Aquitaine is perfect if your kind of holiday involves sampling some fine foods and even finer wines! Boasting one of the world’s most famous wine towns in Saint-Émilion and a range of fantastic eateries from local family places to Michelin-star restaurants where you can enjoy the best the region has to offer, renting one of our luxury villas in Aquitaine means you’ll be getting an amazing place to stay along with the best food experiences in Aquitaine!
1. Chateau Cantenac, Saint – Émilion
“Life is too short to drink bad wine,” said Goethe, and we’re inclined to agree. Luckily, there is little chance of that happening at this family-run winery in the picturesque village of Saint-Émilion, a region whose Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes are the toast of the wine world. On this informative and intimate winery tour, you’ll be given a rundown of the chateau’s history (which dates back to 1870) as well learning about the Roskam-Brunots (the family that has been producing wine here for four generations), before capping off the tour with a tasting.
Price Range: £
Location: 2 Lieu Dit Cantenac, Saint-Emilion, France
Bookings – Online at Chateau Cantenac
2. Rustic Vines, Bordeaux
The Médoc is the star wine region of Bordeaux – its A-list appellations are universally loved among oenophiles and its reputation for producing quality quaffs is stellar. For a crash course on the wines of the region, enlist the help of Rustic Vines. Their ‘Napoleon Médoc’ excursion kicks off with a tour and tasting at a Grand Cru Classé chateau, and is followed by another tasting at another Grand Cru chateau. There’ll be a picnic and another tour and tasting before the group stops by Chateau Margaux, a big-name winery that has achieved almost mythical status.
Price Range: ££
Location: 33000, Bordeaux, France
Bookings: Online at Rustic vines
3. La Toque Cuivrée, Bordeaux
Canelés de Bordeaux, bite-sized cakes with a thin caramel shell and a custardy rum and vanilla interior, originated – as the name implies – in Bordeaux. And it’s there where you’ll still find the best examples of these. Look out for La Toque Cuivrée; there are several of these pastry shops in and around Bordeaux, and their much-loved canelés have garnered quite the fan following.
Price Range: ££
Location: 97 Bis av Techeney, 33370 Artigues-près-Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
Bookings: Online at La Toque Cuivree
4. Briketenia, Guéthary
Epicurean tourists flock to this Michelin-starred fine dining establishment, an intimate little eatery hidden among the Basque Country hills in the village of Guéthary. They serve haute cuisine of the highest order. Treat you and your dining companions to the tasting menu so you can witness the father-and-son team’s (Martin and David Ibarboure) culinary wizardry in all its glory.
Price Range: ££
Location: 13 chemin de l’Empereur
Bookings: Online at Briketenia
5. L’Impertinent, Biarritz
At this small and tastefully outfitted establishment in the heart of France’s Basque Country, the chef puts his own creative take on fresh market ingredients. Go for the tasting menu; this is where the chef lets his creative juices show most keenly with surprising but supremely satisfying flavour combinations.
Price Range: £££
Location: 5 Rue d’Alsace, 64200 Biarritz, France
Bookings: Call (+33) 5 59 51 03 67
6. Maison Pariès, Various Locations
Aquitaine, and in particular Bayonne, has a chocolate heritage that stretches back centuries; its geographical proximity to Spain meant that chocolatiers in the region had easy access to cocoa imports from the Spanish colonies. Confectionary chain Maison Pariès, who have a number of stores around the South of France, including outposts in Biarritz, Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, is a great place to sample Basque delicacies, including chocolates, kanougas (soft chocolate-flavoured toffees), mouchous (pastries made from macarons) and tourons (almond and sugar sweets).
Price Range:££
Location: 9 Bis Rue Saint-Placide, 75006 Paris, France
Bookings: Online at Paries
7. Chateau Troplong Mondot, Saint-Émilion
Set on a hilltop overlooking the vineyards of Saint-Émilion, this restaurant-cum-winery boasts awesome terrace views that are almost enough to warrant a visit alone. This needn’t be your sole reason for coming here though; the impeccably prepared food is also out of this world. The dishes are specially designed to pair well with the chateau’s own wines, so leave the rental car at the villa and indulge in a glass or two.
Price Range: ££
Location: Château Troplong-Mondot, 33330 Saint-Émilion, France
Bookings: Call +33 (0)5 57 55 32 05
8. Les Frères Ibarboure, Bidart
This restaurant is – just like Briketenia down the road – an Ibarboure family venture. Eating takes place in the elegant 18th-century dining room, which overlooks the manicured gardens. Exquisitely refined, locally inspired dishes, like Kintoa Basque pork and Landes duck foie gras, are served.
Price Range:££
Location: Chemin Ttalienea, 64210 Bidart, France
Bookings: Online at Les Frères Ibarboure
If all this has whetted your appetite for an Aquitaine adventure, you can find more information and inspiration on our blog, such as finding out the best wine experiences in the South of France or our favourite food and wine tours in Bordeaux. And if you need a bit more info, why not check out our travel guide to the South of France, or throw any questions in the direction of our helpful concierge team.
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