Some say Symbiose, a charming bistro on the banks of the river Garonne, is best enjoyed during a long leisurely lunch – and it is certainly true that on a sunny day, a seat on the terrace is hard to beat. On the other hand, book in for dinner and you can finish the night with a cocktail or two in the speakeasy bar tucked in a hidden corner. Whatever the time of day, the creative small plates are mouthwatering. symbiose-bordeaux.com

An outstanding menu of natural wines, small plates served on vintage-chic crockery, and an inviting vibe: there is plenty to love about Soif. A contemporary cave à manger, or wine cellar with food, Soif is a great place to discover some new artisanal wines. Vegetarians be aware: Soif’s riffs on classic dishes such as pork belly and hazelnut pâté en croute are decidedly meat-heavy. soif-bordeaux.com

It is fitting that Bordeaux’s most spectacular piece of modern architecture, the Cité du Vin, has a superb restaurant. Located on the seventh floor, Le 7 offers some of the most creative cuisine in town, including a beef carpaccio with chickpea hummus and oyster tartare. Desserts are a highlight and of course the wine list is stellar, featuring 500 wines over 50 countries. le7restaurant.fr

There is a down-home feel to Au Bistrot, where the tables are old butchers’ blocks and brightly-enamelled casserole dishes double as decoration. That cosy feel extends to the menu, where old-school dishes like hearty fish soup or pigs’ ears in sauce gribiche are made with whatever’s freshest at the nearby farmers’ market. Lunch is especially good value. aubistrot.fr

Farm to table doesn’t get much more inviting than at Casa Gaïa, a light-filled dining room where the team serves up the best organic produce from the area. If you need a break from classic Bordeaux cuisine, light dishes such as toasted quinoa with pickles, grilled vegetables, and falafel, or ox-heart tomatoes with green salad, bonito rillettes and wood-fired vegetables, are a chance to cleanse your palate. casagaia.fr

It’s a half-hour drive to Les Sources des Caudalies, a five-star country hotel set amid the vineyards, but a meal at their two-Michelin-star restaurant, La Grand’Vigne, is well worth the trip. The meals – served in an elegant dining room where the design is inspired by 18th-century greenhouses – feature refined dishes such as line-caught hake with zucchini flowers and smoked beef filled served with grapevine shoots. sources-caudalie.com

One-stop shopping doesn’t come better than the Halles de Bacalan, a giant food court outside the Cité du Vin, featuring more than 20 of the region’s best farmers, artisans and chefs. Head here from Tuesday to Sunday for anything from grilled seafood to delicious pasta. There is indoor seating but on a fine day head straight for the terrace with its lovely water views. biltoki.com

Just look for the bright blue façade if you want to find the best pizza in Bordeaux. At Bocce Saint Paul, they stick with Neapolitan traditions: a super-thin base, made with organic flour, crisped to perfection in the wood-fired oven. Topped with bresaola from Lombardy, aged Parmesan and sugar-sweet datterino tomatoes from Sicily, this is a true taste of Italy. bocce.fr

La rue Porte de La Monnaie has been dubbed a “rue gourmande”, or an eat street, for the quality of the restaurants housed in its historic buildings. Among the best-loved is La Tupina, with its French farmhouse vibes and its hearty classics. If you are after blood pudding, spit-roasted beef and crispy potatoes cooked in duck fat, you’re in the right place. latupina.com

It’s not hard to find a restaurant in Bordeaux with an excellent wine list. Creative cocktails? Not so much. Joki may look like a classic bistro but the young owners like to push the boundaries, hence their menus that match cocktails with each course. The food is just as creative – look for the millefeuille of poached oysters, beet and coffee. facebook.com