In Biarritz, I expected beautiful views, good surf, and relaxed people and while I found all of that, what surprised me was that I also found some of the best food I have ever had. I just returned from a long weekend in Biarritz and had the most incredible time seeing (and eating) all the amazing food Biarritz had to offer. These are some of the lovely restaurants I had the pleasure of trying. I was blown away by how fresh everything was and the restaurants’ attention to sourcing local ingredients with changing menus.
Best Bakeries and Cafes in Biarritz
Lobita Marchè
In The Halles, you will find an incredible specialty coffee place. I ordered a cappuccino with what seemed to be local milk and while drinking it I saw the staff making someone else a hot chocolate, and it looked fantastic. So naturally I order one too. I was extremely pleased with it, especially because it was of the thinner variety, as opposed to the thick soupy type that is common in Europe (Which isn’t my favorite).
Le Fournil du Rocher
My favorite French baked good has to be Cannelé, and this was the best one that I had while in Biarritz. Le Fournil du Rocher is a small bakery located in the Bibi neighborhood. Their pan suisse is also incredibly delicious and chocolatey. They have delicious croissants, as well as many other traditional baked goods.
If you are looking for this place you might have to look up The Bakery of the Rock as its name in French did not show up for me on Google Maps. Here is a pin if you have trouble finding it.
Colors of Surfing
Colors of Surfing Is my favorite because it is a surf shop mixed with a coffee shop. They had sick clothing made by many local artisans and some classic surf brands. I was so impressed with their attention to sustainability from the brands they selected and the stuff from their label. They also rent and shape boards so if you are looking to surf (or not) please check out this local store, get a coffee, and hang out for a while looking around at all of their stuff. I also saw online that they occasionally host some cool events so keep an eye on their Instagram while you are there.
Yeuz Slice and Coffee
Yeuz More than a Pizza is located just 300m from the Grande Plage. They serve great coffee and pizza throughout the day. In the morning they have pizza-based pastries such as cinnamon and Nutella pizza rolls. I made the mistake of judging these by how they looked and not ordering them at first but please don’t make the same mistake as this pizza-inspired take on a cinnamon roll is delicious.
Where to get Lunch in Biarritz
L’Ecalliere Fish Market
I grew up on the California coast and spent lots of my summers in Charleston, so my standards for seafood are extremely high, especially regarding shrimp and oysters. When I say this was some of the freshest seafood I have had, that is saying a lot, especially at the prices that L’Ecalliere has to offer. The menu offers a variety of platters that include a different combo of seafood + white wine. A plate of six oysters with wine is only €8.5! The people that work there are very friendly and can make great recommendations on what to get. We got the shrimp (with garlic aioli), oysters, and wine. Everything was so tasty and fresh that we could not resist going back for seconds of everything.
Nelly’s Biarritz
I never would’ve expected to have the best burger of my life in Biarritz but boy was I wrong, I didn’t just have the best hamburger, but I had to go back and get another one before I left and I am still thinking about it. Nelly’s makes incredible burgers and fries. The fries couldn’t be more perfectly seasoned, and the burgers are smash burger style. Everything from the bread to the sauce, to the crispy outsides of the meat was perfect and just melted in my mouth. If you visit Biarritz I cannot recommend going here enough.
I recommend taking your burger to Cote Des Basque (here is a pin). It is only about 12 minutes away and you can enjoy your burger while watching the surf.
Halles de Biarritz
Going to Biarritz and not checking out the Halles de Biarritz would be a big mistake. The Halles are filled with life (and food of course). They have some of the most incredible food in Biarritz. There are two buildings, one is filled with baked goods, coffee, tapas, as well as seasonings, cheese, and fruit while the other building is a (world-class) fish market. These are some of the most impressive and clean markets I have seen in Europe.
If you are renting a house or staying somewhere with a kitchen you can find the most stunning produce here to cook with at home. In the morning you can stop by for amazing bread, pan suisse, crepes, and coffee, and in the afternoon they offer a large variety of different pre-made food at all of the stands from French, to Spanish to Italian. The halls close at 14:00, so it is best to plan on going there around noon for lunch.
Fishing Village
In 1860, Biarritz’s charming fishing village was slowly introduced to the city. This small fishing village soon boomed at the beginning of the 20th century, but then with the beginning of the First War, many of these fishermen had to leave the village to join the army. The little white ‘houses’ are called crampottes. These were there for fishermen who spent the night at the port after a long day of fishing. Now they are used for storage and accompanied by a few restaurants specializing in fish.
This spring I visited La Casa Juan Pedro. They offer a variety of seafood-based dishes as well as the catch of the day. I got the rabas, tuna salad and the filet de dorade à espagnole as well as sangria. The filet de dorade was my favorite and it was very fresh, nice, and crispy, accompanied by rice and piperade. The sangria was also the perfect way to enjoy lunch at the water. While it was good and I would probably go there again when in Biarritz, I think that eating here is more about the ambiance of being in the old fishing village and along the water. There are better dishes for better value in Biarritz, but this is definitely a special experience.
