Le Marché des Capucins is one of the oldest markets in France and it rightfully carries the title “The Belly of Bordeaux”. It’s probably the most important gastronomic center in Bordeaux which makes it a must-visit for anyone traveling to Bordeaux.
The impressive market is abundant with colorful stands of fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, and other delicacies of the Southwest of France. However, Capucins is much more than a place to get your groceries from, which makes it stand out from many other good markets in France.
Locals go there for their morning coffee, for lunch, or for the sacred combination of oysters and wine. There are so many restaurants and stands at the Bordeaux market that for a newcomer it can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why I decided to gather a list of all my favorite places at Marché des Capucins.
If you don’t have a lot of time, the best way to discover this huge market is by taking a food tour. You can join the great group food tour of the No Diet club or join a more in-depth private tour with Anne, who’s a chef, and an amazing food tour in Bordeaux. Check Anne’s website for details.
Before we start, if this is your first time in Bordeaux be sure to check out my detailed guide to things to do in Bordeaux and my recommendation of places to stay in the city center. Also if you like markets, check out my list of the best markets in Bordeaux. Now let’s go and discover one of the best markets in France!
Eat Fresh Oysters from Arcachon at Chez Jean-Mi
When it comes to local food, oysters are one of the highlights of our region. Bordeaux is just one hour away from Arcachon, one of France’s main oyster farming centers. It’s thus not surprising to find good oysters at the main market of Bordeaux.
Chez Jean-Mi became one of Bordeaux’s go-to places for fresh oysters. On weekends, many locals rush here to meet their friends over a plate of oysters and a glass of white wine. Apart from oysters, the place serves a variety of seafood, delicious soups, and more.
You can sit inside and soak up the market atmosphere or grab a table outside to enjoy the sun while you sip your wine. The place tends to be very busy during the weekend so be sure to come early (around 11 am) to get a table.
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays from 7:00 to 13:45 and Sundays from 9:00 to 15:15.
Bistro Poulette – Mussels in many flavors
Bistro Poulette is a chic restaurant that can easily fit the stylish food scene in the city center. But being located at the market of Bordeaux gives it a unique twist. Food and drinks are being served quite early in the day and you don’t have to wait for lunch to start your gastronomic celebration.
If you come in the morning you can enjoy their breakfast, brunch or take it a bit further with a plate of charcuterie and wine. At lunchtime, you get to enjoy their specialty, which is mussels, served in casseroles and cooked with a variety of sauces like white wine, curry, and more.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from early morning to 15:00.
Le Guet À Pan
Le Guet À Pan is one of the newest and most modern restaurants in the market. While it’s not a fancy restaurant by no means, I find that they have a more elaborate menu than other restaurants at the Capucins market.
They offer a delicious tapas menu that includes squid, burrata, oysters, and many other dishes from French, Spanish, and Italian cuisines. But also a great lunch menu that with dishes like cod fillet and lamb chops. There’s always a great friendly atmosphere at Le Guet a Pan and the friendly service adds a lot to the good dining experience.
Tortill’art – a Spanish delight at the Bordeaux market
Strolling in the market, you can easily miss this little tortilla bar. But, as it’s one of my favorites at the marché des Capucins, I must spread the word. Juan servers several types of tortillas and delicious Spanish Jambon with wine or a homemade Sangria. Tortillas are his specialty and some of the recipes run in his family for generations.
He’s a super nice guy who you can have a fun chat with while sitting at the bar. What makes this place even more attractive are the prices! You can easily have a full lunch here for less than 10 euros.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday until 13:00 and Saturday and Sunday until 14:30.
Pata Negra – for the best Pintxos
One of the best tapas bars in Bordeaux is located in the Capucins market. In the middle of the week, this place mainly sells Spanish delicacies but on weekends it turns into a fantastic tapas bar with a huge variety of pintxos. Once you’re seated by the hostess and get your plate you can start picking the Pintxos.
There is one problem though! there are so many of them that it’s really hard to choose only a few. Just be sure not to throw the long toothpicks holding the pintxos, as that’s how the restaurant knows how much to charge you. This is a very popular place so if you’re in the mood for delicious tapas, be sure to come early.
Opening hours of the bar (you can buy their products to take home from Tue to Sun): Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 15:30
Les Jardins – delicious lunch and tapas
Another fun place for lunch is Les Jardins. This little restaurant has a great variety of dishes on its daily menu. You can enjoy local meat dishes and many French delicacies like snails, oysters, and shrimp. The service is super friendly, especially when you’re coming in the middle of the week. The owner really tries to give attention to every customer which is refreshing.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 to 13:00, Saturday 5:00 to 14:00
Les Puits d’Amour – a magical dessert before you leave the market
This beautiful pastry carries the name le Puit d’amour, a well of love. It’s a local pastry, created by Maison Seguin in a little town South to Bordeaux called Captieux. Les Puit d’amour is filled with crème Chiboust (a mix of crème pâtissière and an Italian meringue). It’s a perfect bite-size end to your market journey. Be aware that they arrive every day with only a few trays of les Puits d’Amour and once they finish selling them, puff they’re gone. So be sure to pass by before lunch and buy a box for later.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 until the last puit d’amour 🙂
If you liked this article you should also check my article about the best markets in Bordeaux.
Is it your first time in Bordeaux? If it is you should definitely check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux to get familiar with all the must-see places in Bordeaux. To help you choose a hotel in Bordeaux I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you find your preferred AirBnB location.
You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:
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3 Comments
Hello,
It’s amazing
Hi there, we will be visiting Bordeaux in January. Do you know if this market, Marché des Capucins, is open every month of the year? And is it just open on the weekends?
Great website and awesome ideas and recommendations!
Bruce Montrose
Hi Bruce
The Capucins is Bordeaux’s main market so it’s open all the year from Tuesday to Sunday. There are some stands and restaurants that are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but generally, the market is open. In the first week of January, many people are still on vacation so I assume that some stands will be closed until the second week.