Going out in Anglet, Biarritz & Bayonne
Where to go out in Anglet, Biarritz or Bayonne? Looking for a nice place to enjoy a good beer at sunset or try the pintxos (tapas in Basque language) or seafood? We are pleased to share with you our best tips in the area, all tested and approved by our team!
Anglet seaside: Sables d’or beach
Where to go for a drink?
- La Chope: our favourite! Since it’s opening in 1982, la Chope (beer stein) is a must! Open all year round, it is the only real bar on the seafront with a really nice and laid-back atmosphere. They have both good draft beers (don’t miss the beer of the month!) and bottle ones, notably local craft beers. The large terrace facing the waves is covered when it rains. Happy hour on Friday nights between 8pm-9pm and live music on weekends.
- Apérock Cafe: for rock lovers! Every week, this very typical bar organizes several thematic evenings: Open Mic (open stage) on Wednesdays, 80’s DJ on Thursdays and concerts (rock music of course
) both on Friday and Saturday nights! Great atmosphere but the drinks are quite expensive…
) both on Friday and Saturday nights! Great atmosphere but the drinks are quite expensive…- ❤️ Txapel: a real cocktail bar on the seafront! For us, not only the best cocktails you can find along the coast, but also the best experience with super nice, humble mixologists. Xavier and Marc opened Txapel in 2022 and you can really feel that they love what they do. They are both passionate about cocktails and really attentive to match everyone’s taste, to offer an incredible cocktail experience. The cocktails are for sure a bit pricy but you’ll always get the right quality (and quantity!) going along with it. Sometimes it’s definitely worthy spending a few extra euros to have an arty and tasty cocktail, instead of an expensive – often watery – classic cocktail in an ordinary bar…
- Vent d’Ouest: sports & music bar on the sea front. You can eat there burgers and portions. During summertime, they organize jam sessions on Wednesday evenings, live concerts on Fridays and Latin nights on weekends on the rooftop terrace .
And for diner?
After trying most (if not all 
) of the restaurants on the seaside, we have to say that you can’t really go wrong. There is no real “tourist trap” as you can find in some other beach resort cities. That being said, here are our favourite ones in a good range of prices:
❤️ La Pizz’ (€): Intrigued by the high number of 5* reviews this little pizzeria has received, we went to try its Neapolitan pizzas… And what we can say, is that we were not disappointed! Mamma mia: che buone pizze! The pizzas are just great, made with quality products, and the service is lovely. Mostly takeaway, but it’s much better to enjoy them on the spot fresh out of the oven 
.
❤️ Le P’tit Resto (€€): Although this is a historic restaurant in Les Sables d’Or, the service is always friendly and attentive. Here, the staff takes the time to advise you and explain the dishes. Le P’tit Resto serves good local fish and seafood dishes, with a special highlight on the mussels and chips! Very good value for money.
L’Euphrate (€): probably one of the best kebab in France and what’s more, made with love ! This small restaurant next to le P’tit Resto was the very first one to set up on the seaside. The owners are very welcoming and the plates generous.
Around VVF beach in Anglet
- Lagunak: one of the locals’ favourite for the aperitif! This small shack is in front of VVF beach where you can directly bring your beer and snacks to relax after a busy day at the beach. The atmosphere is both nice and laid-back while prices are pretty cheap. To get there, just walk down the path from the Kostaldea on top of the cliff.
- Kostaldea: THE perfect spot for a drink at sunset! Located on top of the cliff, you will enjoy both the beautiful view on the ocean and Biarritz lighthouse and the delicious pintxos!
Other areas
Cinq Cantons square
Halles des 5 Cantons: locals’ favourite on weekends! Les halles is an indoor market open every morning till 1pm except Mondays. Don’t miss getting there on weekends around 12pm to enjoy a glass of fresh white wine with a plate of oysters, shrimps or anshovies: just do it as a local !
❤️ Next to the market in the same building, you’ll find a nice food court offering a large choice of food, either local French cuisine (specialities of fish & seafood or meat) or international (Creole, Italian or Asian), all delicious! You can just pick anything you want and gather on the tables arranged around the bar to enjoy your meal.
Our favourite: CAO, at the back of the food court, very creative, often surprising in its combinations, but always a treat!
