Imagine a sombre salon, ladies in pixie cuts and loose sleeveless dresses lounging about in plush velvet high backed armchairs. Too early for dinner, too bored for another nap, they lazily sip on their porcelaine art deco tea cups, filled with beautiful aromas.

La diplomate is a lovely place. A little sleepy, perhaps, though not for lack of clients. The front room houses all the uniform big black cannisters of manually mixed dry tea leaves and fruit pieces and flower leaves, each capturing a souvenir of some far off places. Down the back is the dimly lit tea salon, warm and comfortable.

La diplomate used to be one of my favourite late lunch/afternoon tea places when I first landed in Bordeaux. The teas are ideal presents, classy and elegant. Go ahead and choose from any of the homemade baked goods with your tea. The lemon slices are my favourite.

La Diplomate

32 rue du Parlement

Saint-Pierre

33000 Bordeaux