Nightlife in Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

I had a completely misguided perception of what Bordeaux would be like. My friends and I decided to visit so we could enjoy one of France’s most popular wine regions. And based on my previous experience in Napa Valley in California, I assumed Bordeaux would be on the high-end and boring side.

But I couldn’t have been more wrong. It turns out Bordeaux is this beautiful gem of a town full of young people enjoying good food, good wine, and a vibrant nightlife. And aside from maybe Budapest, I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed a city’s nightlife as much as I enjoyed it in Bordeaux.

Since the city is on the small side, all the places to go out are in concentrated, walkable areas. This is basically a prerequisite for me to enjoy the nightlife in any city. Because I hate getting dolled up and taking an Uber somewhere, only to realize it sucks and there are no alternative options around. In Bordeaux, you can start drinking during Happy Hour and switch bars every hour until last call and you won’t have to walk more than 20 feet.

Many of the bars and lounges are restaurants for the majority of the day. So don’t be surprised if you pass by a classy upscale tapas restaurant at 4 pm, and then find it’s been replaced by a rowdy underground club at 10. This also means it’s hard to find a place still serving food if it’s too late in the evening. But if you’re looking for wine, beer, and cocktails it will be plentiful. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).