Brasserie Le Noailles
Fronted by a winter garden opening to a dark timber-panelled interior with red velour booths, this classical French brasserie is an elegant affair, with delicious fare including Le Noaille's signature king prawn salad. Plats du jour (daily specials) are available at dinner as well as lunch.
Cassolette Café
Extremely popular and great value, this is the place to come for hearty French family-style cooking. You can order the ingredients of your cassolette (casserole cooked on a terracotta plate) using a check-off form and your choices appear promptly. Weekend nights have been known to get a bit rowdy with song-singing students, but it's all good fun.
L'Entrecôte
Opened in 1966, this popular, unpretentious place doesn't take reservations. Bordeaux locals queue for hours for its succulent thin-sliced meat heated underneath by tea-light candles and unlimited homemade frites (chips). Leave some room for their famous desserts.
L'Estaquade
Located on the right bank of the Garonne, this delicious fish restaurant has a splendid view over the quais. Built of wood and glass and extended over the river on pilings, it offers the best seafood menu in Bordeaux. The dishes are like works of art and the flavors are subtle.
La Tupina
Highly recommended, La Turpina has managed to preserve the joys of traditional regional cuisine. Whether it be foie gras, lampreys or entrecôte (tender rib steak), the owner, Jean-Pierre Xiradakis, has created his own version of the great classics using high-quality products. The dining room is like a traditional country house right in the heart of the city.
Le Bistrot d'Édouard
There's a great-value three-course menu here that keeps punters coming back. Outside tables are in a calming spot by the fountain in place du Parlement. The owners are charming and the food extremely tasty.
Le Café du Musée
On the rooftop of the stunning CAPC Musée d'Art Contemporain, Le Café du Musée is renowned for its artistic, international cuisine such as satays and stir-fries, and especially its sumptuous Sunday brunch.
Le Croc-Loup
In the elegant Croc-Loup, small lamps and heavy curtains create a discreet and intimate atmosphere that can seem a trifle formal. The menu, however, is highly innovative: squid ravioli with coriander or gigolette of chicken with foie gras - all of the dishes are prepared with great skill and at very reasonable prices.
Moshi Moshi
Moshi Moshi is where Japan meets France head-on in a super-chic, minimalist fashion but where quality food is still the focus. The open kitchen lets you watch its celebrated chefs roll out sushi with unusual twists like foie gras and magret de canard (duck).
Restaurant Baud et Millet
Over 250 different cheeses are offered at this cozy vegetarian-friendly place, with almost as many international wines lining the walls. If too much French cheese is barely enough, try the all-you-can-eat raclette (cheese buffet).
