Biarritz
Biarritz is a Belle Époque resort city on France's Basque coast, facing the Bay of Biscay. Built as a summer retreat for Empress Eugénie and Napoleon III in the 1850s, it later drew Coco Chanel, Sarah Bernhardt, and Frank Sinatra, and by the 1950s had become the birthplace of European surf culture along the Côte des Basques. A new generation of chefs, hoteliers, and gallerists has since given the town a second wind — grand hotels and Art Deco casinos still anchor the promenade above La Grande Plage, while Les Halles market and the Rue Gambetta shopping district give it its everyday rhythm. Here is our guide to Biarritz, France.
STAY
HÔTEL DU PALAIS
Built by Napoleon III as a summer villa for Empress Eugénie in 1855, this palace hotel on La Grande Plage has hosted everyone from Coco Chanel to Frank Sinatra. There's an oceanfront pool, a spa, and the Michelin-starred La Rotonde. 1 Avenue de l'Impératrice; hotel-du-palais.com
REGINA EXPERIMENTAL BIARRITZ
A 1907 Belle Époque beauty perched on the lighthouse cliff, revived by designer Dorothée Meilichzon with rooms opening onto the Atlantic on one side and a golf course on the other. There's a spa, an outdoor pool, and Frenchie Biarritz, the seafront restaurant serving regional Basque fare with Parisian polish. 52 Avenue de l'Impératrice; site.experimentalgroup.com/biarritz
HÔTEL LE GARAGE BIARRITZ
Once the carpark for the Rolls-Royces of Regina guests next door, this timeless 4-star hotel has 27 playful, retro-inflected rooms, a garden pool where the gas pump once stood, and a legendary DJ-soundtracked Sunday brunch. 50 Avenue de l'Impératrice; site.experimentalgroup.com/biarritz
HÔTEL DE LA PLAGE
A newly refurbished waterfront boutique hotel halfway between Villa Belza and Rocher de la Vierge, right on Port Vieux beach, with 20 sea-themed rooms and a rooftop for sunset cocktails. 3 Esplanade du Port Vieux; staysomedays.com
VILLA MAGNAN
A hidden Art Deco château built in 1927–31, once home to a Spanish marquis who fled the civil war, then left abandoned for 80 years until cinematographer-and-set-designer couple Anne and Jérôme Israël restored it. Six suites, a dreamy gourmet kitchen, and various indoor and outdoor living spaces where guests can feel at home. An albino peacock roams the grounds, and the on-site restaurant, De Puta Madre, is a summer institution. 11 Rue de Mouriscot
CASAVIEL
An authentic Basque farmhouse bed & breakfast set in a 17th-century home on one of Biarritz's oldest farms, a 10-minute walk from the beach. casaviel.fr
VILLA ETXE GORRIA
A charming five-bedroom house available to rent by the room. villaetxegorria-biarritz.fr
SOFITEL BIARRITZ LE MIRAMAR THALASSA SEA & SPA
A beachfront resort above Miramar beach with a full thalassotherapy spa using seawater treatments, an indoor pool, and sweeping views of the Basque coastline toward the lighthouse. 13 Rue Louison Bobet
LE TALAIA HOTEL & SPA BIARRITZ – MGALLERY
Set above the Rocher de la Vierge with panoramic ocean views, this polished hotel has a pool, a spa, and a restaurant overlooking the water. 1 Carrefour Hélianthe
HÔTEL DE SILHOUETTE
A boutique hotel in one of Biarritz's oldest buildings, dating to the 17th century and once home to Étienne de Silhouette, finance minister to Louis XV. There's a lush garden, a summer restaurant, and rooms warmed with tobacco brown and terracotta hues. 30 Rue Gambetta; hotel-silhouette-biarritz.com
GRAND TONIC HOTEL & SPA NUXE
A 4-star beach hotel a short walk from Rocher de la Vierge, with a full-service Nuxe spa, sauna, hammam, and plunge pool. 58 Avenue Edouard VII; tonichotelbiarritz.com
DINE | DRINK
LA ROTONDE – LA TABLE D'AURÉLIEN LARGEAU
The Michelin-starred dining room at Hôtel du Palais, helmed by chef Aurélien Largeau, in a room Alain Ducasse once called "the most beautiful in the world." Don't miss the Sunday brunch buffet of shellfish and sweets, served September through June. 1 Avenue de l'Impératrice; hotel-du-palais.com
