Hôtel Singulier Bordeaux ★★★★

A late eighteenth century house with a listed staircase

The Hôtel Singulier occupies a house from the end of the eighteenth century whose stone staircase is listed as a Historic Monument, which tells you what kind of building this is before you reach the rooms. At its centre sits an inner courtyard planted as a vertical garden, and that green wall is the reference point for everything else: the palette runs through greens and natural materials, and the light in the ground floor rooms comes off the plants. The house is run by its founders, and the tone is deliberately discreet.

Seven rooms and an apartment

There are seven rooms and suites plus one apartment, so the hotel never holds more than a handful of parties at once. Each room is treated as a self contained retreat, with generous bathrooms and a level of finish that matches the address, and the apartment gives couples or families the option of a longer stay with more space. At this scale the staff recognise guests immediately and the concierge work is genuinely tailored rather than scripted.

An Anne Semonin spa under a vault

The wellness area is one of the most distinctive in the city. It is installed under a low lit stone vault, with smoked mirrors and a whirlpool at its centre, and a massage room that opens onto the patio. The hotel works exclusively with Anne Semonin and builds its treatment menu around a set of signature rituals. Because the house is so small, the spa can be booked privately, which is a real advantage for couples.

Breakfast and the rooftop terrace

Breakfast is made in house by a pastry chef and includes viennoiserie, brioche and the hotel's own baked egg, which regulars come back for. Later in the day a short à la carte menu of vegetable caviars, tartares and regional wines is served for guests who would rather not go out. Above it all, a private rooftop terrace opens onto a panoramic view of the UNESCO listed centre, and it is reserved for guests only.

In the Golden Triangle, on foot from everything

The hotel stands in the Triangle d'Or, the shopping and gallery quarter between the Grand Théâtre, the Allées de Tourny and Place Gambetta. Saint André Cathedral, the Place de la Bourse and the medieval city gates are all within a walk, and the quays of the Garonne are close enough for an evening stroll. Trams from Place des Quinconces and Gambetta reach the station and the Cité du Vin directly.

Why we selected it

We retained the Hôtel Singulier because it delivers something the larger five star houses cannot: a listed private house with seven keys, a spa that can be used privately, a rooftop of its own and owners on site. It is our first suggestion for a romantic stay in Bordeaux, and for travellers who measure a hotel by attention rather than by the length of its facilities list.