BIARRITZ
NATURAL STATE.
I have found that no matter where in the world you are surf towns always have the same vibe, and that’s the best vibe. Chilled, welcoming, sophisticated yet casual. Biarritz welcomed me with open arms and I will continue to come back to this place and slip into its waters and way of life. Biarritz sits in the middle of Basque Country where you have a Casino and Hotel du Palais, now a five star hotel which was originally built for Empress Eugenie in 1855. Just passing the Casino, you hit the beach where youth and age collide with the waves. It is a totally tubular place, where you feel right in the present moment, while simultaneously in the roaring 20’s and even still in the swinging 70’s. It passes through many different periods and styles but remains steadfast in its ways of cool. “Superr Cool”, as the French say. Just be cool man, and you’ll fit right in.
DO. RIDE THE WAVE
La Grande Plage, Quai de la Grande Plage, 64200 Biarritz, France The Big Beach, dont be flustered by all the people just find a nice place and rest, I typically liked off to the left where the big rocks are less people
Plage du Miramar, Allée Winston Churchill, 64200 Biarritz, France connects to the Big Beach if you dare to walk along the share pass the upper structure, still pretty crowded but again, the people are nice looking and its not that bad
Erretegia Beach, 64210 Bidart, France 17 minutes away and less crowded a nice little shack restaurant en route to beach front Kala Txiki
Parlementia, 4 Chemin du Port, 64210 Guéthary, France 20 minutes away and full of surfers also great little restaurant Restaurant le Txamara Guethary
Cenitz Beach, 43°25'24.9"N 1°37'07.0"W, even more secluded than the other two needed to create coordinates, try this wild beach with a beautiful restaurant next door Restaurant Le C
Lafitenia, Chemin de Lafitenia, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France the surfer’s beach! kowabunga brah and when you are done at the beach, try your luck at the Casino Barrière, 1 Avenue Edouard VII, 64200 Biarritz, France luck be a lady!
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Abandoibarra Etorb., 2, 48009 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain for a real outing check out the amazing Guggenheim museum in Spain two hours away
STAY. IN A FAIRYTALE?
Hôtel du Palais, 1 Avenue de l'Impératrice, 64200 Biarritz, France stay in the hotel built for an Empress
Beaumanoir Boutique Hotel Biarritz, 10 Avenue de Tamames, 64200 Biarritz, France
AIRBNB:
EAT. CHEZ WHAT?
Chez Albert, 51bis Allée Port des Pêcheurs, 64200 Biarritz, France get the catch of the day and order the raspberry tart at the beginning of the meal because they run out, if the tuna is catch of day GET IT its not a joke best tuna i’ve ever had
Halles de la Ville de Biarritz, Rue des Halles, 64200 Biarritz, France local market every morning you can buy fresh pasta, burrata, meats, cheeses, wine, veggies, and of course OLIVES! I made friends with everyone by the second day and you can too! Just try to speak a little French it is kind and sophisticated
Auberge d'Achtal, Place du Fronton, 64200 Arcangues, France a bit out of the way but well worth it for dinner take a taxi or drive to this wonderful little place in a town called Arcanques
Chez Mattin, 63 Rue Evariste Baignol, 64500 Ciboure, France another little place off the beaten track in a town called Ciboure
Bar de La Plage, Grande plage de Biarritz, 29 Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, 64200 Biarritz, France post dinner head to this raucous chilled out bar next to the casino
Le Bar du Marché, 8 Rue des Halles, 64200 Biarritz, France came to this lively local bar to watch the Belgium vs. France semi-final match it was amazing to see the wild support from the french kids, reminiscent of the same camaraderie in Vietnam.. sports really have a way about them. Try the calamari its HEAVEN, and the shishito peppers
I wandered around south east asia looking for a single 7 out a 10 couldn’t find one, in this bar in biarritz there were at least five 13’s… eye candy for the win! get it girls..
That’s the smile of a gal who saw wayyyy to many 13’s
SHOP. FOR CRYSTALS and bucket hats
Night Market, 43°28'52.4"N 1°33'46.9"W
Peruse the night market to purchase Bucket Hats from Morocco, Candy, Soaps, Dried Meats etc
My favorite a little crystal shop as you descend Rue Gambetta before Rue des Halles. He sells crystals and used this magnet to give my specific crystals to meditate with! Take when you want from that! He does not speak english but you can figure it out!
Next was the bucket hat salesman, who has cute bags and hats from Morocco and jewelry from Bali and nothing was over 30 euro! My bucket hat, the yellow one seen above was very unique and I absolutely adore travelling around with it.
http://www.lartigue1910.com
Lartigue 1910, 8 Avenue Edouard VII, 64200 Biarritz, France Basque is known for its beautiful striped linen home goods the Lartique family represents four generations of French weavers of this meticulous and beautiful fabric
Additional linens of this kind can also be found at Héléna Créations
Art of Soule, 28 Rue Gambetta, 64200 Biarritz, France great espadrilles can be found in this little boutique where everything is made in the town of Mauléon
The Wild Bazar, 11 Rue Alcide Augey, 64200 Biarritz, France if you do not frequent Morocco then go to this shop and buy great home pieces, woven and ceramic but if you do frequent Morocco you may see a few pieces you recognize. However, prices are fair in comparison to Morocco
Pujol Michel, 1 Rue Champ Lacombe, 64200 Biarritz, France off the beaten track and into the neighborhoods you will find this beautiful little antique shop a true cabinet of curiosities like you would find in Paris. Amongst the rambling papers you can find treasures to bring home and frame or put on a mantel
