The region of Bordeaux is located in southwest France, about a two hour train ride from Paris. Its very name is synonymous, and has been for centuries, with the production of wine: more than 700 million bottles are produced here annually, from 65 distinct appellations, and across a broad range of styles and price points. Some of the most revered wine estates in the world are located here, and the region is firmly established as a point of pilgrimage for wine travelers for around the world. But what about the coffee?
Well—not long ago, this was purely the realm of “Café à la française,” and a functional, often disappointing cappuccino or espresso could be found in the PMUs, the tobacco-and-betting bars, or neighborhood bistros. This was a serviceable experience, sure, but far from culinary. But happily this has changed quite rapidly over the last decade, resulting in a coffee scene in Bordeaux that feels truly transformed. The city of Bordeaux may be a few years behind Paris or Lyon, but it’s catching up fast.
Some credit this boom to the arrival of the high-speed train and an influx of Parisians, but it’s important we credit the curious, flavor-focused Bordelais themselves. This is actually France’s six largest city, with a coffee scene to match, as you’ll see in our new guide below. Hip cafes, quality roasters, and well-trained and well-travelled baristas have helped propel the coffee culture here, and indeed, Bordeaux’s scene unique is a genuine sense of community among those pulling shots: a tight network of more than 170 coffee professionals connected through their own WhatsApp group, providing support. knowledge and camaraderie. It’s fair to say this community is shaping a coffee culture as rich, nuanced, and distinctly Bordelais as the wines that made Bordeaux famous.
Café Piha
A Bordelaise coffee institution, Piha once felt like an oasis in an otherwise dry coffee landscape. Today, as one of the city’s leading roasters, it supplies beans to many of Bordeaux’s best cafes and restaurants, while also providing other services, such as being the exclusive distributor and installer of the Probat brand of roasters in France.
The coffee shop itself is a place to while away the day. With a no wifi, no-tech policy, the cosy interior is a fabulous place to do some writing offline, while the outdoor seating is by far one of the best spots in town to people watch.
Service here is impeccable. The baristas are kind and knowledgeable, guiding guests through flavors, origins, and processes without pretension or intimidation. Piha offers three main ranges: Bio, their entry-level and organic option with a more classic profile; Café de Ferme, a farm-level range known for fruity and floral notes; and the Micro or Nano Lot, a complex, small-batch selection for connoisseurs or the simply curious. Whenever possible, they work directly with producers and regularly host tastings, deepening the connection between cup and craft.
Black List Café
If it weren’t for the bright yellow stools and tables outside the coffee shop, you could easily walk past Black List as it blends in with the many cafes, shops and restaurants along a small stretch just in front of the tram line, facing Bordeaux’s cathedral. But once you know, you know.
Founded in the late 2010s, Black List is one of Bordeaux’s oldest specialty cafes and no doubt one that helped pave the way for the city’s coffee culture as it exists today. Inspired by New York shops, it’s a tight and tiny joint–like really tight, with seating just 15 people on a long wooden bench that runs the length of the wall, with a few packed tables (going in with a backpack is awkward). But what it lacks in space, it makes up for in rich, smooth coffees from local roaster Oven Heaven and Ireland’s 3fe Coffee, and tasty treats, delicious brunches (best benedict eggs in town, hands down) and takeaway sandwiches, all made in house in a yes, tiny kitchen in the back.
There’s a lot to love about Black List, but the fact that it is the only specialty cafe open every day of the week, from 8am to 6pm, is the cherry on top.
Musette Bicycles and Coffee
Off the beaten path, Musette is an outlier in south Bordeaux, where the closest thing to a coffee shop are tabacs (tobacco shops) or hookah cafes. Though quiet, this isn’t a cafe for those looking to camp out; as its name and art suggests, Musette is aimed at bike enthusiasts who love a good brew.
