InterContinental Bordeaux - Le Grand Hotel

"Opposite the magnificent eighteenth-century Grand Théatre, the 150-room Regent Grand perfectly mirrors the aristocratic elegance of this lovely city, thanks to the exquisite interiors of designer Jacques Garcia. Black-lacquer wrought-iron lamps with pleated silk shades soften the reception area, which is furnished with striped-velvet barrel chairs and potted palms, and rooms are done in pretty nineteenth-century damasks and wallpapers, with reproduction Napoleon-something furniture. The signature restaurant, Le Pressoir d’Argent, is a stunner with a rocaille decor (seashells set into elaborate plaster moldings) and a sublime seafood menu. There’s also a lively wine bar, a brasserie that provides great people-watching from the sidewalk terrace, and the promise of a full-service spa. It became an InterContinental in early 2016."