The Bordeaux region is located in southwestern France, about two hours by train from Paris. The name itself has been synonymous with wine production for centuries: over 700 million bottles of 65 different appellations are produced annually, in a wide range of styles and price ranges. Home to some of the most respected vineyards in the world, the region is well established as a pilgrimage point for wine travelers from around the world. But what about coffee?
Well – not long ago it was exclusively the domain of “Café à la française”, and functional, often disappointing cappuccino or espresso could be found in PMU, tobacco and bookmaker’s bars or local bistros. It was certainly a useful experience, but far from culinary. But luckily, this has changed quite quickly over the last decade, and as a result, the coffee scene in Bordeaux has really changed. Bordeaux may be a few years behind Paris or Lyon, but it is quickly catching up.
Some attribute this boom to the advent of the bullet train and the influx of Parisians, but it’s critical that we attribute it to an fascinating, flavor-focused Bordelais. It’s actually the sixth largest city in France, with a proper coffee scene, as you’ll see in our up-to-date guide below. Trendy cafes, high-quality roasteries and well-trained and well-traveled baristas have helped develop the coffee culture here, and indeed, Bordeaux’s unique scene is a real sense of community among those who take photos: a tight network of over 170 coffee professionals, connected via their own WhatsApp group, providing support. knowledge and camaraderie. It’s secure to say that this community shapes a coffee culture as opulent, diverse and distinctly Bordelais as the wines that made Bordeaux celebrated.
Piha Cafe
In a cafe in Bordeaux, Filled it used to feel like an oasis in a droughty coffee landscape. Today, as one of the city’s leading roasteries, it supplies coffee beans to many of Bordeaux’s best cafés and restaurants, while also providing other services such as being the exclusive distributor and installer It proves it roastery brand in France.
The cafe itself is a place where you can spend a nice day. With no Wi-Fi and no technology, the cozy interior is a fantastic place to write offline, and the outdoor seating is definitely one of the best viewing spots in the city.
The service here is impeccable. The baristas are warm and well-informed, guiding guests through flavors, origins and processes without pretense or intimidation. Piha offers three main lines: Bio, a basic and organic option with a more classic profile; Café de Ferme, a farm-level line known for its fruity and floral notes; and Micro or Nano Lot, a complicated, small-batch selection for the connoisseur or simply curious. When possible, they work directly with producers and organize regular tastings, deepening the connection between the cup and the craft.
Blacklist Cafe
If it weren’t for the vivid yellow stools and tables in front of the cafe, you could easily walk right past it Blacklist as it blends in with many cafes, shops and restaurants on a diminutive stretch just before the tram line, opposite Bordeaux Cathedral. But once you know, you know.
Founded in overdue 2010, Black List is one of the oldest specialty cafés in Bordeaux and has undoubtedly helped pave the way for the city’s current coffee culture. Inspired by Fresh York shops, it’s confined and miniature – really confined, with seating for just 15 people on a long wooden bench running along the wall and a few full tables (it’s awkward to enter with a backpack). What it lacks in space, however, it makes up for with opulent, polished coffee from a local roastery Bakery Heaven and Irish 3fe coffeeand tasty treats, delicious brunches (the best Eggs Benedict in town, hands down) and grab-and-go sandwiches, all made on-site in the oh-so-small kitchen in the back.
The Blacklist has a lot to offer, but the icing on the cake is the fact that it is the only specialty café open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Musette bikes and coffee
Out of the way, Musette this is an isolated case in southern Bordeaux, where it is closest to a café tobacco (tobacco shops) or hookah cafes. Although tranquil, this is not a café for those looking to pitch a tent; as the name and graphics suggest, Musette is aimed at bike enthusiasts who love a good brew.
Founded by expatriates Rob Lawrence (US) and Christopher Cooley (UK), Musette was inspired by the bike cafes they knew in London and the States, and was “the perfect combination of two things I loved,” says Lawrence. Creating your own blends with people from Alchemistthey shoot at a Faema E61chosen not only for its quality and elegant appearance, but also because of the Italian company’s deep connections with the bicycle world. In the 1960s, Faema sponsored legends such as Eddy Merckx, whose jersey hangs on Musette’s wall.
Although most of Musette’s customers are cyclists, the place has also become a local destination. With a few wooden benches along the Cours de la Somme, a few tables inside and a diminutive patio at the back, there’s nothing else like it in Bordeaux.
DRINK COFFEE
On a chilly, rainy morning, DRINK COFFEE bustling with life, tightly packed with a adolescent, hip crowd. Tucked away on a tranquil street just off Place Gambetta, it’s clear that this has become one of the cafes here in Bordeaux. The stylish café has everything you could want: premium coffee from Paris KB Coffee Roastersa well-selected breakfast menu, heavenly pastries (all made on site) and thoughtful seating. At the back, long benches create a community atmosphere, while at the front there are smaller tables for more privacy. There is also a café, perfect for watching the baristas at work or catching up with owners Thomas and Ninon Labroue.
Bordeaux native Thomas Labroue spent years working at KB Coffee Roasters in Paris before he and Ninon returned home in 2019 with the dream of opening their own place. However, the pandemic thwarted their plans. After staying in Piha and years of searching, they finally found the right place in 2023 and spent months renovating it. Although the name Moko comes from Maori, the decor is very retro Fresh York. Thomas tells me that he saved a menu board from an ancient movie theater and deliberately altered it. Opened just over a year ago, in July 2024, Moko feels less like a newcomer and more like a Bordeaux classic in the making.
4ᶱ Coffee wave
Tucked between the classic shops and fancy boutiques of the historic Chartrons district, you’ll find 4ᶱ Vague Café and Espresso Bar. On vivid, shining days, wooden benches and long tables overlook the street, while on rainy days there’s only a lone stool or two. Inside, the atmosphere is laid-back with subtle surf-inspired decor, a little nod to the islands that inspire it.
4ᵉ Vague, run by banker and barista Damien Ricard, is a passion project run by him. Inspired by the London cafés he once worked in, he wanted to bring the same energy to his hometown of Bordeaux. Because he is Hawaiian, his interests are both personal and scarce: he presents Hawaiian coffee, mainly Kona, Ka’u and Maui, imported directly from the islands. These valuable, high-quality beans are challenging to find in France, making 4ᶱ Vague a destination for coffee lovers.
The classics here, espresso, macchiato, flat white, are always combined with Hawaiian coffees. You’ll find two options: a blend of 10% Hawaiian and 90% South American beans, and a 100% Hawaiian blend that changes monthly. Those who prefer something different can opt for a filtered brew, try a nitro chilly brew or a coffee of the month, such as a peanut butter latte.
L’Alchemiste café and roastery
No guide to Bordeaux’s coffee scene would be complete without this guide L’Alchemiste café and roastery. A true institution that has been at the heart of the city’s specialty coffee movement since 2014. Today, with its two cafés and accompanying boutiques, L’Alchimiste also serves as a training center and supplier to many of Bordeaux’s best restaurants and shops.
Their flagship café in the heart of Bordeaux, unveiled in 2017, set the tone. Opened in 2020, Café Darwin on Rive Droite has expanded its reach. Home to a roastery and retail shop, Barista Gabriel Squarcioni says it provides a quieter, more local atmosphere, while the downtown location still draws crowds.
Over the years, L’Alchimiste turned to education. From helping customers in coffee shops to running workshops and professional training courses, he is a cornerstone of the coffee community in Bordeaux.
The city center location is tucked away from the busy pedestrian streets, offering a tranquil spot with a diminutive patio out front. The coffee is unique, Of coursetop-class service and an unmistakable overall impression: you are in very good hands.
