Vintage in Bordeaux: The Guide to Boutiques, Flea Markets, and Record Stores

On Rue Camille Sauvageau, just a stone's throw from Place Saint-Michel, Jeanne and Alban have, since 2023, run a vintage store that embraces its love of abundance: vintage clothing and objects, chosen as an antidote to disposable fashion and presented with joyful maximalism.

The pieces sometimes show their age, and the store makes no secret of it: a 1960s Burberrys trench coat was offered with its lining hand-stitched, with the imperfections clearly stated. Almost opposite, La Charcuterie does the same with records.

Transparency: that's us. My Pretty French Shoes is a Bordeaux-based house specializing in pre-owned luxury shoes — Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Céline and other major houses —, sold online. Some of our pairs are vintage; others are simply beautiful pre-owned pairs.

Each pair is authenticated and then goes through our workshop before being put up for sale: complete cleaning, resoling if necessary, reshaping. It is this work that gives a second life to an old shoe, and we also offer it for your own pairs, via our repair service.

Emilie Harnisch opened La Martinerie in 2018 on Rue des Faures, in the heart of Saint-Michel, with a "ready-to-wear-again" concept: hand-picked vintage pieces for women and men, some of which are reworked or customized.

The boutique has a rare specialty: a section of vintage eyewear frames, both prescription and sunglasses, whose lenses can be adapted by an optician. Jewelry and accessories complete the selection, and the bright and spacious venue also houses a tattoo parlor.

Located on Rue du Loup since 2009, Freep'Show is recognizable by its walls covered with vinyl records from floor to ceiling. The boutique clearly leans towards the 1970s: Levi's jeans, floral dresses, vintage bags, for both men and women.

Prices remain gentle, most often between €15 and €50, and the establishment also operates on a buy-and-deposit basis: you can bring in your own pieces.

Axel opened Retro Jam in July 2023 on Rue du Palais-Gallien, after several years of selling retro sneakers on Instagram. Approximately 400 models from the 1970s to 1990s—Nike, Jordan, Adidas, Reebok, Asics, New Balance, Converse—ranging from size 35 to 47, are cleaned and refurbished before sale.

Pre-owned pairs typically range from €50 to €60; the boutique also sells new, higher-priced pairs. With basketball posters and 90s decor, it's a highly specialized spot for anyone seeking a vintage pair.

Rue du Loup, Leilou Shop has specialized in vintage denim since 2007: Levi's jeans, jackets, shirts, overalls, and shorts, for men and women, along with bags, shoes, and accessories.

In addition to vintage pieces, the boutique also sells recent designer clothing in excellent condition. The manager advises, adjusts sizes, and even punches belts to the correct length; the affordable prices make it an easy stop on a street with several other thrift stores.

Nike ACG, Ralph Lauren, Adidas, Lacoste, The North Face: on Rue Buhan, near the Grosse Cloche, Snickers de Proust brings together 1990s sportswear and streetwear, right down to the shoes. The name is a nod to the madeleine—the founders' own "madeleine" is more of a chocolate bar.

Prices remain affordable for vintage branded pieces, ranging from €39 to €85 on their online store. A second location welcomes them in Darwin, on the right bank.

A small boutique on Rue des Augustins, near La Victoire, Déclic has been run since 2015 by Isabelle, who selects pieces from all eras with a clear penchant for the 1970s and 1980s. The atmosphere is bohemian, and the clientele is mostly female.

Vintage pieces rub shoulders with contemporary items, all at neighborhood prices: around twenty euros on average.

Rue du Mirail, Marcelle dresses you from head to toe: vintage glasses, velvet trousers, plaid shirts, structured coats, suede boots, leather bags. Styles range from classic to eclectic.

The boutique also operates on a consignment basis, which blends vintage pieces with more recent clothing. People come here to put together an entire outfit rather than just an isolated piece.

At the corner of Notre-Dame Street and Sicard Street, in a former printing house, antique dealers have shared the same roof since 1982. Visitors can browse from stand to stand, discovering furniture from the 17th to 20th centuries, mirrors, clocks, silverware, ceramics, lighting, Asian art, and 20th-century design.

This is the natural starting point for a stroll down Notre-Dame Street, which features other antique and second-hand dealers for several hundred meters. Period pieces come at a price; looking, however, costs nothing.

Just a stone's throw from Village Notre-Dame, Claude and Éloi Ducos' gallery has been dedicated to one thing since the early 2000s: 20th-century design. Furniture, lighting, objects, and posters, all chosen for their iconic signature—lamps by Vico Magistretti, furniture by George Nelson for Herman Miller, Knoll tables.

The prices reflect this: a few hundred euros for a mirror, several thousand for a major piece. This is the place to come and see in person the classics you've only ever known from photographs.

Furniture, lighting, decorative objects, and vinyl records, with a soft spot for the 1950s to 1970s: since 2015, Le Chat Bleu le Chat Chineur has been curating a selection of vintage finds, where a few signed pieces stand alongside more modest treasures.

Prices remain reasonable for selected vintage items—around €160 for a period coat rack. An address to combine with a visit to Village Notre-Dame, just a few streets away.

A consignment store like no other: 1,200 m² near Saint-Jean train station, opened in 1986, where furniture and decor from the 1950s to 1980s are arranged by era and theme — a living room entirely from the 70s, a corner dedicated to wine, another to music, a cabinet of curiosities.

You can hunt for Formica, antique lighting, tableware, toys, sometimes even a pinball machine. The stock rotates with new arrivals, and that's the beauty of it: what you didn't find this week might just appear the next.

Established on Rue de Cheverus since 1996, Diabolo Menthe boasts 50,000 records in-store, new and pre-owned, starting from €1. All styles are represented—variety, rock, soul, jazz, reggae, classical, punk, or psychedelic—with a section dedicated to collector's items: imports, promotional pressings, picture discs.

It's the go-to spot for crate diggers, who come for the depth of the inventory rather than the decor. You can also sell or trade your own records there.

The storefront and tiling of the old butcher shop on Rue Camille Sauvageau remain; the bins, however, now only contain pre-owned vinyl. Luc Magnant, who founded the record store Total Heaven in 1996, opened this small shop in 2005: jazz, blues, soul, funk, reggae, rock, soundtracks, and exotic music, in 33 and 45 RPM.

You can also find pre-owned hi-fi equipment and analog photography gear, and the house buys back collections. Small space and limited hours: it's best to check before crossing town.

Opened in 1982 on Cours Pasteur, Bam Balam is the oldest record store in Bordeaux, and one of the most unique. Jean-Jacques Arnould champions vintage vinyl and rarities: pop and rock from the 1960s to 1980s, psychedelic rock, and experimental music.

The shop is also an independent label, with Richard Pinhas among its catalog. A haven for discerning collectors, where you can browse at your leisure — opening hours are limited, so it's best to check them before visiting.