance you only see the main dining room however the dining area is split into two floors and can literally host half Bordeaux. The name of the game at Brasserie Bordelaise is meat and we opt for an entrecote and a steak with the inevitable potatoe chips, accompanied by a bottle of Lafite. Wine and food are decent however nothing very elaborate. The service is a bit of a let-down as the waiters seem overwhelmed by the amount of guests.
Conclusion: The wine list is extensive and the casual, laid back atmosphere makes this a good place for lunch.
Brasserie Bordelaise , 50 Rue Saint-Rémi,33000 Bordeaux
Where to stay:
Hotel la Cour Carree is centrally located with a cute patio and small, functional rooms.
La Cour Carree, 5 Rue de Lurbe, 33000 Bordeaux
For desert: Did you know that Bordeaux’s citizens are called Bordelais respectively Bordelaise?