FRENCHIE BIARRITZ
The seafront restaurant at Regina Experimental, sharing DNA with the Frenchie restaurants in Paris. Expect red tuna from nearby Saint-Jean-de-Luz, pasta stuffed with Ossau-Iraty sheep's cheese, and Espelette-pepper-inflected Basque flavors. 52 Avenue de l'Impératrice; site.experimentalgroup.com/biarritz
DE PUTA MADRE
Villa Magnan's celebrated garden restaurant, tucked into the shady garden behind the property, where meals are enjoyed beneath old oak trees with ingredients from the local farm nearby. A single 85-euro-per-person menu is offered for dinner; an à la carte sharing menu is available for lunch. Open summer only. 11 Rue de Mouriscot
CHÉRI BIBI
A former fish shop turned casual restaurant focused on local, organic, and seasonal ingredients, with a daily-changing dinner menu that's 60–70% vegetable-forward. There's no physical wine menu — guests access the cellar to hand-select their own bottle of natural wine. Bibi Beaurivage; cheribibibiarritz.com
ETXOLA BIBI
Biarritz's first-ever beach bar cabane, and still a cult perch for sundowners over Côte des Basques. Bibi Beaurivage; etxolabibi.com
CARLOS
A mythical restaurant, bar, and terrace facing the sea, open since the 1970s in the Basques neighborhood. By day it's tapas, poke bowls, and coffee on the bleachers with a book from the library; by sunset, cocktails and music take over, with a bohemian, share-everything atmosphere overlooking Côte des Basques. 7 Boulevard du Prince de Galles
LE CAFÉ DE LA GRANDE PLAGE
The Art Deco beachside brasserie inside Casino Barrière, known for its all-you-can-eat seafood buffet on Fridays. 1 Avenue Édouard VII; casinosbarriere.com
RESTAURANT FREYA
Natural wines paired with a veggie-focused tasting menu of market produce, sea samphire, and tingly ferments. Saint-Charles neighborhood
JACK THE COCKEREL
Overlooking La Grande Plage with the city's most prestigious location, this sleek bar-restaurant is hard to beat for cocktails and platters of tuna tataki and roast chicken at sunset. La Grande Plage; jackthecockerel.com
LE SALEYA
An excellent three-course prix-fixe with a well-positioned terrace and 1970s-style decor, featuring local ingredients like Ispéguy trout and hake from the Ciboure fish market. 34 Rue Gambetta; lesaleyabiarritz.sumupstore.com
BAR JEAN
A beloved traditional Basque bistro across from Les Halles market, known for tapas, paellas, and meat dishes since the 1930s. 5 Rue des Halles; barjean-biarritz.fr
L'ARTNOA
A hip wine bar loved as much for its passionate staff as its epic list and on-street sipping stools. lartnoa.com
CHEZ ALBERT
A seaside institution at the fishermen's port specializing in wild fish and shellfish from the French Basque coast, with a lovely terrace in spring and summer. 51 Allée Port des Pêcheurs; chezalbert.fr
CASA JUAN PEDRO
A no-reservations institution at the fishermen's port since 2000, run by twin brothers Jean and Paul, grilling sardines, mussels, and gambas à la plancha in a lively, family-run setting. 48 Allée Port des Pêcheurs
LE CORSAIRE
Fantastic tapas at the old fishermen's port. 15 All. Port des Pêcheurs
L'IMPERTINENT
A Michelin one-star restaurant in the Saint-Charles district, known for inventive, even irreverent French cuisine built on local, organic products and naturally leavened bread. 5 Rue d'Alsace; l-impertinent.fr
LES ENFANTS DU MARCHÉ – LA TABLE
The seaside outpost of the acclaimed Paris market counter from the Marché des Enfants Rouges, less about a single chef than a group of people who care where their ingredients come from. The menu changes constantly, with grilled fish, beautifully cooked meat, and seasonal vegetables, made for sharing with natural wines. 51 Rue Gambetta
ARDI BELTZA
Basque for "black sheep," this curiosity of a restaurant shares its building with a court for pelota, the centuries-old Basque ball game. Chilean-born chef Aldo Rioseco serves family-style feasts.
