The 10 addresses that make Biarritz

In 1854, Napoleon III and Eugénie decided to spend two months in Biarritz. They fell madly in love with the town, and would return again and again for the next 14 years. Under their impetus, the small fishing village quickly became one of the most chic resorts on the coast, with its palaces, casino and art deco villas. A century and a half later, Biarritz has preserved all these charms without ever allowing itself to be trapped in the past. A haven for surfers from all over the world, it's also a lively town, with young chefs shaking up the gastronomic scene, a generation ofNouvelles Vagues", a film festival dedicated to young creative talents, will be launched in 2022. To be (re)discovered as soon as possible...

Where to stay?

Regina Experimental Biarritz

Facing the ocean, the Regina is one of Biarritz's must-see hotels. Now a member of the Experimental Group, this Belle Epoque retreat houses 72 rooms and suites decorated with raw materials, varnished furniture and aquatic carpets, all opening majestically onto the bay. The first floor reinvents the score of a 1920s cocktail piano bar, with a huge counter facing more cosy spaces, decorated with large sofas and lit by Ingo Maurer lamps. As for the restaurant flanked by a beautiful terrace, it is now the stronghold of chef Grégory Marchand, who offers a cuisine d'auteur based on local classics.

• Double room from 218 euros
• 52 avenue de l'Impératrice 64200 Biarritz
• Tel: 05 59 41 33 00
• Further information on Regina Experimental Biarritz

© mrtripper

Hôtel Le Café de Paris

In the heart of Biarritz, this art deco hotel has been given a new lease of life by Sarah Lavoine, who has combined Belle Époque style with marine inspirations. All open onto the ocean, the 19 rooms and suites are decorated in the designer's signature blues and greens, with natural oak parquet flooring, pebble-shaped poufs and ropes from the deck of a boat. This same spirit extends to Café Basque, one of today's hottest spots for its delicious locavore cuisine led by Cédric Béchade (also chef of L'Auberge Basque, Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle), served in the cosy lounges in winter, and on the terrace when the sun comes out. 

• Double room from 168 euros
• 5 Place Bellevue 64200 Biarritz
• Tel: 05 59 24 19 53
• Further information on Le Café de Paris

© DR

Where to have lunch, dinner or a drink?

Freya

Here's the review of this restaurant: "Pure veg in a multitude of flavors, yet never boring. This is the challenge taken up by Guillaume Chatillon, who has worked at Bras, Troisgros and Goujon, in this room in the Saint-Charles district that was once home to Matthias Leuliette and his restaurant Demain. The space is bright and welcoming, with wooden tables, wooden chairs and forest-green fabrics, and a lovely parquet floor for a warm, uncluttered style." Read more

Sillon

Here's a review of this restaurant: "When you've got the personality and know-how, it's pretty easy to make your mark in just a few years, to have a recognizable and recognized signature. Such is the case with Mathieu Rostaing-Tayard, whose restaurant in Biarritz undeniably stands out, a blend of chic and casual, where everything seems simple and at the same time the culmination of a long process." Read more

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Bar Le Surfing

A must... On the Basque coast, this bar nestled on the first floor of a 70s building is today the HQ of all locals who come for a drink with a pan-fried chipirons at sunset. Discover it not only for its terrace overlooking the ocean, but also for its large dining room and picture windows offering an exceptional view of the Pyrenees.

• 9 Boulevard du Prince de Galles, 64200 Biarritz
• Tel: 05 59 24 78 72.
• www.lesurfing.fr

Things to see, things to do...

Aquarium

Housed in a huge art deco building, this aquarium is an ode to the ocean, its riches and its preservation. It all starts in the basement, with some twenty basins featuring jellyfish, octopus and seahorses. On the upper floors, you can listen to whales singing through high-tech headphones, enjoy the fascinating spectacle of mangroves and coral reefs, have a spectacular encounter with sharks and barracudas, or enjoy a more moving encounter with seals that have washed ashore and are being cared for by the site's staff. Meanwhile, visitors will have discovered the intimate link between the city and the ocean, with beautiful model boats and the first surfboards, and taken a break on the terrace with its 360° panorama. Not to be missed!