The place might be especially crowded and lively during weekends and when they organize thematic night parties. It is open at lunchtime till 3pm and in the evening till 9pm (10pm on Fridays & Saturdays) but closed on Mondays.
Ocean beach
Ozeanoa: Open for 3 years now, Ozeanoa is one of the most laid-back beach bars with a beautiful terrace facing the ocean.
The staff is super friendly while the location is great, away from Anglet’s busy beaches and next to our favourite surf school, Anglet Surf Spirit‘s new spot.
Try out their guakiwi (guacamole with avocado-kiwi mix, fresh and yummy) or their delicious roasted carrots with honey and cumin: our favourites!
This is definitely an ideal spot to enjoy a drink at sunset or snacks after a surf session.
Biarritz
Les Halles area
Rather than staying on the seaside, don’t hesitate to go further back around les Halles: this is where Biarritz nightlife is in full swing! You will find there many wine & tapas bars. Next to it is rue Gambetta, Biarritz dining street, which offers a large choice of good restaurants.
Moreover, every Wednesday evening during summertime, Biarritz famous night market takes place around les Halles (crafts & local food).
❤️ Les Contrebandiers (€) : diametrically opposed to Bar Jean on the other side of the Halles, this tapas bar is simply excellent! It offers a very wide choice of high quality dishes to share. Here we eat Basque food, but reinvented with great taste. The prices are very reasonable and the service is both friendly and attentive.
Bar Jean (€): a must in Biarritz! Everyone knows about it and every single Biarritz inhabitant has undoubtedly been there. You can either grab a beer or a glass of wine with a few tapas, or try Basque food from the menu. Especially crowded and lively during week-ends.
Bar du Marché (€): Just a couple of steps from the Contrebandiers, this other famous place offers good food to share and typical Basque dishes.
Other places in Biarritz…
❤️ Fish Me: This small, affordable seafood canteen opened in 2023 in the lovely Saint-Charles district of Biarritz, a stone’s throw from the tourist centre. Fish Me is the result of a collaboration between a talented young chef, owner of one of Biarritz’s best gourmet restaurants (Après-demain) and his fellow restaurateur. You will find there the best seafood tapas in the Basque Country (oysters, croquettes, grilled razor clams, etc.) as well as delicious fish & chips and fish burgers! Moreover, they offer vegetarian and meat options. Try to book in advance, especially in the evenings !
Etxola Bibi: Come here to relax after a surf session at la Côte des Basques beach. If you’re not surfing, don’t worry, this is THE SPOT for a mesmerizing sunset with both ocean and mountain view. One of Biarritz’s favourite for locals, so be patient to get served at sunset…
La Tireuse = the bar for beer lovers in Biarritz! It has both the best & largest choice of draft beers (only 20 taps..!). The beers are pretty expensive, but the food is good value for money! They often play rock concerts on Friday nights.
Bayonne
Most of foreign tourists come to the French Basque Country for Biarritz. However, Bayonne is definitively worth a go! This scenic city has narrow streets with beautiful traditional Basque architecture.
More popular than the trendy Biarritz, the city welcomes every year in July the biggest outdoor festival in France, Bayonne festival (equivalent to the famous San Fermín festival in Pamplona).
Bayonne is just a 25 minute bike ride (or 45 minutes if you follow the Chiberta pine forest trail).
Bayonne city is divided in two by the Nive river:
– the East, named as little Bayonne, where you will find lots of lively tapas bars,
– the West, named as great Bayonne, the historical district of the town with a beautiful cathedral.
Don’t miss the scenic food market (local producers from both sides of the border ) on the banks of the Nive river!
- Katie Daly’s: such as any city in the world, Bayonne gets its Irish pub! They have the cheapest IPA in town especially during happy hours every day between 6.30-8.30 pm. Might be overcrowded on week-ends and when they play Rugby games.
- Kapito Café: definitively one of the best places on the Nive banks to try local Basque cuisine served as portions to share with friends.
- Bar du marché: this family restaurant in it’s original state since 1965 is famous for its traditional Basque cuisine. Don’t forget to write down your name on the blackboard in front of the restaurant to get a table. Perfect for a substantial lunch after wandering around the market on Saturday morning! It is open every day at lunch time except on Sunday.
