Riding the wave in Biarritz
August 2022 | HIDDEN GEMS GIMBER
As summer claims its right to shine its light upon us, many of us are migrating towards the shore to catch a break. This year, to pair the freshness of the ocean with the delight of great gourmet everything, we set our sights on Biarritz. Famous surfing spot nestled in south-western France, this beach town is also the place where the heart of the Basque Country beats faster in the summer. Featuring some of the biggest waves of the French Atlantic coast, it is the perfect summer hideout for all surfers, but not only. We, for sure, crushed hard on the sea view & the charisma of the shops, restaurants & bars that saved us a spot in the sun & a fresh drink of GIMBER. Come along on our tour, you won’t regret it.
Day 1 - Majestic Biarritz
After a comfy train ride, our journey could start! We had officially arrived in Biarritz. Camera in hand and flip flops on feet, we picked up the rental car before driving to our hotel for a quick check-in.
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
Hôtel Saint-Charles
3 stars & 3 missions
Biarritz
Entering Hôtel Saint-Charles in downtown Biarritz is like traveling a few decades back. With a distinctive vintage design and rooms with a view on the garden, Hôtel Saint-Charles is a great centric place to drop your luggage before exploring the wonders of Biarritz. At only a 6-minute walk from the Grand beach of Biarritz, the hotel also organizes surf & yoga retreats while offering a coliving space for long-term stays.
47, Avenue Reine Victoria
64200 Biarritz
France
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
Arima Denda
For the culture
Biarritz
Refreshed, we let our instincts guide us through the sumptuous streets, hoping to bump into the Basque spirit in person. And bingo! There stood Arima Denda, with doors wide open on the Basque culture, embodied through some eclectic crafted decoration & jewel items, local food, & quirky furniture. All of that, gracefully sprinkled all over this modern - and GIMBER-serving- concept store with a traditional twist.
21, Avenue de Verdun
64200 Biarritz
France
Don Ulpiano
Iberico ham, delicious everything
Biarritz
Featuring an elegant window, Don Ulpiano definitely caught our attention & had us stop for a quick discovery of a wide selection of quality local products. Between high-end Spanish products, delicacies of the sea, gourmet specialities & a selection of local drinks (+ GIMBER), Don Ulpiano gave us a tasty palette of the terroir & a few other unique products.
12, Avenue Victor Hugo
64200 Biarritz
France
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
L’Accord Parfait
Local treasure digger
Biarritz
With a name translating as “The perfect harmony”, l’Accord Parfait did indeed show us nothing but products we quickly screened as a perfect match! Determined to show its visitors 1000 shades of the French & Basque savoir-faire, this fine food store loves digging for the next best local treasure such as “piment d’Espelette” & a plethora of products made in excellence & often sustainable. We can’t tell you how proud we were to see GIMBER on the shelves of this Basque stunning gem.
5, Avenue Jaulerry
64200 Biarritz
France
© Lemeunier Maxime
Etxola Bibi
The show-stopper with a view
Biarritz
Facing the renowned beach of the Côte des Basques in Biarritz, Etxola Bibi is just as fun as its name. Under its beach cabin looks, this resto-bar open 7 days a week from dawn till dusk gave us a warm welcome with a flattering specialty: a house-made GIMBER cocktail made with Espelette pepper. Needless to say we got a triple kick out of it. 1. The view. 2. The pepper 3. GIMBER’s natural kick.
Discover the cocktail created by Etxola BibiSquare Jean-Baptiste Lasalle
64200 Biarritz
France
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
Exhausted but fulfilled by a dazzling day zigzagging through downtown Biarritz, we kissed the beach goodnight & headed back to Hotel Saint-Charles to get some sleep.
DAY 2 - Guéthary, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Wake up, shower, fuel up with a healthy breakfast, have a shot of GIMBER, pack bags, start car and head south of Biarritz to reach the very small town of Guéthary. That’s exactly how day 2 of our Basque trip started!
Equidistant from Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Guéthary is praised by international surfers who come there to ride 2 very famous waves: the “Right” wave & “Parlamentia”, considered as the Basque Country’s iconic wave. Quite the fate for a town so small that it usually gets lost on most visitors’ roadmap… Well, it most certainly did not go off our radar. After breathing the salty air of the sea on the port, we got pulled towards a cute-looking entrance that said: Yaoya.
© Lemeunier Maxime
Epicerie Yaoya
Basque Country meets Japan
Guéthary
A mix of Basque & Japanese culture is exactly what you’ll find at this gourmet Basque & Japanese food store. We couldn’t resist peeking inside this hybrid store. The perfect place to grab local fresh vegetables and eggs, Yaoya - “fruit vendor” in Japanese - seduces by its sleek traditional decor. Perfectly attuned with the authenticity of Guéthary also happens to sell GIMBER!
251, Avenue du Général de Gaulle
64210 Guéthary
France
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
Saint-Jean-de-Luz, city of light
After getting our fix of raw tradition in Guéthary, we got back on the road to get to another must-see: Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
At just a stone’s throw from Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz doesn’t fail to dazzle with its bright light, sandy beaches, pedestrian alleys and charming southern architecture. Close to the Spanish border, it oozes with cultural references of the Basque tradition while featuring modern venues & stores. There, we went to meet one of our local resellers, a coworking space called Local Coworking.
Local Coworking
Coworking space
Saint-Jean-de-Luz
If you’re looking to stay focussed on work in a place like Saint-Jean-de-Luz, there’s no better option than Local Coworking. Located in the Halles, in the very heart of the city, this vibrant coworking space offers a bright and peaceful setting for those who strive to work during the day and enjoy a breathtaking beachfront when the evening comes. Its outside space and in-house cafeteria outside space is a refreshing haven of peace and the best place in town to network in style while drinking a perfect serve of GIMBER.
Le Local Coworking :
1 Imp. des Écoles
64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz
France
Le Local Café Boutique :
9 Av. Jaureguiberry
64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz
France
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
© Lemeunier Maxime
After a last stroll on the beach and a good look at the unreal Atlantic waves, we hopped back on the car to catch our train. We couldn’t have dreamed of a better summer road trip punctuated by great encounters, memorable tastings and eye-grabbing beaches. Invigorated by the ocean breeze and the satisfaction to see GIMBER seduce that region of the world as well, we can only recommend you take a look at the splendor of Biarritz yourself. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to drop by these wonderful places we’re still amazed to count amongst our dear friends.