Bordeaux

In 2024 stayed in the town of Bordeaux and went on a couple of wine tours (by Olala). I stayed at the Novotel Bordeaux Centre Gare Saint-Jean which is one tram stop from the train station. I had some very good meals as well.

Wine

In Bordeaux, the tour operator Olala Bordeaux provide excellent tours of the Bordeuax wineries and vineyards, and the towns. I did the half day Margaux tour and the full day St. Emilion tour. They also do tasting workshops in Bordeaux, guided sampling of wines with food pairings.

Olala Bordeaux, 2 ter rue Mably, Bordeaux. Email: contact@olalabordeaux.com. I booked both tours through GetYourGuide.

The Riviera

I've been to Nice, Cannes and Monaco. Nice was nice (ha, ha), Canne was not a place to visit, but I really liked Monaco. 

Restaurants & Food

During my 2024 trip I had four excellent meals, one was in Tbilisi, Georgia at Otsy, and three were in France. At Pedzouille l'Etable, rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, Paris I had a very good steak. It is about a 10 minute walk from Gare du Nord or Gare de l'Est.

At La Tanière, 41 Quai Richelieu, Bordeaux, I had the best meal of my entire two and a half month trip: a Landaise salad which is a salad of romaine and other greens with tomato and a very light dressing (a basic vinaigrette, I believe). This is topped with thinly sliced smoked duck, duck gizzards cooked rare to medium-rare, and a slice of fois gras! Amazing flavours of the duck. Completely unexpected. In Toulouse at the train station I had a very good meal at Ô Mana Brasserie. It was filet de dorade Sébaste et risotto parfumé à la carotte (ocean perch with carrot risotto), and was excellent.

Salade Landaise at La Tanière

filet de dorade Sébaste et risotto parfumé à la carotte at Ô Mana Brasserie

Had very good dim sum at Aux Delices du Commerce, rue de Commerce, Paris.

I visited a great food gourmet food market is La Grande Épicerie de Paris, rue de Sèvres, Paris. (They have a second store at rue de Passy.)

I also found La Maison de l'Escargot, rue de Fondary 79, 5015, Paris. Unfortunately is was closed the days I was there (it is closed Sunday & Monday).

HEAT WAVE

With increasing temperatures in summer, it may be difficult to find a place to eat out of the stifling heat. Air conditioned restaurants are rare and most are in hotels. Here is a list of a few categorized by arrondissement:

1st
English Bar at Hotel Regina €€€
2 Place des Pyramides

4th
Bofinger €€€
5-7 Rue de la Bastille

5th
Assiettes aux Fromages €-€€
25 rue Mouffetard

6th
Café de Flore (upstairs) €€€
172 blvd Saint-Germain

La Closerie de Lilas €€€
171 blvd du Montparnasse

Les Editeurs
4 Carrefour de l’Odeon

7th
Domaine d’Olleac €€-€€€
20 rue Rousselet

8th
L’Avenue €€€€
41 Avenue Montaigne

Les Cocottes Arc de Triomphe €€€ (Michelin rated)
2 Avenue Bertie Albrecht

Madison Blanche €€€€
15 Avenue Montaigne

11th
The Blue Elephant €€€€
45 Rue de la Roquette

14th
Café Bohemia €€-€€€
19 Blvd Edgar Uinet

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From Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, he visits some of the best restaurants and bistros that locals favour. Here are a few he tried and enjoyed:

Le Royal, rue de Grenelle 212, Paris, Anthony went for an excellent breakfast of orange juice, coffee and croissant.

La Tour Montlhéry – Chez Denise, rue des Prouvaires 5, Paris, makes a delicious dish: Blanquette de Veau – big hunks of veal slowly cooked in stock with cream sauce.

For a great baguette and a huge variety of pastries go to Pâtisserie Pinaud Pascal, rue Monge 79, Paris.