Les Sources de Caudalie, Bordeaux

In short… Les Sources de Caudalie is an idyllic spa retreat in a vineyard just outside of Bordeaux (and very close to the airport)

The look and feel… Les Sources de Caudalie sits in the middle of the Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyard, a Grand Cru Classé of Graves–and while it seems as if it has been here for centuries, it was actually just built in 1999. Because they repurposed ancient structures (18th-century wood that was recovered from cellars of neighboring chateaus), the effect is that this hamlet feels like it’s always been here. The interior design feels fresh—a mix of modern with some vintage—and the whole effect is really unlike anything I’ve experienced, as I’m so used to old or new, and this is a special hybrid. We first started coming here when we had very early morning flights from the Bordeaux airport, and needed to spend a night somewhere close by. Since we first discovered it almost 10 years ago, we’ve come back about once a year, and absolutely love it.

The rooms… There are 40 rooms and 21 suites within 6 different complexes, which are all meant to represent regional variations of the Aquitaine. I’ve stayed in several different styles of rooms, and they all feel fresh and modern.

The food & drink… For such a small hotel, there are many options–all of which utilize their very big kitchen garden. Our favorite is La Table du Lavoir, which is more bistro/country cuisine and very seasonal-ingredient focused–they have a summer salad on the lunch menu that is so good I asked them for the recipe and shared it here. There’s also a two-star Michelin restaurant, La Grand’ Vigne, and a wine bar that is open all day (a rarity in France!) called Rouge. We love their cocktail bar—the bartenders are always introducing us to some French spirit we didn’t know about.

The wellness… If you’re planning on a trip here, make your spa appointments immediately! It is so sought after and hard to get into. I had a great facial here ages ago, and I loved the hot water spring which is super powerful–its source is 540 meters below. I really want to try the crushed Cabernet body treatment.