A Vegan/Vegetarian Guide to Bordeaux, France

Full disclosure: I’m not strictly vegan/vegetarian, so I speak from a flexitarian perspective.

During my first few days in Bordeaux, I was hangry. I couldn’t find my unsweetened soymilk, hemp seeds, veggie burgers, tofu—and I was upset.

Hunger-induced grumpiness was no way to begin my semester abroad. But in a country that thrives on meat and cheese, I began to wonder if solely salads would become my reality.

I soon discovered, however, that Bordeaux’s veggie scene was vibrant—much richer, actually, than the plant-based resources in my American hometown. All it took was some good advice from locals, a little exploring, and a little luck.

From the charming French city that was my home for four months, I present to you my favorite vegan/vegetarian picks. Map at the end!

Is it Hard to Be Vegan/Vegetarian in France?

Before I dive in, I just want to answer a common concern vegans might have before traveling to France. After studying abroad in France for a semester and living there for a year, I can confidently say that it’s generally not that hard to be vegan in France, but it will depend on where you’re going (see the linked guide for the full details).

In larger cities like Bordeaux and Paris, you’ll definitely find vegan/vegetarian restaurants, and places that are vegan-friendly. When I lived in Dijon though, there really weren’t a ton of vegetarian restaurants, other than this one Indian place. Most of the restaurants were more traditional and didn’t have great veggie options, though there were a few that did have vegetarian dishes that I liked.

That said, while it was harder to eat out, I had no problem grocery shopping for myself. At this huge grocery store in the mall, I found vegan staples such as lentils, veggie burgers, tofu, etc. If you go to a smaller corner shop though, it will be difficult to find these things, and the premade meals are likely to be vegetarian at best (not vegan).

But don’t worry—there are many organic stores throughout France that will have what you need. Chains such as Bio c’ Bon and La Vie Saine are well-stocked with vegan staples, and these stores are common in most cities, even the smaller ones (just not the small towns and villages).

If you’re especially concerned about finding a particular kind of food in France, or if you’re traveling to a smaller town, be sure to plan ahead. You might cook something yourself and pack it for a day trip, or bring along any staple you need during your trip, such as hemp seeds. My friend Nina of Lemons and Luggage also has more tips for vegan travelers to help you be more prepared for your trip.

Best Vegan Restaurants in Bordeaux, France

*Since I’m a thrifty (aka cheap) college student, all restaurants listed have options for 15 euros or less*

Best all-around (brunch + ambiance): Kitchen Garden (permanently closed)

Vegan, mostly-organic // Tram stop: ligne A, Place du Palais

I would’ve gone in just to soak in the quaint decor, if that were socially-acceptable (seriously, see the above photo). The food is equally photogenic, boasting colorful veggie bowls and mason jar smoothies (though wasn’t a huge fan of the smoothies—mine was watery). Definitely wish I could’ve gone back to try their gorgeous lunch plates, however—they’re all over high-profile Bordeaux bloggers’ instas.

UPDATE: I was actually able to return for a meal in April 2017 (see insta post) and January 2019 (insta post, also the first photo in this post). The first time, I had a hearty butternut and quinoa soup, salad sprinkled with hemp seeds, and beetroot hummus and guacamole spread on toast.

The meal was definitely just as tasty as it looked, and I also noted that the watery smoothies were no longer on the menu! The second time, I had a full brunch for 20 euros, which is more than I’m usually willing to spend on a meal, but the meal was very filling and had 3 courses with coffee/tea and juice included. Would definitely recommend!

Most convenient: Smart Green Corner

Vegan, organic, gluten-free // Tram stop: ligne A, Meriadeck or ligne B, Gambetta

This was the only place I went to more than once—it was just so easy to drop by and grab a box to-go. I never ate in, but the ambiance is very modern and clean. This is actually a buffet, with a reasonable cost of 12,50 euros for the soup, extensive salad/hot food bar, and small dessert (I’m not joking when I say small). To get more bang for your buck, I recommend eating out—they gave me a large tray I could fill however I wanted, which was much more than I could’ve eaten in one sitting (about 1.5-2 meals, depending on your appetite). In the warmer months, there’s vegan ice cream/gelato, which I still wish I’d tried.

Best burgers: Wild Note Vegan Burger

Vegan fast food // Tram stop: ligne C, Capucins

This was one of the best vegan burger lunches I’ve had. The “black and white” was so rich and savory, though very messy—get lots of napkins to prepare for the inevitable oozy (and delicious) vegan cheese. The charcoal bun (hence the “black” part of the burger name), was also pretty good—I didn’t taste any charcoal or anything, which I guess is good haha. The fries were so crisp and yummy too, and the homemade vegan mayo and ketchup went well with them. I did have to wait around 15-20 minutes, as they were preparing a huge Deliveroo order, so just keep in mind that you might not be in and out super quickly if you eat in.