Exolota Bibi
If you are in the mood for a pre-dinner or a fantastic spot to get drinks and watch the sunset, Exolota Bibi is a must. It sits over Cotes de Basque and has one of the best views in Biarritz to watch the sunset. The energy here is really fun and is often a great place where locals meet and come together. When I came here I got the cheese plate and it was great but a bit too much for two people so I recommend going hungry or bringing all your friends. They also serve breakfast, I have not gone yet but it will be at the top of my list next time I am in Biarritz.
Where to get Dinner in Biarritz
Cheri Bibi: Creative Fine Dining Food in Biarritz
Cheri Bibi is now one of my favorite restaurants. I went here for my birthday and had the most incredible meal. They have a seasonal menu that is updated daily. They also have an incredible selection of natural wines. I started the meal off with a glass of orange wine and then we went to their wine cellar and picked out a bottle. All their dishes are meant to share so we got five for two people (two of which were desserts). The one that stood out most to me was the incredible torte. I will definitely be attempting to recreate it at home ASAP, as well as the pappardelle. For the desserts, we got panna cotta and a cheese board. While the cheese board was nice the panna cotta was the star of the show. I cannot wait until I am back in Biarritz and can come back to this lovely restaurant.
Sillon
Sillon is an incredible gem located in Biarritz. They source high-quality local ingredients and have a frequently changing menu. They offer various tasting courses both for lunch and dinner as well as a tapas menu for dinner. This was one of the meals that brought me so much joy. From each bite, you can see the careful attention spent on each component of the dish that perfectly harmonizes each flavor. I have never been a small fish person (anchovies, sardines, mackerel) but the way Sillon plays with the textures, saltiness, and flavors of these fish accompanied with delicate sauces and perfectly paired vegetables leaves me not able to get enough by what once was my least favorite kind of fish.
We first went for lunch for the tasting menu then had to return for tapas a few nights later. Coming for lunch is a great way to experience the tasting at a more affordable price than the dinner menu. The tasting menu started with wild corn crackers that were accompanied by a blue cheese spread. We could not resist ordering them again when we came back for tapas, if they have these on the menu when you go they are a must-get.
Normally when I think of tapas I think of the style that you find in the majority of Spain such as plates of patatas bravas, as well as various types of meat cooked in different types of wine. I found these more similar to the small more delicate plates/tapas that I had at bars such as Bar Manojo or Arrenallas in San Sebastian. Our server was fantastic. He was extremely friendly, and professional and provided some amazing recommendations for the area.
Biarritz’s Best Snacks and Sweets
Where to Get the Best Ice Cream in Biarritz
What is a beach escape without ice cream? While in Biarritz I found my favorite ice cream to be from Delices du Moment. It is located right behind Eglise Sainte-Eugenie facing the coast making it the perfect spot to get some scoops and then enjoy watching the surf. They use local ingredients all from the Bailia Farm which is located right outside of Biarritz. My favorite flavors were
Maison Adam
This iconic bakery and chocolateria has been in this area since 1660. Maison Adam’s story is intertwined with that of the French royalty when King Louis XIV used their macaroons for their wedding. You can still see the details of French royalty when entering their shop from the exquisite simplicity of the pastries themselves to the carefully selected packaging. A trip to Biarritz would not be complete without trying one of their famous traditional-style macaroons. They are very simple and have no filling, just a sweet almond flavor, and make the perfect pick-me-up. If you have room in your suitcase I recommend getting a larger box of their macaroons as they come in the most lovely metal tins that you can take home as a momentum.
Crepes
My favorite place for crepes in Biarritz has to be Campero. It is a small shop located on Rue Mazagan. Their Nutella crepes cost 3.50 and are delicious. They have the most flavorful crepe batter, which is super crispy and vanillay and almost tastes like a waffle cone.
Monsieur Txokola
Monsieur Txokla is the place to solve all of your chocolate cravings in Biarritz. They have a store located right next to the halles where you can indulge in chocolate lattes or other delicious chocolate-based treats. If you are a serious chocolate fan you can also visit their factory in Bayonne. Here you can discover their chocolate behind the scenes. My favorite thing from Monsieur Txokola was the Cacao Juice. It is the most refreshing and tropical-tasting beverage, I have never tried anything like it. I also loved the chocolate with piment d’espelette which is a characteristic basque pepper. If you are looking for particular gifts to bring back to family and friends, treats from Monsieur Txokola are perfect.
That is all for this Biarritz food guide, but I will return soon and update it with more good finds! I hope you get the chance to try some of these incredible restaurants in Biarritz. Let me know if you have any recommendations for more places that I should try. Have a great time in Biarritz! If you are looking for more things to do in Biarritz check out my full Biarritz guide here.
Sarah 🙂
