For chic clothing and designer shops, go to the couture quarter around place des Grands Hommes and cours de l’Intendance. More high-end goodies, including wine and chocolates, can be found on the Allées de Tourny. For shopping that is easier on the budget, stroll down rue Ste-Catherine, which claims to be the longest pedestrian street in Europe. On either side of this road are two other good finds: the Promenade Saint Catherine and the quirky boutique-style shops on rue du Pas-St-Georges and rue Saint James. Another good budget option is the pleasant riverside outlet shops at the Hangars (also known as the Quai des Marques, quai des Chartrons, www.quaidesmarques.com).
Antiques hunters will want to head to rue Notre-Dame in the Chartrons quarter, which harbors the Village Notre-Dame (https://www.villagenotredame.com/en; tel. 05-56-52-66-13), an indoor antiques market with dozens of stands.
Food hounds can find lots of yummy things at the Marché des Capucins, as well as Le Comptoir Bordelais, 1 bis rue des Piliers de Tutelle (www.lecomptoirbordelais.com; tel. 05-56-79-22-61), a terrific gourmet grocery. Chocoholics will feel compelled to pay their respects at Cadiot-Badie, 26 Allées de Tourny (www.cadiot-badie.com; tel. 05-56-44-24-22), considered the best in the city.
Not surprisingly, wine stores are on just about every corner of the city, many staffed with knowing initiates of the mysteries of the vine. If you want to sigh over rare bottles and legendary vintages, take a spin around Badie, 62 allées de Tourny (www.badie.com; tel. 05-56-52-23-72) or La Vinothèque, 8 cours du 30-Juillet (www.vinotheque-bordeaux.com; tel. 05-57-10-41-41). For a more educational approach, from June to August you can take a 2-hr. class in English on Saturdays (30€) with the Ecole du Vin (Wine School) at the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB), an industry association representing some 8,000 Bordeaux wine producers and growers. It’s easy to find the distinctive flat-iron building at 3 cours du 30-Juillet (www.bordeaux.com; tel. 05-56-00-22-66). Their English-language website is a goldmine of information; be sure to check out their “Wine 101” page for a quick overview. Finally, the CIVB is home to the Bar à Vin, a chic wine-tasting bar where you can sample the local wares from at least half of the region’s 65 appellations.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
