The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in Bordeaux

Les Sources de Caudalie is set in a 600-year-old vineyard
Les Sources de Caudalie is set in a 600-year-old vineyard | Courtesy of Hôtel Les Sources de Caudalie / Expedia.com
Callum Davies

The city of Bordeaux, in southwest France, is best known as the wine capital of the world – and it offers plenty of opportunities for vineyard tours and tastings. Once you’ve wandered the hills of nearby Saint-Emilion and Médoc, delve into local winemaking history at Musée du Vin et du Négoce and La Cité du Vin. Not a oenophile? There are many other reasons to visit this beautiful port town, from the photogenic Place de la Bourse to the gothic Cathédrale Saint-André and the Bordeaux Museum of Fine Arts. Boutique hotels in Bordeaux are often located in historic buildings and offer a true essence of life here – read on to discover some of the best, all bookable with Culture Trip.

1. Hôtel Les Sources de Caudalie, for oenophiles

Boutique Hotel, Spa Hotel

An all-white room at Hôtel Les Sources de Caudalie with a double bed, dining table, and vaulted ceilings.
Courtesy of Hôtel Les Sources de Caudalie / Expedia.com
This boutique hotel in Bordeaux was one of the first in the city to capitalise on wine tourism. The vineyard it sits in has been operating for more than 600 years, but the hotel was constructed in 1999 using parts from derelict farms in the area. The 43 rooms and suites are split across several buildings, with antique and modern touches making for an attractive mix. The hotel also offers two pools, tours of the vat room, cooking classes and a spa offering grape seed-infused “vineotherapy” treatments.

2. Hôtel Singulier Bordeaux, for rooftop views

Boutique Hotel

The rooftop lounge at Hôtel Singulier Bordeaux, with cushioned seats, black railings and a city view.
Courtesy of Hôtel Singulier Bordeaux / Expedia.com

Located close to Place Gambetta square and the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle park, this boutique hotel boasts stunning views from its bijou rooftop bar. Below, you’ll find just eight rooms, but this intimacy simply adds to the charm. From neutral beige to soothing pastels to rich emerald green, each room and suite has a unique colour scheme and some come with in-room free-standing bathtubs.

3. Hôtel de Tourny, for calming decor

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

A seating area at Hôtel de Tourny with light-wood floors, walls and tables; rattan chairs and lampshades; and a potted plant.
Courtesy of Hôtel de Tourny / Expedia.com
If you want to be close to the action, Hôtel de Tourny fits the bill. This two-mansion conversion is right in the heart of Bordeaux, with luxury suites in the first building and double rooms in the second. All 15 rooms have a Scandi-chic look that’s subtle enough not to clash with the 18th-century shell. Natural materials and neutral colours reign supreme, both in the rooms and in the indoor and outdoor lounge areas, as well as the breakfast bar.

5. Yndō Hotel, for old meets new

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

A white and orange suite at Yndō Hotel with a breakfast bar, a table and chairs, and a double bed tucked behind a silver curtain.

Prepare to be wowed by the Yndō hotel, a 19th-century limestone mansion that has been painstakingly transformed into a dazzling five-star hotel. French elegance defines every room and the warm welcome provided by the staff will make you feel instantly at home. The highly Instagrammable interiors combine original features with modern statement pieces. The restaurant is just as well curated as the rooms, with artfully presented dishes made using local ingredients.

6. Le Boutique Hôtel Bordeaux, for living history

Boutique Hotel, Suite Hotel, Winery with Rooms

A room at Le Boutique Hôtel Bordeaux with powder-blue panelled walls, a double bed, and a red seat next to a large window.
© Bordeaux Tourisme

This boutique hotel in Bordeaux was once the home of a minister to Louis XVIII. The 25-room property is not only a piece of living history, it’s also one of the most desirable small hotels in the city, located right next door to the Triangle d’Or. Though contemporary, the decor manages to bridge the gap between the 18th and 21st centuries, so that the whirlpool tubs and Nespresso machines don’t look out of place next to grand staircases and stonework. The hotel also has a wine and tapas bar, and a bountiful breakfast buffet.

7. Mama Shelter, for orchestrated madness

Boutique Hotel, Chain Hotel

The restaurant at Mama Shelter Bordeaux with mish-mash decor, including colourful sofas, a black ceiling covered in writing and artwork on the walls.
Courtesy of Mama Shelter Bordeaux / Expedia.com

If you’re looking for an ultra-hip hangout in Bordeaux, this boutique hotel is the place to be. It takes over the former headquarters of Gaz de France, commonly referred to as the Gas Tower. The post-industrial vibe is certainly eye-catching, and weird and wonderful touches like strings of rubber rings and teapot-shaped hanging lights characterise the common areas. Meanwhile, all of the 97 rooms have wall-mounted Macs, Proust quotes painted on the ceiling, free movies and organic toiletries. There’s a casual restaurant and a vibrant rooftop terrace bar, a basement lounge and even a crêperie.

8. L'Hôtel Particulier, for the great location

Boutique Hotel, Suite Hotel, Hotel

This boutique hotel enjoys perhaps the best location of any in Bordeaux, sandwiched between the Cathedral and Grand Theatre. The 19th-century building fits perfectly with its neighbours, while the interiors inject a touch of modernity. The rooms range from singles to apartments, and the style ranges from classical to contemporary, depending on what you plump for. As well as a hearty breakfast served in the period dining room, complimentary cakes and fruit are offered in the afternoon, and macaroons are sent to the rooms in the evening.

9. Seeko'o Hôtel Design Bordeaux, for atypical design

Boutique Hotel, Suite Hotel, Business Hotel, Hotel

A room at Seekoo Hôtel Design Bordeaux with a blue paint-effect carpet and a double bed surrounded by huge slanting windows.
Courtesy of Seeko'o Hôtel Design Bordeaux / Expedia.com

When it first opened in 2004, this boutique hotel in Bordeaux stood out for its futuristic look. Years later, it’s fair to say that its atypical design actually set the tone of the Bassin à Flot’s neighbourhood. Indeed, it perfectly blends with the nearby Cap Sciences building and the avant-garde Cité du Vin. All the rooms are designed as loft spaces, ensuring all the comfort you need during your trip. If you’re travelling with a special someone, take a romantic walk on the Quai des Marques and dine at a restaurant beside the Garonne River.

10. Le Domaine de Raba, for a country retreat

Boutique Hotel, Suite Hotel

A pool at Le Domaine de Raba with sliding doors opening to a wooden deck with lounge chairs.
Courtesy of Le Domaine de Raba / Expedia.com

For a change of scenery, this 18th-century chateau on the outskirts of Bordeaux comes highly recommended. It’s home to five exquisitely appointed bedrooms with lounge areas in the original guesthouse. If you fancy something a little different, book one of the four safari-style tents. These quirky lodges come with private terraces next to the lake. Although the hotel is small, it packs in the facilities with three restaurants, a bar, a cinema, a salon, a pinewood spa, an indoor pool and serene gardens to explore.

Jennifer Migan contributed additional reporting to this article.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
Edit article