Founded by expats Rob Lawrence (US) and Christopher Cooley (UK), Musette was inspired by the cycling cafes they knew from London and the States, and was “the perfect marriage between the two things I loved,” says Lawrence. Crafting their own blends with the folks at L’Alchimiste, they pull shots on a Faema E61, chosen not only for its quality and sleek design but also for the Italian company’s deep ties to the cycling world. Faema famously sponsored legends like Eddy Merckx in the 1960s, whose jersey hangs on Musette’s wall.
While much of Musette’s clientele are cyclists, it’s also become a neighborhood spot. With a few wooden benches along Cours de la Somme, a handful of tables inside, and a small patio out back, there’s nothing else quite like it in Bordeaux.
Moko Coffee
On a cold, rainy morning, Moko Coffee is buzzing, packed tight with a young, hip crowd. Tucked away on a quiet street just off Place Gambetta, it’s clear that this has become one of the coffee spots here in Bordeaux. The stylish cafe is everything you could want: premium coffee from Paris’ KB Coffee Roasters, a well-curated brunch menu, heavenly pastries (all of which are made in-house), and thoughtful seating. In the back, long benches create a communal feel, while the front offers smaller tables for more privacy. There’s also a coffee bar, perfect for watching baristas do their thing or catch up with owners Thomas and Ninon Labroue.
Originally from Bordeaux, Thomas Labroue spent years working at KB Coffee Roasters in Paris before he and Ninon returned home in 2019 with the dream of opening their own place. But the pandemic delayed their plans. After a stint at Piha and years searching, they finally found the right place in 2023, and spent months renovating it. Though the name Moko is Maori, the decor is very much retro New York. Thomas tells me that he salvaged the menu sign from an old cinema and refitted it for purpose. Opening a little over a year ago, in July 2024, Moko feels less like a newcomer and more like a Bordeaux classic in the making.
4ᶱ Vague Café
Snuggled between antique shops and fancy boutiques in the historic Chartrons district, you’ll find 4ᶱ Vague Café and Espresso bar. On bright, sunny days, wooden benches and long tables spill out onto the street, while on rainy days, just a lone stool or two. Inside, it’s all chill vibes with subtle surf-inspired décor, a small nod to the islands that inspire it.
Owned and run by banker-turned-barista Damien Ricard, 4ᵉ Vague is something of a passion project. Inspired by the coffee bars of London, where he once worked, he wanted to bring the same energy to his hometown of Bordeaux. With a Hawaiian mother, his focus is both personal and rare: showcasing Hawaiian coffee, primarily Kona, Kaʻu, and Maui, imported directly from the islands. These precious, high-end beans are hard to find in France, making 4ᶱ Vague a destination for coffee lovers.
The classics here, espresso, macchiato, flat white, are always pulled with Hawaiian coffees. You’ll find two options: a blend, which is 10% Hawaiian and 90% South American beans, and a 100% Hawaiian single origin that changes monthly. Those after something different can opt for a filter brew, try the nitro cold brew or the coffee of the month, like a peanut butter latte.
L’Alchimiste Café and Roastery
No guide to Bordeaux’s coffee scene would be complete without L’Alchimiste Café and Roastery. A true institution, it has been at the heart of the city’s specialty coffee movement since 2014. Today, with two cafes and accompanying boutiques, L’Alchimiste also serves as a training hub and supplier for many of Bordeaux’s top restaurants and shops.
Their flagship cafe, in the heart of Bordeaux and featured back in 2017, set the tone. The Darwin coffee shop on the Rive Droite, which opened in 2020, expanded their reach. Home to the roastery and retail shop, it offers a quieter, more local vibe, according to barista Gabriel Squarcioni, while the downtown location still pulls in large crowds.
Over the years, L’Alchimiste has pivoted towards education. From helping customers in the cafes to running workshops and professional training courses, it is a cornerstone of Bordeaux’s coffee community.
The downtown location is tucked away from the busier pedestrian streets, offering a quiet spot with a small patio out front. The coffee is exceptional, bien sûr, the service top-notch, and the overall feeling unmistakable: you’re in very good hands.
Vinka Woldarsky is a freelance journalist based in Bordeaux. This is Vinka Woldarsky first feature for Sprudge.
