Bordeaux is a lively city throughout the year, with plenty of restaurants and wine bars which are perfect for a night out. However, summer is when Bordeaux truly shines with plenty of rooftops, terrace cafes, and open bars all over the city. Many of the outdoor bars in Bordeaux are open only during the summer season so you have a limited amount of time to enjoy them.
In this article, I included some of my favorite rooftops and terraces all over the Bordeaux metropole. Some are posh and chic and others are more simple and chill, there’s something here for everyone. You need to know that every district in Bordeaux has a different vibe to it so you need to visit a few to really enjoy the Bordeaux spirit 🙂
If you’re about to spend the summer in Bordeaux be sure to also check my article about the best things to do in Bordeaux in the summer. If you’re interested in wine tastings in Bordeaux check out my article about the places for wine tasting in Bordeaux. For specific events and other ideas for things to do every weekend, I invite you to subscribe to my email list here.
Here’s a list of the outdoor bars and drinking terraces in Bordeaux for a perfect cocktail evening or an afternoon apero!
La guinguette chez Alriq – the best tavern in town
La Guinguette chez Alriq is one of my favorite places in Bordeaux and its opening event usually means that summer has officially started!
The Guinguette is a big tavern located on the right banks of the Garonne in the Bastide neighborhood, hosting plenty of open-air concerts every summer. The performing bands and artists are coming from all over the world and create a laid-back party atmosphere.
There’s usually a small price to pay for the concerts taking place on Thu-Sat and on Sundays the entry is free. You can see their program here. The place is very popular so expect to see a line at the entrance.
Where: ZA Quai des Queyries, Port Bastide, 33100 Bordeaux / When: Thu-Sat from 19:00 to 1:00 and Sunday from 12:00 to 22:00
Les Chantiers de la Garonne
Just next door to La guinguette chez Alriq you can find one of Bordeaux’s best-hidden gems. Les Chantiers de la Garonne is an old hangar turned into a sailing club and a restaurant with one of the best outdoor spaces in Bordeaux.
The restaurant is located on the board of the Garonne River with an outdoor space that feels like a real beach. Low wooden tables are spread over the fine white sand adorned by fresh seafood and cold bottles of white wine. You can find more info about the restaurant and other activities proposed by the Chantiers de la Garonne here.
Where: 21 Quai de Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux / When: The bar is open from Wednsday to Sunday, see the hours here.
Mama Shelter – classic Bordeaux rooftop
Mama Shelter is probably the most popular summer rooftop bar in Bordeaux. It has a funky design and many original cocktails but I believe its location should also get a lot of credit for its popularity. It’s one of the only rooftops in the center of Bordeaux, located just next to the Cathedral Saint André, and has one of the best views of the city. If you come in the evening hours, booking in advance is recommended.
Mama Shelter is also one of the best hotels to stay in when visiting Bordeaux.
Where: 19 Rue Poquelin Molière, 33000 Bordeaux / When: Open daily for lunch, dinner and drinks, see specific hours here.
Plage de L’IBOAT
The Iboat is a three-level ferry spanning 687m2, anchored to one of the docks of Bassins a flot and mostly known as a concert venue. During the summer they also open their “beach”, a fun outdoor space on the board of the Bassin a flot with a bar, comfy sofas, and different outdoor events. La Plage de L’IBOAT is definitely one of the best summer bars in Bordeaux for an afternoon drink! You can see the list of concerts and events here.
For more cool places to visit in the Bassin a flot area check out my article about the Bacalan district.
Where: Bassin à Flot n°1, Cours Henri Brunet, 33300 Bordeaux / When: Every day, check out the list of events on their website
Le Bar de la Marine
Le Bar de la Marine is another hidden gem and like many places in this list, it’s also located in the Bacalan district. A few minutes walk from la Cité du Vin, you’ll pass by a little restaurant that doesn’t seem very impressive from the outside, but once you enter the door you’ll discover a magical universe.
Since 2019, the Bar de la Marine belongs to chef Frederic Coiffe who not only makes great food but also knows how to create a perfect summer vibe. The restaurant has a secret garden in the back where you can enjoy lunch, meet friends for an afternoon drink or have a delicious family brunch on Sunday. See more details on their Facebook page.
Where: 28 Rue Achard, 33300 Bordeaux / When: open daily – see hours on their Facebook page
Les Planches Éphémères
Les Planches Éphémères opened its doors last year and quickly became one of the local’s favorites. A huge outdoor bar, located at the Hippodrome of Bordeaux in La Bouscat, the place offers two bars, a dj set, and a huge chill-out area under the trees. The place is open every day until September 30. Check out their site for more info.
Address: 8 Avenue de l’Hippodrome, 33110 Le Bouscat
Where: 8 Avenue de l’Hippodrome, 33110 Le Bouscat / When: open daily from May 17 to August 31, from 17:00, see the opening hours here.
