Secret Cafés in Bordeaux
4 h€ 12-40 Calm
Half a day between Saint-Pierre and the Chartrons to discover Bordeaux's independent roasters, among old stone walls and narrow counters.
Bordeaux is known for its wine, far less so for its coffee. Yet over the past few years, several independent roasters have opened tiny counters in the Saint-Pierre neighbourhood, around the place du Parlement and further up, in the Chartrons. The eighteenth-century facades now shelter baristas who weigh their dose to the gram and discuss natural processing methods the way others talk about vintages.
The idea unfolds over half a day on foot, entirely within the historic centre. Three addresses, two extraction methods per spot, a detour past the Miroir d'Eau or the place de la Bourse to let the palate breathe. The walk between each stop is short, which keeps the rhythm going and allows for quick comparisons. A small notebook helps you jot down the origins you've tasted and pick the bag of beans to bring home.
Checklist
0 of 5
Carnet et stylo
Chaussures confortables pour les pavés
Bouteille d'eau
Espèces pour les petits comptoirs
Vérifier les horaires (souvent fermé lundi)
Start at L'Alchimiste, 12 Rue de la Vieille Tour, 33000 Bordeaux: order a single-origin filter and watch the work happening behind the counter.
Walk five minutes to the place du Parlement and sit down to let the first coffee settle before moving on.
Head to Books & Coffee, 7 Rue Saint-James, 33000 Bordeaux: order an espresso and flip through a book chosen from the shelves.
Stroll gently up towards the Chartrons via the place du Palais to enjoy the calm between two tastings.
Finish at Horsefly Café, 32 Rue Saint-James, 33000 Bordeaux: pick one last coffee and buy 250g of your favourite bean of the day.
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For anyone copying this
Do as we did
Suggestions
- Aim for Tuesday to Saturday mornings
- Space out the stops by at least twenty minutes
- Taste the same origin in two different extractions
- Ask for the roast date on the bag you buy
- Combine with the Miroir d'Eau walk in the afternoon
Variations
- - Version Chartrons: prolonger jusqu'au marché des Capucins voisin
- - Version livres: alterner les cafés avec trois librairies indépendantes
- - Version vélo: faire la boucle en V³, avec un arrêt aux quais
- - Version dégustation croisée: associer chaque café à un chocolat local
by PlayTryBe team