Leaning back in my chair, the balmy afternoon heat soaking into my bones, I take in my surroundings. Tucked down a tiny laneway, I seem to be the only foreigner sitting in this tiny, traditional brasserie. In fact, its mere mention is enough to make you reach for a wine glass and a cheese platter. In the last decade Bordeaux has gone through a hefty makeover to become one of the most beautiful and interesting destinations in the continent.
For hungry and thirsty travellers looking to break new ground before word gets out, Bordeaux is a discerning choice. Regarded as the bedrock of the fine wine market and a benchmark for winemakers around the world, in Bordeaux the grape is god. A vast region with some 65 appellations, the first cabernet sauvignon and merlot vines originated in Bordeaux and now more than 85 per cent of Bordeaux wines are red wines made with merlot and cabernet sauvignon.
Indeed, the red Bordeaux blend is one of the most copied in the world. The focus here is great produce — and lots of it.
Local Bordelais come here for their morning coffee and for long weekend lunches with friends over a bottle of wine. Providing a visual and edible feast in one, guests can enjoy panoramic views from 30 metres up as they devour a tasty menu of dishes made using locally sourced seasonal products.
Situated on an upper level of the Place de la Bourse, various menus are available, but if you want to go all-out then the five-stage Saturn menu is a good call. Think sea urchins with foie gras cream, langoustines from Brittany, Aquitaine caviar, and gourmet cheeses hand-selected from an actual cheese room. And one of the best is Au Bistro. Located in the Saint-Pierre district in the heart of the historic town centre, the bustling Brasserie Bordelaise is a real Bordeaux institution.
