Nightlife · Bordeaux · France
Bordeaux nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Bordeaux, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Prométhée33, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Bordeaux nightlife centres on wine bars, terraces and student bars rather than big clubs, with a cluster of late-night venues near the river south of Gare Saint-Jean and a club on a boat at Bassins à Flot. The main areas are Saint-Pierre, Victoire, Chartrons, Quai de Paludate and Bassins à Flot.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 5
- Stay near the action
- Saint-Pierre
- Local drink
- Bordeaux red wine
Where to go out
Saint-Pierre
Wine bars and terraces around Place du Parlement and Place Saint-Pierre, busy every evening from spring to autumn.
Victoire
Inexpensive student bars around Place de la Victoire and Cours Pasteur, lively late into the night during term time.
Chartrons
Relaxed wine bars and restaurants along Rue Notre-Dame and the quays, with an older, quieter crowd.
Quai de Paludate
The riverside strip near Gare Saint-Jean where clubs and late bars keep going into the early hours.
Bassins à Flot
Waterside bars and the Iboat, a club and concert venue on a converted ferry moored in the docks.
Nightlife tips
- Trams stop running around midnight to 1am on most nights, with some later services on weekends; check the last tram before you go out.
- Clubs on the Quai de Paludate get going after midnight and are a taxi or long walk from the old town.
- Many wine bars serve food late, making them a good one-stop evening.
Evening sights
Landmark · Saint-Pierre
Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau
Come at dusk, when the floodlit façades reflect in the water; the pool is usually switched off during the colder months.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Photo spot
- After dark
- Couples
Architecture · Triangle d'Or and Quinconces
Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux
A ballet or opera ticket in the upper tiers is often the least expensive way to see the auditorium.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- After dark
Landmark · Saint-Michel
Pont de Pierre
Walk across at sunset and continue along the right-bank Quai des Queyries for the classic panorama of the left bank.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- History
Architecture · Bassins à Flot
Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas
Watch a lift from the Cité du Vin belvedere or the quays if a large ship is due; lifts are announced in advance by the city.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Photo spot
What to drink
- Bordeaux red wine — Most Bordeaux reds are blends: Cabernet Sauvignon dominates on the gravel soils of the left-bank Médoc and Graves, while Merlot leads on the right bank around Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. Everyday Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur are good value by the glass.
- Sauternes — Sweet white wine from Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes affected by noble rot in the misty Sauternes and Barsac area south of the city. Locals drink it with foie gras or blue cheese as well as with dessert.
- Lillet — A wine-based aperitif made since the late 19th century in Podensac, south of Bordeaux, from Bordeaux wines and citrus liqueurs. It is served chilled with ice and an orange slice, or with tonic.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 16°C (61°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:47 | 3°C (37°F) | 12 |
| April | About 20:47 | 7°C (45°F) | 11 |
| July | About 21:46 | 16°C (61°F) | 7 |
| October | About 19:18 | 10°C (50°F) | 11 |
Getting home late
- Walking — The riverside promenade is the most pleasant way to walk between Saint-Michel, Place de la Bourse and Chartrons.
- Tram — Validate your ticket on the platform machine or in the tram each time you board.
- Bus — TBM buses fill in the gaps, including routes to the Basilique Saint-Seurin area and outer districts; the same tickets work on trams, buses and BatCub boats.
Staying safe at night
Bordeaux is generally calm for visitors. Pickpockets work on crowded trams, on Rue Sainte-Catherine and around Gare Saint-Jean, and the streets around the station can feel rough late at night. In summer heatwaves, plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning and evening.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, food lovers and nightlife
Saint-Pierre
Saint-Pierre is the oldest part of Bordeaux, a tight grid of narrow streets behind the riverfront around Place du Parlement and Place Saint-Pierre. The Porte Cailhau gate, the Grosse Cloche and the Miroir d'Eau are all within a few minutes' walk, and the squares fill with restaurant terraces from spring to autumn. Apartments and boutique hotels in old stone buildings are the usual places to stay.
- Good
- Walk to almost every central sight; Dense choice of restaurants and wine bars; Riverfront and Miroir d'Eau on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Terrace noise late into the evening; Many old buildings have stairs and no lift
- Nearby
- Place de la Bourse, Porte Cailhau, Place du Parlement, Grosse Cloche
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Bordeaux?
Saint-Pierre, Victoire and Chartrons. Wine bars and terraces around Place du Parlement and Place Saint-Pierre, busy every evening from spring to autumn.
+Which area of Bordeaux is best for nightlife?
Saint-Pierre: Medieval lanes, café squares and wine bars between Place de la Bourse and the cathedral.