13 Best Hotels in Bordeaux and the Wine Country, France

Close to the ramparts, this 19th-century hotel has a gorgeous, white-shuttered facade that blends in beautifully with St-Émilion's stonework. Public areas have vineyard views, and guest rooms (some with exposed stone walls, others with bright murals) range from pint-size to generously proportioned; Rooms 2, 3, 7, and 8 overlook the small garden.

Though the clean-lined, contemporary interior of this 17th-century, stone-faced, wine-producing mansion may not speak to everyone, the vines growing right up to the property, the luxury rooms, the sommelier's dream of a wine cellar (with more than 200 different Champagnes alone), and the celebrated restaurant are definite inducements. The restaurant's talented young chef, Julien Lefebvre, easily makes up for any inconsistencies in what some might call a blandly modern atmosphere, and the château's own cru bourgeois is a wine worth getting to know.

Magically set on a circular moat, fitted out with a storybook turret, and cloaked in ivy, this manor house is one of the most charming lodging options to be found between St-Émilion and Bordeaux—and it's also one of the oldest estates: the English warlord Edward, Prince of Wales (aka the "Black Prince"), reputedly set up shop here in the 14th century during England's Hundred Years War with France. The spacious guestrooms are in a range of styles from Empire to 19th-century romantic.

In an elegant 1840 town house near the Grand Théâtre, this hotel has sober but well-kept rooms of varying sizes, all with air-conditioning. Believe it or not, Richard Wagner once stayed here—unfortunately, you'll never know it from the uninspired furnishings.

A giant furry toy dog mascot greets you in the very chic lobby of this latest addition to the city's hotel portfolio. Rooms are unfussily stylish, with perks that include coffeemakers and a supply of designer coffees, fluffy bathrobes, and universal USB port chargers with both US and UK sockets. To reduce the hotel's carbon footprint, there are shared kitchenettes on each floor in place of in-room minibars, with fridges stocked with complimentary soft drinks. Staff are young, hip, and friendly and the restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner as well as breakfast, has a short but imaginative menu.

Presiding over the picturesque vineyards encircling St-Émilion, this fairy-tale Belle Époque château has gorgeous guest rooms that are at once classic and contemporary (for the full storybook experience, ask for one in the main 19th-century building rather than the modern luxury annex). Biking distance from the medieval town center, the property also includes surrounding parkland, gardens, and an excellent spa, making it the ideal place to enjoy the good life while investigating St-Émilion's best vintages. The château's restaurant is equally magical with its stained-glass-domed dining rooms.

Flaunting a unique interior design masterminded by Alberto Pinto and an elite location in the upper part of town, just across the way from the famous Église Monolithe, this stunning Italianate mansion has long been considered the top hotel in St-Émilion. Public areas and appealing guest rooms are a symphony of tangerines, beiges, and blacks; many rooms come with their own terrace overlooking the tile roofs of the town. Four rooms and one suite are located in the picturesque Residence Pavie, set amid vines two miles from St-Émilion, while the Suite House, located on a cobbled street a five-minute walk from the main reception desk, comprises seven contemporary-styled suites. The hotel's restaurant, La Table de Pavie, (closed Sunday and Monday) boasts two Michelin stars and there's also a less formal wine bar and restaurant, L'Envers du Décor. 

Built over the remains of ancient Roman cellars (which also can be visited) on a typically traffic-free street, this small hotel has few frills but a fascinating history. Rooms are compact but well-laid out while the Continental breakfast is more than adequate. Major sights are within walking distance, and there are lots of restaurants and cafés a few steps from the front door.

Festooned in luxury fabrics and 18th-century furnishings, this posh extravaganza, designed by France's überchic Jacque Garcia, put Bordeaux back on the world scene with its veritable army of restaurants and bars, along with a swanky Roman bath–inspired spa—all just steps from the city's Golden Triangle shopping district. If anyone can redefine and resurrect Bordelais style it is Garcia: for this complex of buildings, anchored by a historic palais, he took inspiration from the gilded Opéra National de Bordeaux, just across the square. Go all out and get a room high up with a theater view.

Northwest of the city center, the street-front door of this inconspicuous boutique hotel opens onto a quiet courtyard that once served as a relay stable for carriages and today provides a welcome respite for modern travelers seeking urban tranquility. Inside the 18th-century building, antique tiles and well-worn parquet floors contrast nicely with the ultramodern style of the lounge and dining room; in the guest rooms, however, the minimalist modern theme feels a tad too minimal.

Once a relay station for weary travelers on an ancient Gallo-Roman path, this grand cru classé property has a choice of comfortable guest rooms, including a unique tree house with a beautiful view over the vineyards. A state-of-the-art seminar room, tasting room, welcome center, and animated tour of their underground cellar (remnants from an 11th-century limestone excavation) make it an interesting base for a few days of wine discovery and relaxation.

At the heart of Bordeaux's pedestrian center, this fully modernized hotel—in a 19th-century building in the old part of town—has compact, deep-tone rooms, and a helpful reception staff. It's the place to stay if you want businesslike contemporary comfort without original character.

A 15-minute ferry ride across the other side of the Garonne estuary takes you to the pretty waterfront town of Blaye, where this welcoming hotel is located. It can make a convenient base for visiting the whole Bordeaux region. The spacious and comfortable rooms in this restored 1860s townhouse are well-equipped but not extravagant, so you can focus on what you really came for—wine. There are also five cozy, quirkily decorated self-catering apartments The gracious English-speaking hosts organize down-to-earth wine tours and tell all in their "debunking of wine" classes.