Comprehensively transformed, this mythical address on Bordeaux’s Place de la Bourse, now joins the meccas of the fine dining scene and French art de vivre and includes, on the ground floor, a cocktail bar that opens out onto a vast terrace opposite Bordeaux’s famous water mirror, and the 90-cover Le Bistrot du Gabriel on the first floor.

On 21st September, with the opening of its gastronomic restaurant L’Observatoire, Le Gabriel as a whole has been enhanced and complete.

The management of this new outstanding fine dining location has been put into the hands of Chef Alexandre Baumard, who leads the brigades at Le Bistrot du Gabriel and in Saint-Emilion at the Logis de la Cadène, which was awarded a first Michelin star in 2017.

At L’Observatoire, the chef continues to offer his characteristic refined style of cuisine with its focus on concentration of flavour together with a high proportion of precise, rigorously-selected produce sourced from top suppliers. For the seafood element, which he is developing in his menus, Alexandre Baumard works directly with fish markets on the Atlantic coast strictly according to seasonal availability and sustainable fishing principles. His pastry chef colleague Damien Amilien is in charge of the dessert section of the menus.

For the 35-cover L’Observatoire, situated on the second floor of the building, Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal has sought to preserve the atmosphere of an elegant 18th century apartment that features spacious rooms, Versailles parquet, mouldings and cornices, while introducing a very contemporary elegance through the choice of lighting, colour and furniture that bring the place a softness and freshness.

The private dining room can seat 8 guests and offers a view onto the kitchen of L’Observatoire, and enables guests to enjoy the dishes created by Alexandre Baumard in a cosy, intimate setting.

“The opening of L’Observatoire is the culmination of a project that my family and I have nurtured ever since we purchased Le Gabriel. Our wish was to give a new lease of life to one of Bordeaux’s most emblematic places, and in so doing show our deep attachment to this city and our desire to take part in the tremendous dynamism it is enjoying today.  L’Observatoire will also be a place where great wine and fine-dining savoir-faire is celebrated, while our proud tradition of sharing and conviviality will be showcased as never before,” stated Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, the CEO of Angélus.