Charming apartment downtown Bordeaux

Hotel Description

You know what? I was honestly a bit skeptical when I first walked up to 18 Rue Villeneuve – the street’s pretty narrow and I wasn’t sure what to expect from an apartment rental in the heart of Bordeaux. But this little place actually surprised me in the best way possible.

The moment you step inside, there’s this immediate sense of “oh, someone actually lives here” rather than that sterile hotel feeling you get sometimes. The apartment sits right in the thick of the city center, which means you’re literally a three-minute walk from Place de la Bourse (you know, that gorgeous square with the water mirror that everyone photographs). What I loved most was how the morning light filters through the windows – there’s something about the way it hits the old stonework across the street that just feels distinctly Bordeaux. The neighborhood has this perfect buzz during the day with locals grabbing their morning coffee at the café downstairs, but it actually settles down nicely in the evenings. I mean, you’ll hear some street sounds – it’s downtown after all – but nothing that kept me awake.

Here’s the thing about staying in an actual apartment versus a hotel: you get those little details that make a difference. The kitchen’s small but functional (I made coffee every morning and grabbed fresh pastries from the boulangerie around the corner on Rue Sainte-Catherine), and there’s enough space to actually unpack your stuff instead of living out of a suitcase. The décor is sort of modern-meets-traditional French – nothing fancy, but comfortable and clean. Honestly, the shower pressure was better than I expected, which sounds silly but you know how it is when you’re traveling. The building itself has that classic Bordeaux character with the cream-colored stone façade, though the stairs are a bit steep if you’re hauling heavy luggage (fair warning there).

What really sold me on this place was the location – and I don’t mean that in a generic “convenient location” way. You’re positioned perfectly to explore both the historic center and the trendier spots. Walk five minutes toward the river and you’re at the antique markets along the Garonne. Head the other direction and you hit Rue Saint-Rémi with all its wine bars and bistros. The tram stop at Hôtel de Ville is basically around the corner, so getting to the train station or out to the wine regions is actually pretty seamless. Plus, being on Rue Villeneuve puts you close enough to everything without being right in the tourist chaos – there’s something to be said for being able to duck into a quiet side street after a day of sightseeing. For a three-star place, it definitely punches above its weight.

Rooms

• One-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 1 double bed for 2 adults

Reviews

• Joanne from Australia (8/10)

  The location was excellent
  The concierge Stéphane wax very helpful and kind

• Mary from United Kingdom (4/10)

  Location

• Vera from Spain (8/10)

  Localização ótima , perto de tudo, muito limpo, ideal para uma pessoa

• Christian from Germany (8/10)

  Der Empfang durch den Concierge war sehr herzlich.
  Das Apartment ist sehr gut gelegen um die Stadt zu erkundigen.

• Ioana from Austria (9/10)

• Vincenzo from Italy (8/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities