Raise a glass to a gourmet break in Bordeaux
The Unesco Heritage French city of Bordeaux maybe best known for its pedestrianised boulevards and restored neoclassical architecture, but it’s also a great destination for gourmands.
Sybarites looking to sample Bordeaux’s exceptional dining scene would do well to check into InterContinental® Bordeaux – Le Grand Hotel.
Located in the heart of the city, opposite the majestic Bordeaux Opera House, this haute hotel boasts no fewer than five wine concierges – all of whom can provide guests with exclusive access to some of Bordeaux’s most prestigious vineyards, which are traditionally closed to the public.
But it’s not all about oenophiles…. Cocktail lovers will be in seventh heaven too thanks to the hotel’s Night Beach Rooftop Bar. Boasting 360 degree postcard perfect views over the city rooftops, the bar offers an array of carefully curated signature cocktails (and appetisers) served with a side of music. Don’t miss the Harvey Wallbanger cocktail – although it arguably looks more like a delectable dessert than a drink. Made with the local (gluten free) French vodka, Pyla Vodka, (which is filtered through oceanic sand of Pyla dune of Arcachon Bay, 45 minutes away from Bordeaux), it’s summer in a glass.
Of course all that drinking will make you hungry so, when hunger pangs, look to Le Pressoir d’Argent – Gordon Ramsay’s Michelin-starred restaurant whose name derives from the extremely rare presence of a solid silver lobster press (one of only five in the world) in the dining room. “To have a restaurant in the wine capital of France with its world-class vineyards and glorious regional produce is extremely exciting,” enthuses the celebrity chef.
Yet while food and wine is always a great reason to travel, there’s more to a stay at the Intercontinental® Bordeaux – Le Grand Hotel than supping and sipping. Sybarites can sign up for a guided bike tour to La Cite du Vin – a striking building shaped to resemble the movement of wine in glass….
Sante!
By Kaye Holland
