L’ARCADE SECRETE Appartement climatisé, Jacuzzi, Borne d’arcade Bordeaux centre

Hotel Description

Honestly, when I first walked into L’ARCADE SECRETE, I wasn’t sure what to expect – I mean, the name kind of gives it away, but this place is genuinely unlike anything I’ve stayed in before. It’s tucked away on Rue Guiraude, which is one of those quiet side streets in Bordeaux’s historic center that you’d probably walk past without noticing. The ground floor location means no hauling luggage up narrow French staircases (trust me, this matters), and you’re literally a three-minute walk from Place du Parlement, where all the wine bars spill onto the cobblestones in the evenings.

The whole concept here is pretty brilliant, actually. Someone took what could’ve been a standard city center apartment and turned it into this retro gaming paradise that somehow doesn’t feel gimmicky. The arcade machine isn’t just stuck in a corner for show – it’s a proper vintage setup that’ll keep you entertained way longer than you’d admit to your travel companions. But here’s the thing that really got me: after spending the day wandering around Bordeaux’s wine shops and getting slightly overwhelmed by all the château names, coming back to sink into that jacuzzi while the AC keeps everything perfectly cool… well, it’s exactly what you didn’t know you needed. The jacuzzi isn’t huge, but it’s real and it works, and there’s something wonderfully ridiculous about playing Pac-Man in your robe after a long soak.

Location-wise, you’re in that sweet spot where you can walk to the Miroir d’Eau in about ten minutes, but Rue Guiraude itself stays pretty quiet at night – no stumbling tourists or late-night revelers right outside your window. I actually loved stepping out in the morning to grab coffee from that little place on Rue des Bahutiers (locals know the one), then coming back to plan the day while the apartment stayed blissfully cool even when it was pushing 30°C outside. The 8.5 rating makes perfect sense because this isn’t trying to be some luxury palace – it’s just really, really good at being exactly what it promises. You know what impressed me most? The attention to details that matter, like proper blackout curtains and a kitchen setup that’s actually usable if you want to grab groceries from the Saturday market at Place des Capucins. It’s the kind of place where you find yourself staying in for an extra hour in the evening, not because there’s nothing to do in Bordeaux, but because you’re genuinely enjoying the space itself.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $207. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Good – Neil from Australia – 23 June 2025 (7/10)

  Communication was excellent and very accommodating.

• Exceptional – Solane from France – 15 May 2025 (10/10)

SURROUNDINGS