Hôtel de la Plage

Biarritz Without the Grandeur

Biarritz has never been short of glamorous hotels. Hôtel de la Plage offers something different. Set directly above the small beach of Port-Vieux, the hotel occupies a quieter corner of the city, where the scale feels more intimate and the Atlantic is never far away. Following a multi-year renovation, artistic director Olivier Granet and Paris architecture studio Gardera & Pastre transformed the property into a 20-room boutique hotel that looks to traditional Basque architecture and Biarritz’s Art Deco heritage without attempting to recreate either. There are no nautical props. No manufactured nostalgia. Just a strong sense of place.

A Contemporary Basque Palette

The interiors are warm, graphic, and carefully composed. Each room is different, but a floor-to-ceiling panelled wall provides a recurring architectural gesture. Local designer Veronika Pertseva developed colours inspired by the maritime tones of the Bay of Biscay and the greener landscape of the Basque hinterland. The result feels coastal without being obvious. Warm woods, textured surfaces, muted colour, and simple geometric forms give the rooms a relaxed rhythm, while glimpses of the ocean provide all the decoration that is really needed. Design remains confident but restrained.

Made for the Room

What makes the project particularly interesting is its attention to individual pieces. Every guestroom contains a bespoke item of furniture designed specifically for that space. LRNC created textile headboards, while Axel Chay’s shell-shaped sconces bring a playful reference to the coast. Art by Mathieu Chavaren, prints by Jules Focone, and sculptures by Lucas Castex continue the dialogue with the hotel’s surroundings. Rather than filling rooms with recognisable design names, Hôtel de la Plage builds character through collaboration. Craft becomes identity.

Above Port-Vieux

Then there is the rooftop. With 180-degree views over Port-Vieux towards the Rocher de la Vierge and the Atlantic beyond, it gives this small hotel its grand gesture. The food keeps things deliberately informal: ceviche, burrata salads, sharing plates, local wines, and pastries from Biarritz’s Noisette Bakery. It is the sort of place that changes throughout the day. Coffee and sea air in the morning. A long lunch above the beach. Wine as the light begins to disappear across the Bay of Biscay. The location does most of the work.

Local Life Inside

The communal spaces continue the same philosophy. A small boutique near the entrance showcases ceramics, prints, and objects by local artisans. A suspended fireplace adds warmth on cooler Atlantic days, while mid-century seating, books, and magazines encourage guests to linger rather than simply pass through. Nothing feels oversized. That intimacy suits Port-Vieux. It also distinguishes Hôtel de la Plage from the palatial hospitality historically associated with Biarritz.

Why It Works

Hôtel de la Plage works because it understands that a contemporary coastal hotel does not need to announce the sea at every opportunity. Olivier Granet and Gardera & Pastre use Basque architecture, Art Deco references, colour, craft, and locally connected collaborations with considerable restraint, allowing Port-Vieux and the Atlantic to provide the drama. With only 20 individual rooms and a rooftop suspended above one of Biarritz’s most atmospheric beaches, it feels personal, current, and unmistakably rooted in this particular stretch of the Basque coast.