CAFÉ DES ARTISTES
A classic neighborhood bistro known for its delicious steak frites, run by a close-knit team of friends. 26 Av. du Maréchal Foch
BLEACH
A relaxed, design-savvy café just minutes from the surf, founded by ex-pro skater Jon Monié and his partner Stéphane Borgne. Simple, seasonal food built on high-quality local ingredients — easy breakfasts, elevated sandwiches and soups — alongside natural wines and great coffee in a laid-back, sunlit space. Near Côte des Basques; lefooding.com
CENTRO BIARRITZ
A newly opened spot for ceviche and oysters, innovative cocktails, and a trendy music scene by night. instagram.com/centro_biarritz
RETOUR VERRE LE FUTUR
A beloved natural wine shop and bar pouring more than 300 references of red, white, orange, and sparkling wines. 91 Avenue de la Marne; 91 Av. de la Marne; retourverrelefutur.com
NELLY'S
A beloved spot for burgers. 21 Av. du Jardin public; nellys.fr
CHISTERA ET COQUILLAGES
Some of the best no-frills seafood and pintxos in Biarritz. 3 Rue des Halles, 6; chisteraetcoquillages.fr
LOBITA
The best coffee at Les Halles market, and a daily ritual stop for locals doing their morning shopping. Les Halles de Biarritz; lobitacafe.com
L'ÉCAILLERIE
An oyster stand tucked inside Les Halles, perfect for a quick, fresh snack while browsing the market. Les Halles de Biarritz; instagram.com/lecaillebiarritz
CAFÉ LOKY
The best coffee in town, and stellar banana bread besides. instagram.com/loky.biarritz
MIREMONT
Biarritz's oldest tea room, chocolaterie, and pâtisserie, open since 1872, best visited on a rainy day to watch the storm roll over the sea. Order the lemon meringue, the raspberry tart, or the traditional Basque cake. 1bis Place Georges Clemenceau; miremont-biarritz.fr
HENRIET
A master chocolatier known for incredible éclairs au chocolat and its house specialty, rochers de Biarritz. Place Georges Clemenceau; chocolaterie-henriet.com
MAISON ADAM
A house dating to 1660, when a recipe created for the wedding of Louis XIV made its almond macarons — known locally as mouchous — famous across the Basque Country; the Gâteau Basque à la Cerise is a classic too. 27 Place Georges Clemenceau; maisonadam.fr
MAISON AROSTÉGUY
The oldest family-owned delicatessen in France, founded in 1875, with wall-to-wall jars of Espelette pepper, Basque pâtés, spices, teas, and wines. 5 Avenue Victor Hugo; arosteguy.com
1001 FROMAGES
A destination cheese shop specializing in French cheeses and a host of hearty wines to pair. 8 Rue Victor Hugo; 1001fromages.com
YEÜZ SLICE & COFFEE
A speciality coffee shop selling sourdough pizza slices and warm, gooey cinnamon buns rolled from leftover dough — best eaten while promenading La Grande Plage.
OKINDEGIA
A bakery whose scent of fresh bakes is impossible to resist; duck in for a warm loaf spread with creamy French butter. 39 Rue Gambetta
LA GAMBETTE A seasonal guinguette under the plane trees at Alfred Hotels Biarritz Les Halles, just steps from the market. Communal wood tables, string lights, and a lively outdoor bar set the scene for tapas and shareable plates built on fresh, seasonal produce, with fairly priced wine to match. Open April through October, closed Mondays. 18 Rue Gambetta.
ART | CULTURE | ACTIVITIES
ROCHER DE LA VIERGE
A statue of the Virgin Mary set on a rock formation off the coast, connected to the mainland by an Eiffel-designed footbridge — one of Biarritz's most photographed landmarks. Esplanade du Rocher de la Vierge
VILLA BELZA
A striking waterside villa perched on a rock at the water's edge, along the coastal path near Côte des Basques — another of the town's most photographed silhouettes.
LES CENT MARCHES
The steps leading down to the seafront at Côte des Basques, a favorite gathering spot for family picnics and impromptu community get-togethers — past ones have ended with a piano carried down for an impromptu concert.
PHARE DE BIARRITZ
The city's lighthouse on Pointe Saint-Martin, with 248 steps to a panoramic view that, on a clear day, takes in the Spanish Pyrenees.
