La Zoologie

La Zoologie, a Michelin Key Selected property in Bordeaux, France, consistently receives high praise for its unique design, exceptional service, and inviting ambiance, offering guests a memorable stay in a historic setting.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for La Zoologie is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as "excellent," "beautiful," and "amazing." The hotel is often lauded for its unique concept and design, making it a standout experience in Bordeaux. With an average score of 8.9 out of 10 from over a thousand reviews, the hotel is rated as "excellent" by many travelers.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently highlight several key aspects of La Zoologie:

• Unique Design & Ambiance: The hotel, housed in the former Institute of Zoology, boasts fascinating decor inspired by biology, flora, and fauna, featuring original stones, bricks, and metal structures. This distinctive style creates a "quirky" and "interesting concept" that captivates visitors.
• Exceptional Service: The staff is frequently praised for being friendly, helpful, professional, and attentive.
• Amenities & Facilities: The hotel offers a range of facilities including a spa with a jacuzzi, hammam, sauna, and relaxation areas, a fitness center, a tranquil garden, and a sun terrace. The rooftop bar, open during warmer months, is a popular spot for its panoramic city views and relaxed atmosphere.
• Proximity to Train Station: Its location within walking distance of Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station is a significant convenience for travelers.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at La Zoologie are described as spacious, comfortable, and very clean. They are air-conditioned and include a desk, coffee machine, safety deposit box, and flat-screen TV. Private bathrooms with showers are standard, and some rooms offer private balconies with city or garden views. The decor is unique and varied, with rooms split across three wings – Geology, Zoology, and Botanic – incorporating Bordeaux stone, clay walls, original brickwork, and botanical or animal-themed wallpaper. Soundproofing ensures a peaceful night's sleep.

4. Dining Experience

La Zoologie offers a notable dining experience:

• Restaurant: The on-site bistronomic restaurant, La Zoologie (also referred to as Le Banksia), serves French cuisine, creatively reinterpreting Bordeaux classics with a focus on fresh, local, and seasonal market produce. It features an open kitchen and an enchanting garden terrace for al fresco dining.
• Breakfast: A buffet or continental breakfast is available, featuring local specialties, warm dishes (like scrambled eggs and bacon), fresh pastries, various breads, cheeses, and juices. While generally praised as "excellent," some guests have found the coffee from the machine to be poor and pastries average.
• Bar & Rooftop: The hotel has a musical bar with a unique setting offering creative cocktails. The rooftop terrace, open in summer, provides panoramic views and a menu of sharing plates.
• Brunch: A gourmet buffet brunch with cold, hot, sweet, and savory options is offered every other Sunday for €42 per person (€21 for children under 9).

5. Service & Staff

Guest feedback consistently highlights the excellent service and friendly staff. Reviewers frequently commend the team for being supportive, competent, helpful, professional, and attentive. Specific staff members, like Corentin and Marine, have been singled out for their helpfulness.

6. Location & Accessibility

La Zoologie is conveniently located on Cours de la Marne, approximately 1.6 km from Bordeaux's city center. It is within walking distance of Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station (about 6-10 minutes) and has a bus stop right outside, providing easy access to city attractions. Popular nearby attractions include Saint Michel Basilica (less than 0.6 miles away) and the Great Bell Bordeaux (approximately a 20-minute walk). While the hotel's immediate surrounding area isn't always described as the most pleasant by all, guests generally felt safe and found easy routes to the city center. The airport (Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport) is about 8.1 miles away.

7. Value & Pricing

Many guests consider La Zoologie to offer good value for the price, rating it 8.4 out of 10 for value for money. Prices for a 1-night stay for 2 adults start from approximately $169.49, excluding taxes and fees, as of January 2026. Breakfast is typically €23 for adults and €12 for children. Access to the spa facilities (jacuzzi, hammam, sauna) is available for €35 per person for two hours, or €25 for the duration of the stay, with free access for guests in the Duplex Terrace Suite. Extra beds for children aged 3-17 cost €30 per person per night. Pets are allowed for a fee of €25 per pet, per day.

8. Common Complaints

While generally positive, some recurring criticisms include:

• Room Design: Some guests have found certain room designs to be problematic, particularly showers that are "totally glass" or "open to the room" offering little privacy, which can be an issue for friends sharing a room or if the room feels drafty. The "geology room" design with metal and concrete finishes can also be noisy.
• Bathroom Issues: A few complaints mention a "quirky" and "very severe" toilet flushing system that sprays water over the seat and onto the floor.
• Dining Quality: While breakfast is largely praised, some found the machine coffee "very poor/nasty" and some pastries "average". There was also a comment about "poor food quality" for dinner and lunch at the restaurant, and beer not being properly chilled at the bar.
• Spa & Gym: The gym is noted by some as small and dark with limited equipment. Spa facilities can be limited or come at an extra charge for certain room types.
• Noise and Temperature: Some guests experienced noise from the surrounding area or from other guests if windows were open. Occasionally, rooms were reported as cool, with difficulty increasing the temperature.
• Minor Service Issues: Isolated incidents of an unwelcoming receptionist, out-of-service elevators, or issues with laundry service have been mentioned.

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