Most Romantic Hotels in France’s Basque Country

In a region known for its posh offerings, pedigree is important, and Hotel du Palais doesn't disappoint. It's housed in a red-brick palace overlooking the Grand Plage beach and Bay of Biscay that was built in 1855 for Napoleon III's wife, Empress Eugenie. King Edward VII, Winston Churchill, Coco Chanel, Ernest Hemingway, Frank Sinatra and other notables have stayed here throughout the years. The 153 elegant and classically styled rooms come with marble bathrooms, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Some feature ocean views. Features include an ocean-facing outdoor pool and excellent Guerlain spa with a sauna, Turkish steam room, and solarium with ocean views. The hotel's superb restaurant has earned a prestigious Michelin star for its contemporary French cuisine with an emphasis on seafood and regional dishes. The second restaurant has a more relaxed feel and specializes in seafood and salads, alongside ocean views. 

Le Regina Biarritz Hotel & Spa - MGallery Collection is a four-pearl hotel located away from Biarritz center in a quiet area overlooking the bay and Phare lighthouse. Housed in a 1907 Belle Epoque building, the hotel has a fashionable, intentionally vintage vibe, and features a soaring atrium lobby and Art Deco-inspired rooms and public spaces. The hotel offers a small outdoor pool, small on-site spa, steam room, and Mediterranean restaurant with a Michelin-starred chef. The 65 handsome rooms all come with Nespresso machines, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. 

The Grand Hotel Thalasso & Spa is a beachfront leisure hotel situated in an early-1900s Belle Epoque building with an elegant pink-and-white facade. One of the hotel's best features is its indoor seawater "thalassotherapy" pool with massage jets. The spa also has a sauna, steam room,  a vaulted relaxation room, and direct beach access. Grand Hotel's fine-dining restaurant serves French cuisine (for a high price) and features floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the beach. A chic, sophisticated bar and lounge offers drinks, light fare, and lots of places to relax. Guests can take their food and drinks on an expansive outdoor terrace, which has dining tables, casual sitting areas, and cushioned lounge chairs. The hotel's 56 rooms and suites offer sophisticated decor and modern bathrooms with rainfall showers, heated towel racks, and robes. In-room amenities include minibars, Nespresso coffeemakers, and 46-inch flat-screen TVs.

This 20-room boutique hotel is situated in a 19th-century residence and has a charming guest-house vibe. Best of all: It’s just a ten-minute walk from Biarritz’s beaches. Comfortable rooms are done in Regency colors and have amenities like air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. Lazy breakfasts on the terrace and practicalities like secure parking (at a fee) illustrate what a stay here is about: hassle-free relaxation. Previous guests comment on the excellent personal service from the owner-hosts and the top-notch breakfasts. The hotel is a favorite with couples thanks to the intimate atmosphere, tasteful decor, and tranquil setting. 

The upscale Hotel Parc Victoria is nestled on spacious grounds covered with lovely green gardens all walking distance to the beach. Built at the end of the 19th century, the property is mostly Art Deco in style, with elegant antique pieces that contribute to a romantic vibe. Its 20 rooms vary in size and decor, but all are spacious and refined, with modern comforts that include flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and minibars, but no coffee- and tea-making facilities. Guests can start their day with a buffet breakfast (for a fee) on one of the many outdoor patios with views of the outdoor heated pool. Game rooms and a restaurant round out the facilities.

La Reserve, an upscale cliffside property overlooking the ocean, is about a 10-minute drive to the lively Basque town of St-Jean-de-Luz. With a 740-acre garden, the hotel evokes the romantic ambience of a typical Basque villa. The 47 rooms are stylish with sepia-toned prints of local scenes above the beds, and many have their own furnished balconies with views of the garden or ocean. The pool is under renovation and will reopen in the summer of 2017. There's no full-service spa or gym, but the hotel has a tennis court, along with a restaurant and bar. A breakfast buffet is included in some packages -- half-board options are available. 

The three-and-a-half-pearl Le Windsor Grande Plage Biarritz is a boutique townhouse hotel in an excellent location between Biarritz's city center and the main beach. The 48 minimalist rooms are done in simple, contemporary white decor, with amenities including air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Higher categories offer gorgeous sea views. There’s a breakfast room (buffet breakfast is included in the rates) and in summer months, a cafe on the seafront promenade. Downsides? None of the common spaces have a sea view.

The Art Decor period and the glamorous heyday of ocean liners are celebrated at Hotel Cafe de Paris Biarritz: an upscale boutique property with 19 rooms overlooking the gorgeous Grand Plage. Inspired by the SS Normandie (an iconic French luxury liner from the 1930s), it has a vintage nautical look that is in keeping with its waterfront location. Decor aside, this hotel is notable for being the only one in town to offer a sea view from every room. Wall-spanning windows in the well-regarded restaurant and bar, plus a pretty terrace on Place Bellevue, also let guests take full advantage of the setting.