A one-day stopover in Bordeaux
What we did and ate: a short guide
On our way from Brittany down to Basque Country for a week long Summer vacation, my husband Marc and I stopped for one day and night in Bordeaux. It was the perfect stopping point: a 5 hour-drive from our home in Lorient, and after just a 2.5-hour drive to Biarritz, our final destination the next day.
We wish we could have stayed longer, but Basque Country awaited us!
We left Brittany by car at 5:00 am and arrived in Bordeaux at 10:00 am, ready to make the most of our day. We explored the whole city by foot, which is completely doable - although comfortable sneakers are required!
We checked in at the beautiful Mondrian Hotel, a five-star gem nestled in Bordeaux's charming Chartrons district. Since it was only one night, we decided to spoil ourselves with a luxurious night in the city. The Mondrian is housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century building, reimagined in 2023 by the renowned designer Philippe Starck.
One of the hotel's standout features is its exclusive restaurant, helmed by Japanese iron chef Masaharu Morimoto - his only venture in Europe. The hotel itself is just magnificent and the rooms were spacious and comfortable. Marc loved the extra-large bed, while I indulged in the spa, complete with a pool, sauna, and hammam.
A truly memorable stay!
We then started our morning visits with a walk down the quieter Chartrons district, where we stumbled onto Halles des Chartrons on a quaint square. We visited the beautiful Saint Louis Church and wandered through the tiny streets of the district, with the cutest cafés and bakeries.
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