• Esplanade du rocher de la Vierge, 64200 Biarritz
• Tel: 05 59 22 75 40
• www.aquariumbiarritz.com

The beaches

Biarritz is first and foremost the beach, or rather the beaches that are the heart and soul of the town. Depending on your mood, you can visit the family-friendly Grande Plage, or the more intimate Miramar and Port-Vieux creeks. Looking for a thrill? Head for the Côte des Basques, repeatedly voted "France's most beautiful beach" and a stronghold for surfers from all over the world, with its powerful waves and sand huts offering board rentals and introductory surfing lessons. But first, don't miss a walk along the Rocher de la Vierge. It's a great spectacle, with waves crashing on the swell-sculpted rocks and a small tunnel leading to a jetty of the old port built under Napoleon III.

Les Halles and the best grocery stores

The meeting place for locals who wouldn't miss this daily market for the world. Come early in the morning, before the crowds, to admire the stalls brimming with 100% Basque products: Iberian hams at Montauzer, local cheeses at Crémerie des Halles and, of course, the mythical Basque cake at Maquirran. Want to extend your gastronomic journey? Visit one of Biarritz's historic grocery stores: Maison Arostéguy , which has been delighting the town with its wines, cheeses, charcuterie and Basque cherry and cream cakes since 1875, or chocolate makers Henriet or Maison Adam for Biarritz rochers and (divine) macaroons from Saint-Jean de Luz.

• Halles de Biarritz, Rue des Halles. 64200 Biarritz
• Maison Arostéguy, 5 avenue Victor Hugo. 64200 Biarritz
• Henriet, Place Georges Clemenceau, 64200 Biarritz.
• Maison Adam, Place Georges Clemenceau, 64200 Biarritz

Art Deco villas

On one side the ocean, on the other the 1930s. Here, the seaside stroller need only turn his head to discover a profusion of art deco splendors. Starting with the casino and nearby municipal swimming pool; the Moorish-inspired villas Marrakech and Casablanca; the villa Larralde, Gabrielle Chanel's first fashion house; the neo-Gothic Roche Ronde; and the hidden nugget of the Chapelle Impériale. Built at the request of Princess Eugénie as a tribute to the Black Madonna, it's a must-see for its floral paintings, its capitals inspired by those of the Alhambra and its delightful forgotten garden.

• Casino and municipal swimming pool, 1 avenue Edouard VII, 64200 Biarritz
• Villa Marrakech & Casablanca; 2-4 rue Louison Bobet, 64200 Biarritz
• Roche Ronde. 15 avenue de l'Impératrice, 64200 Biarritz
• Chapelle Impériale. 15 rue des Cent gardes, 64200 Biarritz

The Bibi Beaurivage district

Overlooking the Basque coast, the old fishermen's quarter has retained all its charm, with its maze of narrow streets housing old fishermen's houses. Take a break at the delicious Chéri Bibi wine bar, stroll the Parc Mazon alleys and enjoy the spectacular ocean views below. Heading north, don't miss the Open Me boutique, with its ceramics and beautiful Basque linen; Lartigue 1910, with its linens and espadrilles that blend classic and contemporary colors; and Cazenave, an exceptional photo gallery specializing in surfing.

• Chéri bibi 50 rue d'Espagne, 64200 Biarritz
• Open Me, 74 avenue Gambetta, 64200 Biarritz
• Lartigue 8 av Edouard VII, 64200 Biarritz
• Cazeneuve 8 avenue Gambetta, 64200 Biarritz

The villages of Arcangues, Arbonne and Ahetze.

Just a few kilometers from Biarritz, but already deep in the mountains, a string of tiny villages, full of charm and far from the crowds. In Arcangues (home of Louis Mariano), don't miss the square with its town hall flanked by its pediment, the XVIᵉ church with its exceptional painted wooden ceiling and its terraced cemetery overlooking the surrounding mountains and the mythical summit of La Rhune. Then on to Arbonne, with its pediment, church and small square housing the Cidrerie du Fronton Sargande, ideal for a drink while savoring the exquisite tranquility of the surroundings. And finally, head to Ahetze to admire the beautiful altarpiece in the XVIIᵉ church.