French bistro€€chartrons
Chez Dupont on Rue Notre-Dame in the Chartrons is the rustic stone-walled neighbourhood bistro run by the same couple since 1988, with retro posters.
Signature: Daily plat du jour, Magret de canard, Aquitaine cheese plate
Tip: Continuous service Monday-Saturday from 12:00 to 23:00; Sunday lunch only.
French bistro€€bacalan
Bistrot Maurice on Quai de Bacalan overlooks the Gironde river in Bordeaux's Chartrons-Bacalan corridor, with 18 seats in a warm wood-and-stone room.
Signature: Revisited bistro classics, Seasonal market plates, Daily plat du jour
Tip: Book ahead for the terrace in good weather; lunch service is the quieter slot.
French regional€€€saint-pierre
La Tupina in Bordeaux's Saint-Pierre district is the southwestern French institution founded by Jean-Pierre Xiradakis in 1968, now led by chef Franck Audu.
Signature: Entrecote a la bordelaise, Tricandilles, Sanguette
Tip: Sit near the open fire for the tricandilles; the lunch formula is a serious value if you book ahead for noon on a weekday.
Seafood€€saint-pierre
Le Petit Commerce in Bordeaux's Saint-Pierre is the Rue du Parlement seafood institution, with raw oysters from Arcachon and grilled fish from the Atlantic.
Signature: Atlantic oysters, Grilled sardines, Lampreys in season
Tip: Order the oysters by the half-dozen and the grilled pulpitos; the terrace gets the most light from 12:30 onwards.
Natural wine bistro€€saint-pierre
Soif in Bordeaux's Saint-Pierre is Cecile Lambre and Nico Lefevre's natural-wine and small-plate bistro on Rue du Cancera, with around 350 low-intervention.
Signature: Pate en croute, Calf's head ravigote, Charcuterie boards
Tip: Pull up a stool at the windowed wine collection; the chalkboard menu changes daily and runs until they sell out.
Bistronomic€€€chartrons
Symbiose in Bordeaux's Chartrons is the bistronomic dining room and speakeasy on Quai des Chartrons, run by four young partners with seasonal small plates.
Signature: Tasting menu, Sea-driven small plates, Speakeasy cocktails
Tip: Book the dinner sitting; the cocktail bar behind the bookshelf takes walk-ins only and stays open until 01:00.