This iconic jewel of Biarritz is the only hotel on the Atlantic coast with the ‘French Palace’ designation. This majestic property, with stunning views of the Atlantic and the Pyrenees in the distance, was built by Napoleon III for his wife Eugénie de Montijo in 1854. Now, after four years of work, the renovation of the Hôtel du Palais, member of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, is complete and it has been returned to its former glory but upgraded to meet the needs and wants of the 21st century while preserving the DNA and soul of this legendary venue. The project has been a process of rejuvenation which has enhanced the hotel’s original splendour while respecting its history and legend. I discovered Biarritz for the first time in 1995 when I visited the town to take pictures of the Biarritz Surf Festival and I immediately fell in love with the rugged beauty of its Atlantic coastline, the curious combination of a young, vivacious surf crowd, the mysterious and ancient Basque culture with its own identity and language, and the distinguished glamour and grand style associated with the European aristocrats and the rich and famous who have found their way to Biarritz and the Hôtel du Palais since the early years of the twentieth century. Although it has become more fashionable in recent years, Biarritz still manages to preserve its authentic and discreet character. It was in this beautiful town that I met my wife and it was of course a conditio sine qua non that we would celebrate our wedding in the Hôtel du Palais in 2010. And so it felt more than wonderful to check in recently after the renovation and we were thrilled to stay in the sublime, rejuvenated Duchess of Windsor Suite with fabulous views of the Atlantic Ocean. Once you check in, you can enjoy all its phenomenal facilities, including the legendary outdoor seawater pool (which, by the way, was inaugurated by Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner in 1957), the 2,500 square metre Imperial Spa with its freshwater pool, whirlpool, sauna and hamman, the iconic lobby, the Bar Napoleon III and last but not least ‘La Rotonde’, the hotel’s dining room which is famous all over the world for its breathtaking 180-degree panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean. Here you can enjoy an impeccable and amazing Michelin-starred dinner prepared by the new, young chef Aurélien Largeau and pastry chef, Aleksandre Oliver. We tremendously enjoyed the ‘Sur le fil de l’iode’ menu which allows you to discover the flavours of the Atlantic in eight steps—each one magnificent—including his signature dish: homard de casier: lobster grilled with pine needles, beetroot and coral sauce.

The Hôtel du Palais is indeed gloriously back!