Le Clou de Louis

In his new restaurant, chef Tanguy Laviale (previously at Garopapilles) is calmly going about extricating himself from the traditional codes of gastronomy – with the help of his associate, Maxime Courvoisier, a sommelier who thinks outside of the box. Imagine: a short menu, comprising just eight dishes to be mixed and matched as you please (four or five of these small plates amount to a meal). The talented chef's technical approach always hits the mark, from the judicious combinations to the quality produce enhanced without any showboating, not to mention the impeccable garnishes and seasoning

On the lively Chartrons market square, this pretty stone building is the newest and latest establishment of chef Philippe Etchebest, also behind Bordeaux’ Quatrième Mur. Guests are greeted like old friends and immediately feel at home in this tasteful, welcoming interior. Philippe’s unwavering commitment to good food and to working only with top local produce shines through and is clearly shared by his talented team. The tasting menu, entirely seasonal, features a few of his signature dishes, such as ravioles of mushrooms and sautéed foie gras, as well as some exquisite vegetarian recipes. Wel

She hails from Brittany, he is from Sardinia, they met in Corsica... and now they run a small restaurant in Bordeaux that punches above its weight. The chef's dishes are precise and always inspired, especially when they home in on first-rate ingredients: langoustines, spider crab, bluefin tuna and pigeon. Expect very contemporary cuisine, bursting with flavours and littered with references to Italy (put it down to the chef's origins), without ever lapsing into nostalgia or getting caught up in proclamations of identity. The tasting menus change every week depending on the chef's inspiration. I

British chef Gordon Ramsay (born in Scotland) is a true culinary talent who has already been awarded three Michelin stars in England. He signs off on Le Pressoir d'Argent's menu who breathes a touch of modernity into the classic cuisine. It all comes together to enhance that French art de vivre – the opulent and refined decor and ultra competent service, the celebration of the finest ingredients from the abundant Bordeaux and Aquitaine region (foie gras, truffles, caviar, fish)… and the solid silver Christofle lobster press that is moved from table to table. The competence of the three sommeli

Slightly out of the bustling city centre, this smart, yet subdued façade reveals a comfortably cosy interior. The chef, Victor Ostronzec has been honing his undeniable talent here since 2016. He stands out from the crowd with his technical, creative cuisine and often inspired plating, and always has something new to offer up his sleeve. His desire to astound is embodied by the fact that he only offers surprise menus in the evening. The polished front of house team adds the final flourish to this culinary portrait.

A chic, cosy bistro vibe reigns in the restaurant of Grenoble-born chef, Fabien Beaufour, who has stints in some of the finest Michelin-starred restaurants in France (Anne-Sophie Pic in Valence and Patrick Henriroux in Vienne), as well as New York and London, under his belt. So, it's hardly surprising that his cooking is unorthodox and globe-trotting. Big-boned, contrasting flavours and spot-on cooking and seasonings. Signature dishes include a delicious miso-glazed black cod, slow-cooked on a robatayaki, crispy sweetbread and a passion fruit Grenobloise sauce or a trompe l’œil Piedmont hazeln

In a chic district of Bordeaux, between Allées de Tourny and Place des Grands-Hommes, chef Alexandre Baumard (ex Logis de la Cadène in Saint-Émilion and L'Observatoire du Gabriel) presides over this elegant two-storey restaurant. Courtesy of a tasting menu (dinnertime only), the legible, delicate cuisine showcases quality ingredients, mainly fish and seafood, that are precisely and creatively prepared, e.g. plancha grilled squid, flanked by a rustic slice of Grenier médocain (local cured meat). Damien Amilien's desserts, as delicious as they are high-flying, continue in this subtle vein – illu