10 Best Local Dishes from Biarritz

Basque chicken is a tender and flavorful dish that’s slow-cooked with vegetables. It contains tomatoes, bell peppers, and the slightly spicy Espelette pepper – a staple ingredient in Basque Country. We highly recommend pairing your Basque chicken with a glass of local red wine, such as Saint-Mont, Madiran or Irouléguy.

If you fancy a spot of fine dining during your stay in Biarritz, we recommend Restaurant L'Impertinent, which offers innovative tasting menus and wine pairings. You can also enjoy Basque chicken at more affordable yet top-rated restaurants like Fumoir Marin.

Biarritz is said to be the home of the region’s best oysters, which reflects the French influence on the city’s cuisine. You’ll find oysters almost everywhere, from classy restaurants to more-than-affordable markets. Enjoy your oysters like a local by pairing them with a glass of white wine.

If you want to try fresh and delicious oysters on a budget, head to Les Halles de Biarritz (Markets of the City of Biarritz). You can also sit down in a fisherman’s-home-turned-restaurant to eat oysters around Le Port des Pêcheurs.

Pintxos are among the most popular Basque Country bar snacks. They’re made with small pieces of bread topped with various ingredients on sticks. Toppings include ham, anchovies, fried peppers, and croquettes. A popular pintxos topping is sheep’s cheese and black cherry jelly.

Le Bar Basque Biarritz is a cozy spot to unwind with cocktails and pintxos until late – it closes at 2 am every day. If you prefer a sit-down restaurant, head to Milady Beach on Rue du Moulin de Chabiague and enjoy a wide range of pintxos on a beachfront terrace.

Marmitako is a local fish stew made with tuna, potatos, red peppers, onion, garlic, and fresh parsley. This hearty comfort food is often available on a restaurant's daily lunch menu and served in a metal pot – the name literally means “from the pot”.  

Many restaurants in Biarritz make marmitako using fresh tuna from the nearby town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, one of France’s largest tuna ports. For the perfect wine pairing, we recommend a dry white from the Basque Country, such as Txakoli.

Axoa is usually made from minced or mashed veal stewed with onions, tomatoes sauté, and the locally grown Espelette pepper. You’ll find it at just about any Biarritz restaurant that serves French or Basque cuisine. It’s a hearty dish that pairs well with local red wines like Madiran and Irouléguy.

You’ll find plenty of restaurants serving axoa throughout the day. Depending on where you are, the eateries even offer views of Biarritz’s beaches or the Rocher de la Vierge rock formation.

Bayonne ham is a type of cured pork named after the French Basque town. It’s protected by PGI status, which means there are strict rules regarding the origin of the pigs, their care, and the production process. It’s often eaten on its own or with wafer-thin slices of melon, but you can also enjoy it with a typical Basque side dish like piperade (spicy tomato-pepper sauce).

Bayonne ham is available in many restaurants and stores throughout Biarritz. Head to Bayonne if you want to try this famous cured meat at its source. The town is around 20 minutes from Biarritz by public transportation or automobile.

Torrijas is the Basque Country’s take on French toast. This tasty and filling Biarritz dessert in Biarritz is made with cuts of brioche-like bread soaked in eggs and milk, and fried until golden. For an extra burst of flavor, it’s then covered in a sweet and sticky syrup flavored with orange and cinnamon.

Torrijas is more popular on the Spanish side of the Basque Country, but also widely available in the northern French regions, including Biarritz. You'll find it on just about every Spanish or Basque-themed menu. You can find a cluster of popular restaurants serving this decadent treat near Rue Gambetta.

Bacalao pil-pil is an iconic Basque Country seafood dish that’s usually made with codfish fried with chili and olive oil. It’s named after the sound made by the cod skin while it’s being cooked.

Most seafood restaurants that specialize in Basque, Spanish or French cuisine will offer their own versions of the bacalao pil-pil. During your stay in Biarritz, we recommend trying the bacalao a la vizcaina, which is a Basque-style codfish stew. End your meal with a slice of Basque cake for good measure.

Merluza en salsa verde means ‘hake fish in green sauce’ in Spanish. It’s a must-try if you’re a fan of both seafood and Spanish cuisine. In the Basque region, the sauce is usually made with parsley, garlic, olive oil and white wine. Some restaurants even add clams to this dish.

You’ll find lots of seafood restaurants serving merluza en salsa verde in Biarritz, especially around Allée Port des Pêcheurs. Some of the town’s top-rated restaurants include Chez Albert, Casa Juan Pedro, and Restaurant Le Corsaire.

The Basque cake is a staple dessert of France's Basque region. It's a moist but crunchy cake that's a little similar to a shortbread pastry, filled with either vanilla custard or preserved cherries. Some places make their Basque cakes extra delicious by adding rum or almonds to the custard.

If you want to try a Basque cake during your stay in Biarritz, head to a patisserie such as Maison Adam and Boulangerie Pâtisserie Loubère. Another great option is Miremont, which is a short walk from La Grande Plage beach. You’ll also find plenty of restaurants serving Basque cakes along Place Georges Clemenceau.