FirstName Bordeaux - part of JdV by Hyatt

The hotel was excellent throughout, and its setting makes it a compelling choice in the city. We stayed in Mériadeck, surrounded by some of Bordeaux’s most striking brutalist architecture. From our room, we could see the iconic Caisse d'Épargne building, a 1977 landmark often called the "Brutalist Guggenheim" and now a listed historic monument. The hotel shares that bold architectural character. The neighborhood was full of surprises and left an impression on us. Our room was spacious, modern, and very comfortable, with thoughtful, clean design. The city center is only minutes away, and Bordeaux is easy to explore on foot. There’s an on-site garage if you arrive by car, though once settled we found we didn’t need one in this walkable city. Service was impeccable. Claire at front desk deserves a special mention for helping us find our way around, arranging our wine country tour to St. Emilion, and getting us a reservation at La Tupina. Her personal attention made a real difference.

We had a great stay and are looking forward to coming back soon. The location was handy, with just a short walk to the pedestrian areas, and it felt very safe to walk around after dark. The staff always smiled, and breakfast had lots of variety and was really good. Our room was more spacious than others at the same price, with nice little touches like a coffee press. The kitchenette on each floor was a lovely extra, with drinking water, a large fridge, and some goodies.

What really made this place work for me was how welcome the staff made our group of seven women in our seventies feel. Nikola, Erwann, Claire, Mathilde, and Alex at the bar were all lovely. Mathilde even remembered how each of us liked our coffee. The restaurant was good too, especially the Caesar salad, with a whole juicy, well-cooked chicken breast, greens, pickled onions, and a lovely dressing. Weekend breakfast was great, though the selection was cut back a lot during the week, which felt a little awkward. I did have to ask to change rooms. I was there for five nights, and my first room had a tiny closet and no drawers at all. Room 426, I think, was a corner room with more space, a proper closet, and a bigger bathroom, so it was much better. The location is another big reason I’d return: the old town is just minutes away on foot, and the Merignac tram stop, a large shopping center with supermarkets, fast food places, and shops are right there. By the end I felt completely at home and wished I could have stayed longer.

The staff really made this a great stay, and the breakfast was very good, with lots to choose from and divine bread. Inside, the hotel is cleverly designed and quite quirky, and I had a lovely room. The exterior is a bit of an eyesore, though, and the main drawback was outside noise since my room faced the tram stop. Maybe guests in rooms facing the city could be discreetly given earplugs. I hope to come back.