Where to Stay and Eat in Gironde

The region’s best restaurants and hotels, including some more unusual spots from fairy tale castles to tree cabins…

Related articles: Raise a Glass to Gironde
12 Châteaux You Must Visit in Bordeaux Wine Country
Things to See and Do in Gironde

RESTAURANTS AND CAFÉS

Café de la Plage Chez Pierre

The menu at this Arcachon institution honours the fresh, local seafood (check out the king prawns and divine oysters), while also showcasing the classics, such as foie gras and beautifully tender duck.You can sit outside even on a chilly day, thanks to its outdoor heaters and canopy. www.cafedelaplage.com/chez-pierre

Château d’Agassac

Move over Disneyland, you can’t get more fairy tale than the magical Château d’Agassac, with its beautiful turrets and classic grounds. This Haut-Médoc château, dating back to the 13th century, serves fine food
and excellent wines in its small and delightfully bustling dining room. You’ll feel as if you have travelled back in time. www.agassac.com

La Chapelle at Château Guiraud

It only opened its doors in February and is already packed with locals, a sure sign of good food. Under the auspices of Nicolas Lascombes, fine dining doesn’t get finer than this. The menu is mouthwatering and each dish is heavenly. With vast windows looking out over the vineyard, it is a stunning place to relax and enjoy the very best of French cuisine. www.chateauguiraud.com

Château Haut-Bailly

Relax in this breathtaking setting and enjoy hand-crafted, witty food from the in-house chef, who specialises in producing plates to match the château’s fantastic Cru Classé wines. Service is impeccable, the décor and surrounding grounds faultless and, although pricey, it’s worth every penny. www.haut-bailly.com

Chapon Fin

Fancy somewhere interesting to eat in Bordeaux? Try the Chapon Fin with its 15th-century vaulted cellar. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest restaurant in the city – one of the first to boast three stars – and was once a favourite of actress Sarah Bernhardt. www.chapon-fin.com

HOTEL

Hôtel Bayonne Etche-Ona

Despite being in the heart of Bordeaux, it is beautifully quiet with stylish, comfortable rooms, helpful staff and a delicious breakfast. www.bordeaux-hotel.com

B&B AND CHAMBRES D’HÔTES

Château du Payre

The estate in Cardan has been passed down from mother to daughter for five generations, which is quite unique in Aquitaine viticulture. With a Best of Wine Tourism award, Château du Payre has been in the current owner’s family since 1881 and oozes old-world charm. You are sure of a warm welcome, wonderful wine and plenty of food. www.chateau-du-payre.fr

Château Le Pape

For sheer style, check out this château in Léognan. In a tranquil setting overlooking a nine-hectare vineyard, just 15km from Bordeaux, it’s been transformed into modern luxury while retaining the charm of the 18th-century estate. Half a mile from Château Haut-Bailly, it’s part of its estate. www.haut-bailly.com

Le Chalet Lyrique

Based in Gradignan, this is a far more casual affair in a vibrant suburb of Bordeaux. With a public bar and restaurant serving good-value meals, it’s bustling with locals, and yet the rooms are surprisingly quiet. www.chalet-lyrique.fr

Château la Renommée

In Saint-Laurent-des-Combes, a stone’s throw from Saint-Émilion, this château offers a bright and airy four-star gîte with modern rooms ideal for a family. This setting boasts a pool overlooking the vineyards, a large lounge with open fire, stylish kitchen and all rooms have their own bathrooms. la-renommee.pagesperso-orange.fr

Préchac Park

Less than an hour south of Bordeaux, Préchac Park is a large comfortable house in the heart of a pretty village. Set in a two-acre park bordering the square, this charming B&B offers three large, beautifully decorated en-suite rooms. Meals are prepared using local produce and served in the dining room opening onto the park. prechac-park.com

CAMPING AND QUIRKY DIGS

Camping des Pins

This campsite at Soulac-sur-Mer is ideal for surfing, bodyboarding, sailing and the like. It’s the perfect location from which to discover the Médoc peninsula and its vineyards, the pine forests, cycle paths and vast beaches. There is a pool, whirlpool bath and clubs for children and teenagers. www.campingdespins.fr

La Cabane Landaise

In the heart of a vineyard in Graves and surrounded by 200 hectares of parkland, four cabins perch among the trees. Each has two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and small sitting room. Perfect if you’re an animal lover – watch out for the Scottish Blackface sheep. www.lescabanesdesarah.com

From France Today magazine