The Côte des Basques faded into the rearview mirror as the road left the Atlantic Coast and took us inland to the green hills of Bidart. In just barely more than10 minutes from leaving Biarritz, the terracotta colored house of Les Frères Ibarboure appeared.
A traditional Basque home, it is now a boutique luxury 4-star hotel and Michelin starred restaurant family-run by the third generation with brothers Xabi and Patrice at the helm. A fixture of the Basque landscape since 1988, Les Frères Ibarboure is a real haven set over a two-hectare wooded park located between Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Between the hospitality that makes you feel more like a family friend than a hotel guest and the exquisite dining at the gastronomic restaurant, it is easy to see why Les Frères Ibarboure is regarded as one of the best addresses of the Pays Basque.
The Rooms
Les Frères Ibarboure offers more than the renowned 1-star Michelin restaurant. The neo-Basque style buildings of the estate house a boutique luxury hotel with 13 unique rooms all with private balconies or gardens overlooking the pool, garden and breathtaking green hills of Bidart beyond.
The 13 rooms range in size from 38 – 55m2 and four categories. Each is uniquely decorated in a calm color palette with natural materials chosen and modern amenities offered to create a harmonious stay. Truly a slice of heaven you won’t want to leave.
We stayed in room 11, the only of the 13 rooms offering a private garden with direct access to the heated swimming pool.
Room 11 is in the luxury category and spacious at 55m2. Our room had a king size bed, sitting area, office “corner” should you need to work, and a large outdoor terrace and garden with loungers and a dining table. As mentioned, our garden had a gate directly opening to the seasonal heated pool (open May – October).
All linens are made in France, and guests have a choice of pillows with a pillow menu.
The bathroom was also really spacious with a large walk-in rain shower, a separate bath, and double vanity. There is an additional door opening directly from the bathroom to the garden, so guests can come directly from the pool or spa in to your bathroom.
Bath products from Rerum Natura, a luxury and eco-friendly French brand, are provided. A quality hair dryer is provided in each room for guest use during your stay.
We truly received a VIP welcome with homemade chocolate chip and praline cookies, pâtes de fruits (a French jelly-like sweet) in Earl Gray and honey, and bottles of water.
Coco also received a VIP welcome with the biggest dog bed I have ever seen a hotel set up, elevated ceramic bowls, and dog biscuits. She had her very own welcome now set up with her bowls on the floor for her.
Other amenities include a fridge. Guests also have access to a selection of teas and coffees all day in the breakfast room. A fresh juice and snack, like the best gâteau Basque I have ever had, are available for guests to enjoy from the breakfast room from midday until early evening.
Breakfast is an ample buffet with charcuterie, cheese, pastries, fresh fruit, yogurt, and a selection of juices, coffee and tea, Eggs are also offered and cooked to order.
Nordic Spa and Pool
Nestled out of sight in the garden and looking out to the forest, Les Frères Ibarboure’s Nordic cabin offers guests a spa break surrounded by nature.
Seemingly perched in the trees, there’s a sauna, a Nordic bath made of red cedar, and a relaxation swing.
A variety of treatments and massages can be booked with Otsooa Massage Biarritz. The Nordic spa is privatized for this experience, and I had a 60 minute massage. With birds chirping in the surrounding forest, Perrine had me select a card from a deck of well being cards. Each card has an affirmation and a related scent for your essential oils.
My card stated: “I allow myself to put things into perspective. My mind is clear and protected from mental bombardment. I open my mind to the discovery of new things. I hear my need to chase away fear by opening myself more to the world. I take a step back from conflicts. I easily see the solutions, the new paths that are open to me.”
The temperature outside was absolutely perfect, The sounds of nature were relaxing. The blissful hour long massage put me right to sleep.
After, I was welcome to use the sauna and Nordic spa privately and I most certainly took advantage of alternating between the sauna and the Nordic bath,
There’s also a seasonal (open May – October) heated pool. Though our stay was actually in April, the pool was open for guests to enjoy the summer-like weather. And even well-behaved dogs can join you at the pool as the hotel is truly dog-friendly (just not in the pool). For Coco, who doesn’t like to swim, it was perfect for her to relax with us poolside in the shady grass.
Dining
The highlight of a stay at Les Frères Ibarboure is a meal at the 1-star Michelin restaurant. Brothers Xabi and Patrice, the third generation of the Ibarboure family and who hail from nearby Guéthary, take you on a culinary journey of the Pays Basque from land to sea.
The restaurant is spread over 3 rooms set in the 18th century house. And on beautiful days, the restaurant extends to the large terrace under the oak trees for a magical outdoor dining experience. The lights suspended from the oak trees themselves twinkle on as the sun sets and casts the garden in soft golden hues. It is a truly romantic and spectacular setting.
