The right bank across the Pont de Pierre, quieter and residential. L'Oiseau Bleu anchors the food scene, with the Marche de Stalingrad a Sunday alternative.
Cafe du Port in Bordeaux's Bastide is the all-day brasserie under the Pont de Pierre on Quai Deschamps, with a generous fruits-de-mer counter and the best.
Signature: Plateau de fruits de mer, Entrecote, Sole meuniere
Tip: The terrace fills at sunset; book a riverfront table for the floodlit view of Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d'Eau.
La Cape in Cenon, across the Garonne from Bordeaux's Bastide, is Nicolas Magie's bistronomic dining room with classic French luxury cuisine and a terrace.
Signature: Foie gras, Pigeon, Souffle
Tip: Order the souffle course for dessert; the tasting menu prices climb but the lunch formula stays under €50.
L'Oiseau Bleu in Bordeaux's Bastide on the right bank is the Sophie and Frederic Lafon-owned one-Michelin-star room, now led by chef Francois Sauvetre.
Tip: Cross the Pont de Pierre for lunch, when the €65 menu is the best fine-dining value in the city; closed Sundays and Mondays.
Le Prince Noir in Lormont, across the Pont d'Aquitaine from Bordeaux, is chef Vivien Durand's one-Michelin-star room (since 2015) in a glass-and-concrete.
Tip: Allow time for the tram crossing; the terrace from May to September is the best riverside table within fifteen minutes of central Bordeaux.
Marche de Stalingrad in Bordeaux's Bastide is the right-bank Saturday morning market on Place de Stalingrad, with around 40 producers and a calmer.
Tip: Open Saturdays only from 06:00 to 13:30; the producer cheese stalls are the strongest part of the market.
Cafe du Port in Bordeaux's Bastide is the all-night brasserie under Pont de Pierre with kitchen service until midnight, oysters, plateaux and the floodlit.
Try: Oysters and brasserie classics
Order: Plateau de fruits de mer at the terrace
Tip: The terrace is the table to book at sunset; the kitchen takes last orders at 23:00 on weekdays.