Dessert at Les Belles Perdrix de Troplong Mondot

Eating is almost as important as drinking in Bordeaux, and so we wanted to recommend some of our favourite places…

Les Belles Perdrix de Troplong Mondot

This has to be one of the greatest and most elegant restaurants not only in Bordeaux, but in the whole of France. A Michelin starred restaurant nestled in the vineyards and adjoining the stunning Château Troplong Mondot, Les Belles Perdrix is a truly magical place. Chef David Charrier is a culinary genius and his dishes are absolute works of art, I cannot recommend highly enough. Paired with our main course of line caught whiting with red wine sauce, we had a stunning bottle of 2017 Troplong Mondot – all in all a very special experience.

Address: Château Troplong-Mondot, 33330 Saint-Émilion, France

Point Rouge

Point Rouge advertises itself as a Pub Restaurant, however I would argue it’s a lot more classy than that. On the banks of the Garonne, Point Rouge offers a well thought out modern French menu, an extensive wine list, as well as a wide range of cocktails and spirits. This is a great option for anyone looking to unwind after a long day of tasting, or simply wanting to explore the sophisticated side of Bordeaux night life.

Address: 1 Quai de Paludate, 33800 Bordeaux, France

Moelleuses et Persillées

A Bordeaux stalwart, a meat eater’s trip to the city wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Moelleuses et Persillées steakhouse. A real education in steak, they pride themselves in offering a wide range of exceptional quality meat of varying breeds, each with a different rearing system and ageing time. Each cut is explained table side, and you can choose a range to suit your tastes, our highlight was a beautiful British dairy cow. A special shout out must be made for their truffle mac and cheese, truly second to none.

Address: 65 Quai des Chartrons, 33300 Bordeaux, France

Halles de Bacalan

We spent a beautiful sunny Sunday at the Halles de Bacalan, from cheese and charcuterie plates through to fried chicken, there really is something for everyone here. Unsurprisingly, it also boasts a well-stocked bar fully equipped for those looking to drink Bordeaux as well as from further afield; my highlight from our visit has to be a bottle of 2016 Flor de Pingus. The Halles comes very highly recommended for a casual eating and drinking experience in the heart of the city.

Address: 15 Quai du Maroc, 33300 Bordeaux, France

Aside from the restaurants, during the Primeurs week, a selection of Châteaux put on lunches each day, which are always a great experience for the food-lovers amongst us (which, let’s face it, is the whole team). Our first was at Château Belgrave, who put on a beautiful spread of oysters, white asparagus and tomato tart to start, followed by a tasty chicken pie, and a selection of cheeses – not bad for a working lunch! Our second was at Château Pontet Canet, there was much anticipation surrounding this as they are famed for their ‘cheeseboard of dreams’, and I can confirm it did not disappoint. A smorgasbord of cheeses from across France, I could have spent all afternoon tasting through the hundreds of options on offer.

Last but most certainly not least, on our final day in Bordeaux we had a truly special private lunch at Château Haut Brion. This was somewhat of a ‘pinch me’ few hours, an experience I could of only dreamed of when starting out in the wine trade nearly ten years ago. It goes without saying the food was beautiful, and the wine out of this world. We drank pairs of La Mission Haut Brion and Haut Brion across several vintages, as well as Château Quintus, and a whole host of wines tasted blind (that we guessed with varying success). A lunch that I will remember for the rest of my life.