Biarritz
Restaurants
Le CAB Burger
Really cool burger place. Highly recommended. The Parm was a great choice.
Glouby Pizzeria
A Pizzeria at a very lively street. In the late afternoon the sun is still shining through the street so bring sunglasses. The pizza is very well made and really tasty. They do put a lot of olive oil on some pizzas.
California kitchen
Great Burger place. You can make your own custom burger by choosing what you like most at each step in the cooking process. The portion of fries are very big.
Cafés, Bars & Nightlife
La Panetière
Great bakery to get some food for a brunch, at the top of la plage côte des basque. They have traditional french baked goods as well as sandwiches and other food for lunch.
Le classique
It's right next to the Bar Jean, which the internet will recommend you. However, this place is much friendlier and has a buzzing atmosphere. The pina colada is great. If you walk into the opposite direction of Le classique you'll find the street where must students hang out and have their drinks at night.
Activities
Surfing
Biarritz is great for surf beginners. The best beaches to surf are Plage Marbella and the southern part of Plage Côte des Basques. They are less crowded and have better waves than La Grande Plage. If you are not alone and can handle the water and waves we recommend skipping lessons and just renting a board and going for it. It is not that hard. Boards cost around 10-20 euros per hour if you rent from one of the many stands at the beach. A wetsuit is nice to have, since it prevents wound skin and bruising but it is not necessary. A UV shirt will also do.
Walking
The great thing about Biarritz is that you can walk everywhere. So you can easily explore the Port Vieux and all the beaches by foot. And if you don't feel like it anymore, the electric buses driving through the city are free of charge.
Beach & Swimming
In our opinion La Grande Plage (pictured) is very overcrowded and we only went there once. If you enjoy a lot of people on the beach it is certainly nice otherwise we would always go to Plage Marbella or Plage Côte des Basques. They are less crowded. Especially Plage Marbella is really nice and you can enjoy some peace and quiet there. Generally the further from the city center you go the nicer the beach is.
Visit the market hall
The market hall is a great place to spend some time. It is usually in the morning. You can get everything from bread and brioches to fresh seafood and even oysters, if you dare.
Spots
Top of Côte des Basques
Great hangout spot for the morning after a night out. Get your breakfast at La Panetière and then you can chill on the grass or sit on the benches. Go to the google map provided at the top of the page and you will find this spot indicated on the map.
Top of Plage Marbella
Hangout spot over Plage Marbella. There is a small shop where you can buy food and drinks and sit. Great views and perfect for after surfing.
North point of grande plage
If you walk from the grande plage into the direction of the lighthouse, at the end of the beach you will find a great hangout spot, that is very chill compared to the other beaches. For 5€ you can also walk up the lighthouse (yes walk, as you can't use the elevator).