Best coffee/breakfast: Black List

Veggie-friendly // Tram stop: ligne A/B, Hôtel de Ville

Look no further for that insta-worthy brunch. The avocado toast has raving reviews, and I was quite satisfied with my taste run—it’s definitely not standard though, boasting a dusting of cajun pepper and exotic citrus-y seeds. While I’m not a coffee person, Black List’s brew also has a big thumbs up from the online community. The sleek shop is often crowded, so also feel free to stop by for a quick pastry or organic juice—its city center location makes it quite convenient.

Honorable mention: Mokoji

Veggie-friendly, Korean // Tram stop: ligne A, Rue Ste Catherine

If you’re feeling Asian food, this is your place. The Japche dopbap without beef and beossot bibimbap without the egg are vegan and scrumptious. The atmosphere is sleek and has a bit of an upscale feel, with prices to match—my bibimbap was 14 euros. In a bustling part of town, it’s a great place to stop after running errands or seeing a film in the nearby independent theatre, Utopia. The restaurant is incredibly busy though, so make sure to book in advance or head over just as it opens!

Best Grocery Stores for Vegans in Bordeaux

Best all-around: La Vie Saine

Tram stop: ligne A, Rue Ste Catherine

I found just about everything I needed here, and more—organic peanut putter, alternative milks, meat substitutes, hummus. There was even a beauty and vitamin section. Definitely the most extensive stock and overall reasonable prices for organic-specific stores in Bordeaux. Location is convenient as well, just a few steps away from la rue Ste Catherine, a major tourist destination because of its plethora of iconic retail stores (it’s also the longest pedestrian road in France, at 1.2 km!).

Most convenient: Naturalia

Tram stop: ligne A/B, Hôtel de Ville

Naturalia is in the mall Saint-Christoly, which also has several other shops. This shop is smaller than La Vie Saine, but could be much more cost-efficient for certain items—I liked buying their bulk items, as well as their chia seeds (a 500g bag was only around 5 euros!). They also had a nice selection of fruits and veggies (see the romanesco broccoli in the above photo).

Note: there are also several organic chains, such as Bio C’Bon and Biocoop, which are also very convenient to pop into!

Best value: Casino

Tram stop: ligne B, Peixotto

When my parents saw my credit card statement, they were appalled to see “Casino” listed so many times—they thought I’d been gambling! In reality, I’d been shopping smart at the supermarket near campus.

The organic section here is inexpensive and extensive—I was able to score unsweetened soymilk fortified with calcium for only 1 euro, whole-grain bread for 2 euros, and dark chocolate dipped rice cakes for 1,20 euros. This was all basically half-price compared to organic stores! Another perk—you can make grocery runs between classes (especially if you’re at Bordeaux 1). And final pro tip: sign up for a student card, which automatically gives you 5% off each trip!

Note: for a large supermarket with organic aisles closer to downtown, Auchan Meriadeck is a good option, though not nearly as cheap.

Unexpected gem: HEMA

Tram stop: ligne A, Meriadeck or Rue Ste Catherine (2 locations with health foods)

This Amsterdam-based chain had cute school supplies, chic interior decor, cool snacks, AND shelled hemp seeds. It was the only place in Bordeaux where I could find my precious superfood (at one point, I was so desperate that I ordered hemp seeds from Amazon, shipped them to my US home address, and had my mom ship them to me in France). A 250g container ran for about 3,50 euros. It also offered chia seeds and goji berries at similar prices.

Best Markets in Bordeaux

** These markets are obviously not veggie-only, but they’re great options for groceries! ** 

Best all-around: Marché des Capucins

Tuesday-Sunday mornings // Tram stop: ligne B, Victoire

The best-known market in Bordeaux, for many reasons. Prices are quite affordable and fare is far fresher than what you’d find in-store. This was my place for avocados, which are quite pricey in France (usually 1 euro each in-store!). There are also several places to grab a quick bite to eat, such as tapas, and many colorful flower stands to admire.

Best atmosphere: Marché des Quais

Sunday mornings // Tram stop: ligne C, Chartrons

A lovely place for a Sunday-morning stroll. Located just along the river, this market has a more refined feel than Capucins—the prices correlate, but it’s also quite possible to find affordable fare. If you’re looking for a more classic market experience, this is your place. There are also several stands to grab a fresh lunch or sweet dessert.

Most convenient: Marché de la place Mondésir

Sunday mornings // Tram stop: ligne A, Hôpital Pellegrin (a bit of a walk though—bus is probably better)

Not nearly as touristy as the other two, this market is better if you’re closer to residential Bordeaux, and downtown is a bit too far. The merchants here could be particularly kind. I was offered free items on more than one ocassion—a shopkeeper once purposefully didn’t charge me for my onion and garlic when I purchased veggies, another gifted me a mini canelé (classic Bordeaux dessert) when I only wanted one. Prices here were most affordable.

Map of Vegan/Vegetarian Places in Bordeaux

So hopefully with all these resources, you Bordeaux-based vegans/vegetarians won’t need to be hangry. If you have any questions about eating mostly plant-based in France, don’t hesitate to drop me a comment or shoot me an email! I could talk for days about food and Bordeaux.