Effet Mer
If you didn’t have enough reasons to go to Bassin a flot, here’s another one. Effet Mer is a fun summer bar, located just next to the Base Sous-Marine. This cool place is open seven days a week and offers daily life concerts and dj sets. For more details click here.
L’Effet Mer is located just next to Les Bassins des Lumières, one of the best art venues in Bordeaux. A perfect opportunity to combine art with afternoon drinks!
Where: 280 Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33300 Bordeaux / When: open daily starting May 12, see the opening hours here.
Gina
Another very popular summer place in Bordeaux is Gina, a rooftop bar and Italian restaurant located at the new Renaissance hotel in the Bassin a flot district. The place is open seven days a week and on weekends offers brunch as well. The restaurant requires a prior reservation, you can see more details and book here.
Where: Place des Millésimes, 33300 Bordeaux / When: open daily – see the hours here.
Domaine de Raba
The beautiful chateau of Demaine de Raba is well hidden in a residential neighborhood in Talence. This place is a bit hard to describe as it has everything from a spa to a fancy restaurant, a bar, and different events like cinema nights and morning yoga. The menu of the bar changes every week and it has many special evenings with Dj sets and concerts. Booking in advance is recommended, you can do it online here.
In case you’re also looking for a romantic weekend, you should check out their cute hotel – Hôtel Domaine de Raba Bordeaux Sud.
Where: 35 Rue Rémi Belleau, 33400 Talence
Les Halles de Talence
The Talence market is the little brother of the Bacalan market, built by Biltoki in December 2018. Inside the market, you can find a very good cheese stand, tapas, Moroccan food, sushi, oysters, and more. The prices are a bit high except for the bar, which has a great variety of wines at a good price. The best part, however, is the outdoor area! Plenty of tables are spread in the afternoon between the market and the other restaurants in the Forum and you can enjoy a really fun apero or dinner with a very local vibe.
If you want to discover other markets in Bordeaux check out my articles about the best markets in and around Bordeaux.
Where: Place Alcala de Henares, 33400 Talence / When: Daily except for Mondays, the market closes for a break between 14:30 to 16:30 on weekdays
Canopee Café in Merignac
If you want to avoid going to the city center the Canopée Café is a great option! The Canopée Café in Merignac has both an indoor restaurant (open for lunch and dinner) and a very chic rooftop with a huge selection of cocktails and a petanque court, called the Bodega.
This rooftop is located in the industrial zone in Merignac and thus lacks the beautiful view in Bordeaux’s rooftop bars but the place itself is super chic and there’s plenty of parking 🙂 If you’re a group of 15pl, you must book a table- all the details are here.
Where: Face Mérignac Soleil, 1 Chemin de Pouchon, 33700 Mérignac / When: The rooftop (La Bodega) is open Mon to Sat from 17:30.
Eklo’s Guinguette
Eklo in the Bastide neighborhood is an eco-friendly hotel and also a fun bar/restaurant with a huge terrace. The atmosphere there is very chill and less posh than some of the other places on this list, and it’s definitely a positive thing. The menu mostly includes charcuterie, cheese, and some snacks so don’t expect a proper dinner. There’s usually a D.j set in the evening, see the program here.
Where: 10 Rue de la Gare d’Orléans, 33100 Bordeaux / When: Thu to Sat from 16:00 to 23:00
Moxy
A similar vibe of a light, fun, and unpretentious terrace bar you can find at Moxi, a 3-star hotel located next to the Bacalan market. The bar has a chic interior space (which is even kids-friendly) and a fun outdoor space. Like many other summer bars, they have quite a lot of live shows and dj sets. See the program here.
Where: 25 Quai du Maroc, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Le Café Utopia
This isn’t specifically a Bordeaux summer bar but it’s one of my favorite Terraces in Bordeaux all year long (when it’s not raining of course). For those who’re not familiar with the place, Utopia is an independent cinema theater, installed in an ancient church, l’église du Vieux Bordeaux. At the entrance to this beautiful building, you’ll find le Cafe Utopia, a nice bistro, and a good to take your laptop for a few hours of work.
However, the best part is the terrace which has plenty of tables on one of the liveliest squares in Bordeaux, Place Camille Jullian. If you’re looking for a nice, simple place for a drink in the center of the city, this one is recommended.
Where: 5 Place Camille Jullian, 33000 Bordeaux / When: Daily from 10:00 to 22:30
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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If it’s your first time in Bordeaux you may also like to read some of the following “intro to Bordeaux” articles I wrote:
The Ultimate Guide to Bordeaux
The best districts in Bordeaux
Where to stay in Bordeaux
What to do in one day in Bordeaux
Things to do with kids in Bordeaux
*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