Bordeaux Restaurants

Although Bordeaux is primarily known as the wine capital of the world, it also has an excellent cuisine. By combining the specialties of the three neighbouring regions of Perigord, Landes and Gironde, the city’s foods blend some of France’s richest and most diverse culinary styles. The wine which makes Bordeaux famous also provides the base for some of its most delicious dishes such as sturgeon cooked in white wine (esturgeon a la libournaise) and local fish cooked with red wine (lampoire a la bordelaise). Although the Bordeaux region is one of the few parts of France that does not produce cheese, it specialises in amazing deserts and candies. Its creperies are also renowned and La Crepe d’Or is the city’s best spot to indulge in a truly divine crepe.

Local cuisine

The presence and role of the fresh food market in Bordeaux is the driving force behind its cuisine. The city has more than 20 large markets full of the freshest meats, seafood and produce imaginable. It is certainly worth the effort to visit one or two of these markets to get the feel of how the people of this city go about preparing their food. The character of each market is unique to its neighbourhood’s demographics. Some are fairly small affairs, while others, such as the Marche des Capucins, are massive. This latter market, also known locally as the ‘Capus’, has been supplying Bordeaux’s restaurants and retailers for over 300 years. The Capus market bursts into life in the early hours of the morning as chefs and grocers from all over the city come to stock up for the day. It has a fantastic pre-dawn atmosphere and is well worth the trip if you’re willing to get up early.

Where to eat

When speaking about dining in Bordeaux, it would be unfair not to mention the importance of wine. The region boasts more than 7,000 chateaux with more than 100,000 vineyards producing some 70 million gallons of wine each year. A good bottle of Bordeaux red is a vital component to any meal in this city, so don’t miss out on enjoying some of the best wine in the world, right at its source.