The Bordeaux skyline.
In addition to the wine, which has it and very rich, Bordeaux has become a must-see, already considered the new Paris, in the XS version , where extraordinary restaurants and shops coexist with the best French antique dealers.
The spectacular change experienced in the city has placed it in the top ten of the French ranking. In it there are two essential streets, Rue Notre-Dame and Rue Saint-Jaimes. We take you on a tour of them.
The lively historic center of Bordeaux
THE STREET OF THE ANTIQUE DEALERS
In the Chartrons district, Rue Notre-Dame is a narrow street covered with vines and with a spectacular resemblance to those of Paris, which means that more than half of the Parisians who come to Bordeaux rent or buy a house in this area.
Its architecture and, above all, its atmosphere is "tres chic", which makes them feel at home.
Another of its characteristics is the high number of antique dealers per square meter it owns, monopolizing almost entirely the antiquities route offered by the city.
In these stores you find from furniture, paintings, photographs, decorative objects, to fabrics from bygone eras.
It is the case of Pipat Antiquites (at number 64), specializing in furniture from the 17th to the 20th century; La Patine Du Temps (54) , which you will recognize by its facade with yellow letters and which contains a universe of the most varied objects.
Village Notre Dame (61) , installed in the premises of an old printing house, is an antiques gallery of more than 1,500 square meters that houses works from the south-west of France.
Finally, in 76 is Paul's Place , a curious space that merges eclectic furniture, antiques and paintings.
With a bar service to have a snack or a drink, a visit is essential, because it leaves no one indifferent.
SHOPPING
In this street there is also a lot of space reserved for trendy fashion and the top accessories of the moment, with a series of obligatory stops.
At number 81 you will find Shoes Art which, as its name suggests, is specialized in the universe of shoes: men and women, heels, flats, boots, sandals, laces or buckles, any model has a place.
in 92 is Cactus General Store ; a two in one, because they share a lively cafe and shop space.
You can go there and have a delicious cappuccino accompanied by a home-made cinnamon bun, all very organic – the young owners comply to the letter –, while you deliberate between buying the leather ankle boots that are exhibited in the bookstore or the suede backpack that hangs on the wall.
In front is Les Belles Gueles (91) , a very traditional optician's shop, which houses a selection of frames made by hand by artisans in France, Europe or Japan.
Finally, it is essential to enter Do you speak French , at the end of the street, focused on making one hundred percent French brands known.
There you can find the fun chests of the eco cosmetics brand lamazuna ; the marvelous illustrated notebooks of SeasonPaper ; socks Royalties Paris ; the wallets of Barnabe Aime le café, or the beauty brand that triumphs in Spain, Mimitika.
Do you Speak Français, mandatory stop on Rue Notre Dame
SATISFY THE STOMACH
To taste a delicious meal of classic french recipes , it is necessary to visit ** Chez Dupont ** (45) , a discreet bistro with one hundred percent homemade food, which changes its daily menu.
Just one piece of advice to keep in mind: don't get excited about asking and always leave room for their home-made desserts. A surprise? The upper floor hides ten different rooms.
A little further away, at number 82, you find the mythical bar that receives the same name as the street, Bar Notre Dame.
If anything characterizes it, it is the close treatment of its staff, as well as a simple but tasty menu, where the charcuterie boards, cheeses and good glasses of wine.
And, following the saying "wherever you go do what you see", on the weekend we dropped by the nearby Place du Marche des Chartrons , meeting point for locals and Parisians on weekends.
In its center is a old market from the 19th century, today converted into a cultural center, although the animation is installed in all the bars and restaurants that surround it. On Saturdays there is no room for a pin!
If you have to choose one, we recommend Au Rêve (10, Place du Marché Chartrons) , offering French food served casually in a casual atmosphere.
Your specialties? Croque Monsieur, entrecote or beef tartare and, of course, good wine.
Au Rêve, French food and a casual atmosphere
THE STREET OF THE BELL, OR RUE SANT-JAMES
We begin to walk the street from below, specifically in the Fernand Lafargue Square , where there are many bars and restaurants serving Thai food such as Pitaya , or Cambodian as moon wok.
For a simple coffee, Bar Saint Christophe It is a perfect option if you fancy a trip to the past, due to its vintage decoration.
In addition, this small street concentrates a large number of very chic fashion stores, perfect to complete your seasonal wardrobe.
We refer to strictly at nº 2, with men's and women's fashion, and trend brands such as Acapulco Gold, Nixon or Tealer, and other better-known ones such as Converse, Diesel or Adidas.
The Cambodian Moon Wok, in Fernand Lafargue Square
For those who love spaces in which design is almost on the same level as the items they sell, they should go to Le Rayon Frais (11-13-15), where you can buy sunglasses, gloves, t-shirts, umbrellas, backpacks, jackets, etc. A piece of advice: do not lose sight of your own brand.
The number 24, named All Depends on you , hosts the universe of denim fashion; a thousand colors and a thousand shapes of this fabric that is still on the rise.
In search of the star accessory for both sexes, we went up to Mieux , at number 51. And if what we want is casual fashion with a striking mod air in t-shirts and sweaters, we have to go to Edgar.
And since the street lives not only in fashion, at number 49 there is a store for lovers of guitars of all kinds and from all decades, called Guitars & Co. (30) .
right there is Tamatebako Coffee , where you can make a stop along the way and taste a tea or coffee with a little French pastry.
For those with a sweet tooth, at the end of the street, specifically at number 53, is **Tata Yoyo, a tea room that you will recognize by its dark blue façade** even before you reach the famous bell.
Don't leave without asking for a ribbed , the typical sweet of the area, made with milk, eggs and vanilla. If you just want to try it out, and not wallow in guilt, order its XS version.