It’s the eldest brother, Xabi, who is in the kitchen and younger brother, Patrice, who has the passion for pastry. The dishes are seasoned with foraged ingredients from the estate’s gardens and the local area, and the citrus fruits from the greenhouse add flair to the seasonal dishes and desserts.
Dinners can choose either from one of the tasting menus or à la carte. We had the Menu Emotions tasting menu.
The dinner starts with a prelude, which comes in two stages: sea and land. Sea included mini corn tortillas with calamari and piment d’Esplette and sardine tarts. Land included forages mushrooms and foie gras garnished with edible flowers from the gardens. The foie gras was one of my favorite bites.
Two kinds of bread followed with corn bread and grain bread, served with a butter made with local wild garlic.
In season, green asparagus grilled on the barbecue with served with a sauce infusion of olive oil, thyme and lemon balm poured over it was a delicious and refreshing dish. It was paired with a 2023 Domaine Hegaldaka Irouléguy from the Pays Basque.
Next came a pan-fried foie gras served with wild garlic and morel mushroom ravioli. Our server brought over a wild garlic plant, and wild garlic was dusted over the dish from a tea ball. It was paired with a Domaine François Chidaine 2019 Les Tuffeaux made with the chenin blanc grape and from the Loire Valley.
The main course was a choice of land or sea, and I chose the land: suckling lamb from the Pyrenees with broccolini, artichoke and anchovies. The lamb was served three ways with a medallion, pulled lamb spooned on to the plate, and a lamb rib served alongside. It was paired with a 2016 Château le Puy Emilien, a red Côtes de Bordeaux.
The first of several desserts followed. A work of dessert art called a walk in the citrus garden was a dill ice cream, various citrus, and a cookie that a sauce of wild pollen and heather honey was poured over.
Next came mini madeleines and finally the tower of petit fours was the perfect sweet finish to a truly delicious meal.
Pet-Friendly
Les Frères Ibarboure is exceptionally dog-friendly and well behaved dogs are welcome throughout the property including at the pool, the Michelin starred restaurant and the breakfast room.
Coco was provided with a very large dog bed and elevated ceramic bowls for use during our stay. She was also welcomed with dog biscuits.
The hotel and restaurants are set on two hectares of forested gardens and is lovely to walk your dog around.
What to Do Near Les Frères Ibarboure
Les Frères Ibarboure is conveniently located within 15 minutes drive of both Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and within 30 minutes to Le Train de La Rhune. The hotel is perfectly situated for exploring both the Atlantic Basque Coast and the Pays Basque hinterland.
Walk the Coastal Path in Biarritz
Biarritz is the jewel of France’s Atlantic Coast and a must visit. While you can easily spend at least several days exploring all Biarritz has to offer from surf lessons to enjoying the aquarium or even a round of golf, if you only have limited time then walking the coastal path from the Côtes des Basques beach to the Grand Plage is a must.
Eat Your Way through Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Go on a do-it-yourself food tour of Saint-Jean-de-Luz where you’ll find spots like Maison Adam, creator of the original French macaron that appeared at the royal wedding of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa, and the famed jambon kintoa made from a rare breed of Basque pig at Pierre Oteiza.
And you won’t want to miss wine tasting at Egiategia, who is famous for aging their wines in specialized tanks that look like buoys. What makes the aging process particularly unique is that the tanks are sunk 15 meters down in the sea in the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
Take the Historic Cog Train to the Top of La Rhune
While you can hike to the top of La Rhune mountain, you can also take the Petit Train de la Rhune. The historic cog train whisks passengers up to the summit on a 35-minute journey. The wooden carriages, originally built in 1924, have been restored to their original versions and are a homage to the region. The roof is made of Pyrenean fir, the floor made of pine from the Landes and paneling made of chestnut from the Ariège. The train impressively makes the steep climb up the 18% grade along the side of the mountain and is one of the top things to do in Basque Country.
Visit the Basque Village of Espelette
Espelette is basically the cutest village you ever did see, and is famous for its cultivation of the dark red chili pepper called the Espelette pepper. Located just a 30 minute drive from Les Frères Ibarboure, the village has a smattering of half-timber white-washed houses with their red or green shutters. And if you visit during the drying season, you’ll find strings of the dark red chilis dangling from the facades.
Stroll around the many shops selling all things chili pepper from Basque cheese with Espelette pepper to even Espelette pepper chocolate. Jellies and Espelette pepper powder make excellent souvenirs to take home.
Getting to Les Frères Ibarboure
Les Frères Ibarboure is not far from anywhere, but best reached with a car so that you can fully explore all that the Pays Basque has to offer.
We were guests of Les Frères Ibarboure in order to bring you this story. However, Luxe Adventure Traveler maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site. As always, all thoughts, opinions, and enthusiasm for travel are entirely our own. This article contains affiliate links. When you book through our Expedia affiliate sites, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