MUSÉE DE LA MER
An Art Deco aquarium built in 1933, devoted to the whaling and marine history of the Bay of Biscay, with sharks, sea turtles, and seal-feeding shows. Esplanade du Rocher de la Vierge; aquariumbiarritz.com
CITÉ DE L'OCÉAN
An interactive ocean-science museum with virtual-reality surfing experiences and deep-sea exploration exhibits. 1 Avenue de la Plage; citedelocean.com
LA CHAPELLE IMPÉRIALE
A lavish chapel built in 1864 at the request of Empress Eugénie, blending Roman-Byzantine and Hispano-Moorish styles; its decorative interior can only be visited on Wednesdays, by reservation. ville-imperiale.com
CHAMP LACOMBE
The contemporary gallery that put Biarritz on the international art circuit when British gallerist Lucy Chadwick, formerly of New York's Gavin Brown's enterprise, opened it in July 2021 — the first contemporary art space in the city. Past shows have featured Matthew Barney, Sylvie Fleury, Mike Kelley, Gaetano Pesce, and Tim Breuer; Italian artist Franco Mazzucchelli installs new inflatable sculpture works this spring, with a one-day activation at Villa Natacha timed to Chanel's Cruise 2027 show. 7 Rue Champ Lacombe; champlacombe.fr
PIOCHE PROJECTS
A scrappy, multipronged arts space at the edge of the city, in a building that's been both a laundromat and a parking garage. Run by a collective of artists who rent studios and host art shows, sound baths, yoga, dance parties, and weekly drawing classes.
LES HALLES DE BIARRITZ
The culinary heart of the city since 1885, with fresh fruit and vegetable stalls, cheesemongers, oyster counters, and artisan coffee — best visited before it shutters at 2pm. Rue des Halles; halles-biarritz.fr
CÔTE DES BASQUES
The birthplace of surfing in Europe, discovered in 1956 when American screenwriter Peter Viertel sent for his board while in town filming an adaptation of The Sun Also Rises. Hire boards along the beach or book English-language lessons through Biarritz Surf Guide — check tide times, as the beach disappears completely at high tide. biarritzsurfguide.com
ÉGLISE SAINTE-EUGÉNIE
A hilltop neo-Gothic Catholic church with intricate stained-glass windows, sometimes illuminated at night, overlooking the fishermen's port.
SHOP
RUE GAMBETTA
The city's charming central shopping street, lined with concept stores, bakeries, and vintage boutiques.
HAROLD ET MAUDE
Giddily high-end vintage, from Chanel to Hermès. 3 Av. Victor Hugo
MADAME, MONSIEUR
Three neighboring boutiques forming a concept-store masterclass, with equal appeal for men and women plus its own house merch line. Rue Gambetta; madamemonsieurbiarritz.com
MAGASIN CENTRAL
Curated tableware and homewares. Rue Gambetta; magasincentral.com
OPEN ME
Unique gems like embroidered vests and animal-shaped vases. Rue Gambetta
GRAINE
A serotonin shot of color-pop beachwear. Rue Gambetta; graineclothing.com
FADEAD VINTAGE
Where fashion editors buy vintage Levi's — reportedly the best selection outside the US.
YVONNE
Rainbow-curated vintage fashion off l'Avenue de l'Impératrice.
PUJOL MICHEL
A vintage bookseller open only a few hours a day, worth catching for piles of rare and fascinating finds. 1 Rue Chp Lacombe
LES PUCES DE QUINTAOU
The Basque coast's biggest flea market, unfurling stalls of linen, ceramics, and antiques under the pines — held the fourth Saturday of each month in neighboring Anglet. puces-quintaou.com
GALERIES LAFAYETTE
The iconic department store in a historical building on Place Georges Clemenceau, carrying luxury names like Chanel, Dior, and Gucci alongside high-street brands. 17-19 Place Georges Clemenceau; galerieslafayette.com
LE VESTIAIRE A multi-brand boutique on Rue Léon Gambetta carrying a well-edited mix of jewelry and accessories, including pieces from French costume jewelry label Khaïden Bijoux — think moonstone, turquoise, and lapis lazuli set in baroque and retro-chic styles. Av. Reine Victoria; khaidenbijoux.com
SPA
SPA AT REGINA EXPERIMENTAL
A serene spa within the Belle Époque hotel, paired with an outdoor pool. 52 Avenue de l'Impératrice; site.experimentalgroup.com/biarritz
THALASSA SEA & SPA AT SOFITEL BIARRITZ LE MIRAMAR
A full thalassotherapy program using seawater-based treatments overlooking the Atlantic. 13 Rue Louison Bobet
SPA NUXE AT GRAND TONIC HOTEL & SPA
A full-service spa with sauna, hammam, and plunge pool near Rocher de la Vierge. 58 Avenue Edouard VII; tonichotelbiarritz.com