Le Boutique Hotel

This charming boutique hotel is housed in a neo-Renaissance mansion packed with historic character. The owners, Christophe and Marianna Grant-San Jose, have done a fine job of preserving the historic features while also incorporating contemporary touches. The stone walls and parquet floors combine with designer furniture and objects from Philippe Starck, Kartell, and Eichholtz. Guests enter the hotel through huge ornately carved wooden doors, and the classic features continue in the small lobby, with a basket weave-tiled floor and an ornate iron-and-wood banister flanking a circular staircase. Thankfully for claustrophobes, the tiny elevator has glass walls. A love seat and a couple of chairs give guests a place to perch if they need to linger in the compact lobby. Most of the socializing occurs in the hotel's wine bar and outdoor terrace, popular spaces for locals and guests to mix. Overall, this is a polished, sophisticated hotel that draws mostly couples, but a few families and small groups of friends pass through as well.

This hotel is situated in the heart of Bordeaux, flanked by other classical mansions. It is close to the Place Gambetta, while the Grand Theatre tram stop, Palais Rohan, and the Bordeaux Cathedral are all less than 10 minutes away on foot. Numerous shops, restaurants, and wine bars are within walking distance, including the Michelin-starred Le Pressoir d'Argent de Gordon Ramsay in Le Grand Hotel. Place de la Bourse, one of the more photogenic riverside spots in town, is a 10- to 15-minute walk from the hotel. Those in the area for wine -- and this is most visitors to Bordeaux -- can make easy day trips out of town. Medoc takes about 40 minutes to reach by car and it's 50 minutes to the Saint-Emilion region. The beach is a little over an hour away, outside of Arachon. The Bordeaux-Merignac Airport is about 25 minutes away by car or about 55 minutes by public transportation. 

Named after the region's famous chateaux, the hotel's 22 rooms and suites are individually decorated, but all combine classical, contemporary, and vintage details for a look that's elegant, if a bit quirky. Floors are warm hardwood and accent walls feature bold colors such as vivid red, citron green, bright orange, or electric blue. Furniture is contemporary and sleek -- there's plenty of black leather and shiny chrome -- and artwork is a combination of abstracts, traditional nautical images, and black-and-white celebrity portraits. Exposed stone walls are a nod to the building's roots. Modern amenities include flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, minibars, safes, Nespresso machines, MP3 players, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Bathrooms are modern, and come with magnifying mirrors, marble or slate countertops, hairdryers, and Hermes toiletries. Some suites have combined bathrooms and sleeping areas with large tubs next to the bed, a configuration some guests may find odd and others romantic. The apartment on the top floor has two bedrooms and a full kitchen. Some rooms have small furnished balconies. Views aren't that great, and most rooms look out on the courtyard or the rooftops of Bordeaux -- this is the center of town, after all.

The hotel's best features are its lovely wine bar and adjacent garden, popular with both guests and locals. The bar is spread over a couple of rooms. One is a charming space with a hardwood floor, cafe tables and chairs, leather armchairs and sofas, wine glass chandeliers, and an oversized wooden chess set. Another room leans more toward glamorous, with white-leather banquettes and chairs and sleek black tables. The knowledgeable sommelier assists guests with selections of wine, which can be accompanied by cheeses, meats, cakes, quiches, or desserts. The adjacent terrace is lovely, with contemporary white wicker chairs, dining tables and chairs, potted plants, bamboo, and trees, and a giant central tree that provides nice shade. However, the Astroturf "lawn" seems a bit odd in this beautiful setting. Breakfast is served here when weather permits, though it's also always available in the breakfast room or in guest rooms. The continental spread features cheeses, hams, yogurts, fruits, cereals, and baked goods, but it's not included in room rates. A popular brunch is available on the weekends as well. There's no gym or spa, but spa treatments can be arranged in guest rooms. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and parking is available nearby for a fee.