be my guest... in Biarritz, issue 60

Winter in Biarritz means golden light, big waves, and great (sea)food—but fewer people to share it with. Here are my favorite spots to spend the low season in the Basque Country.

Biarritz in January

There’s something magical about visiting a summer destination in winter. As if its soul is laid bare, it’s in between seasons when you get to discover the purest, rawest, and least glitzy version of a place. And while that might mean closed hotels and beach bars, it never means less beauty. Quite often, the opposite is true: empty coastlines and golden sunsets create landscapes that are just as captivating—if not more magical—and sharing them with no one but a few surfers is the stuff that memories are made of. At least mine.

As for Biarritz—a destination that had been on my travel bucket list for a long time—I was surprised to find that many places, from restaurants and stores to markets, still had their doors wide open. (Which, for me, led to an incredible private dinner with a local chef who usually books two full seatings—read on.) You see, there’s really nothing like the low season. And yet, I can’t wait to be back later this year.

Enjoy this guide filled with favorites, and a big thank you to everyone who helped me discover these gems. ❤️

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