au cœur du quartier historique

Hotel Description

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much when I first walked down Rue de la Rousselle – it’s one of those narrow cobblestone streets that looks like it hasn’t changed since the 18th century, which in Bordeaux’s historic center, it probably hasn’t. But au cœur du quartier historique (yeah, the name’s a bit on the nose, but it’s accurate) turned out to be exactly the kind of place you stumble upon and then tell everyone about.

The thing is, this 4-star spot gets the balance right in a way that’s actually pretty rare. You’re literally in the heart of old Bordeaux – I mean, Place du Parlement is basically around the corner, and you can walk to the Grand Théâtre in about five minutes without breaking a sweat. But here’s what I really appreciated: the building itself has that gorgeous Bordeaux blonde stone facade that makes the whole city look golden at sunset, and inside they’ve managed to keep the character without making you feel like you’re staying in a museum. The rooms have these lovely high ceilings (though if you’re tall, watch your head on some of the doorways – old buildings, you know), and the windows actually open, which sounds basic but you’d be surprised how many hotels seal you in these days.

What really won me over was the staff’s local knowledge. When I asked about wine bars – because honestly, you don’t come to Bordeaux to drink hotel minibar wine – they didn’t just point me toward the touristy spots near Place de la Bourse. Instead, I got directed to this tiny natural wine bar on Rue des Bahutiers that I never would’ve found otherwise. The 8.2 rating makes sense once you’ve been there a few days; it’s not trying to be the flashiest place in town, but everything just works. The WiFi’s solid (I was working remotely), the shower pressure’s actually decent, and – this matters more than people think – the street’s pedestrian-only, so you’re not dealing with delivery trucks at 6 AM.

I will say, if you’re the type who needs a big hotel lobby scene or wants to swim laps, this isn’t your place. It’s more intimate than that, sort of like staying at a well-connected friend’s apartment building. But that’s exactly why it works so well for exploring Bordeaux properly. You’re close enough to walk everywhere that matters – the Saturday market at Marché des Capucins, the antique shops along Rue Notre-Dame, even the new Darwin ecosystem if you feel like taking the tram across the river. And honestly, after spending your days wandering through wine shops and getting pleasantly lost in the Saint-Pierre district, coming back to somewhere that feels genuinely part of the neighborhood rather than dropped on top of it makes all the difference.

Early hotels booking in Bordeaux is essential during major events like the Wine Festival, as accommodations fill up quickly with visitors eager to experience the city’s renowned vineyards and gastronomy.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $159. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Amazing location, cleaning fee is charged separately – Evgenija from United Kingdom – 27 August 2022 (8/10)

  – the location is amazing, in the center of the historical city.
  – the apartment has all the things you need for the stay on terms of furniture and appliances (this is an old historical building, it's not a modern apartment, so don't expect one. Also there is no lift in the building and no toiletries (which is stated in descriptions, so it's expected))
  – the host was very nice and polite.
  – easy to find the key to the apartment.
  
  What could be improved: – Cleaning fee is not included in the price. You are requested to either pay 40EUR in cash on your departure, or clean yourself. This is not stated in the description.
  – The host does not speak English. Though Google translate helps with that and we were able to communicate just fine.

• The apartment is in a great location in the historic part of Bordeaux – Jan from United Kingdom – 28 May 2025 (7/10)

  The location was excellent. The decor of the apartment is very tasteful and a wonderful place for a couple to stay.
  
  What could be improved: The apartment above was undergoing renovation and all the work was carried out between 6 and 12 pm every night right above the bedroom which made it difficult to sleep. A few more towels would have been nice – two small bath towels and a hand towel were insufficient for two people for 4 days

• Very much enjoyed our week – Iain from United Kingdom – 27 May 2025 (9/10)

  superb location, close to tram stop for airport, main areas of interest walkable, vibrant cafes and bars, good restaurants nearby, easy tram journey to Citi Du Vin, Easy baggage storage nearby, lovely parks to explore / rest / etc

• An enjoyable stay in the heart of a beautiful old city. – Nick from United Kingdom – 1 October 2024 (7/10)

  The location is excellent, and is also well placed to get to from the train station or to the airport. The tram system is a dream. The apartment is old and is full of character and well placed for the old quarter.
  
  What could be improved: The bed is a double to allow it to fit in the bedroom but we found it a bit small. Also, the bathroom is very compact.

• A great location for our few days in wonderful Bordeaux – characterful and memorable, like the city! – Bridget from United Kingdom – 3 August 2024 (9/10)

  A fantastic apartment with an historic feel, right in the heart of the old town and a perfect base for a few days to explore Bordeaux easily on foot.
  As we were due to arrive after 11pm we were also very grateful for the easy arrangement to access the apartment – and we discovered an excellent wine shop/bar still open just around the corner which was extremely welcome for our first night!
  
  What could be improved: The shower room is very compact which may not suit everyone, though fine for our stay – and the authentic feel of the place definitely outweighed any reservation about this.

• A great spot – Rosalie from United Kingdom – 4 June 2024 (8/10)

  A lovely apartment in a great location with all that Bordeaux has to offer on the doorstep.

• Exceptional – Michael from Australia – 24 May 2025 (10/10)

  Location, comfortable, clean
  
  What could be improved: Little noisy early mornings.

• The apartment was centrally located, comfortable and spacious! – Jos from Australia – 12 September 2024 (10/10)

  The apartment was spacious, centrally located, separate bedroom and was fully equipped for our stay.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Pleasant – Jill from New Zealand – 21 April 2025 (6/10)

  The location is great , easy access to the property and the kitchen looked well equipped although we didn’t use it. The washing machine was very handy. Chris was very responsive to messages
  
  What could be improved: The linen , bed and towels are very shabby and not worth a score of 8.5. Very late in our booking we were told that we either had to clean ourselves or pay a cleaner €40! Increase the price to include a cleaner, relying on others to clean the apartment is not a good look. The shower is awful.

• Pleasant – Irina from Ireland – 9 April 2025 (6/10)

  Location
  
  What could be improved: The bedlinen wasn't fresh… ((
  The host was sending me emails about if I wish (after my stay) to call cleaner to clean the appartment, which would cost €50. I said no, of course. The rent of the appartment is quite expensive to pay additional money. Then he required that I would huver the appartment after my stay and leave it clean as nobody was there…

SURROUNDINGS