70 Hectares et l'Océan

Worth getting out of bed for

On lazy sun-hazed days, the heated outdoor pool is the place to be. Potter down and pick your perfect lounger on the pine-shaded deck – maybe with a detour via the light-flooded bar to acquire a cocktail or two. Come mealtimes, it’s a matter of steps to the restaurant, where plates of fresh-caught ceviche and chipirons a la plancha await. If it’s activity you’re after, pop by a Pilates or yoga class, or build up those biking muscles in the fitness room. When you’re all actioned out, curl up cat-like in the library – or flex your table football skills. And come evening follow the sound of live crooning to the hotel's secreted karaoke room. 

When the waves beckon, wander or cycle down to Estagnots beach – electric bikes can be hired at additional cost. The cabana bar and restaurant has an all-day supply of sunbathing sustenance, but stay till dusk to catch a film night or concert. Beyond the hotel, the Atlantic breaks are kind of a big deal – head down the road to Hossegor for some world-class surfing with a laidback SoCal spirit. For a more gentle jaunt, Hossegor Lake is a prime paddleboarding spot. Like your adventures less splashy? Foray into the forêt via cycle paths and hiking trails, or rope in a four-legged friend on a horse-riding tour. And with two 18-hole courses – Golf de Seignosse and Golf d’Hossegor – nearby, golf gurus have plenty of opportunity to put their putters to good use.

Further afield, Biarritz glitters with architectural evidence of its Belle-Epoque past. A centre of the high-society seaside scene in the 19th century, today it’s better known as a buzzing surfers’ hangout. Or buckle up for a Basque Country roadtrip. Don’t let their chocolate-box looks fool you – these coast-clinging towns and hilltop villages are awash with swashbuckling history (and plenty of locally produced wine).

Local restaurants

Sister say Les Hortensias du Lac has a fine-dining spot dishing seasonal plates, a 10-minute drive away. For a laidback lunch with harbour views, head to Capbreton institution and provenance-proud Monsieur Mouette. Colourful homegrown delicacies make up the menu at starred Villa de l’Étang Blanc, where ingredients are sourced almost entirely from within a 15-kilometre radius. Seafood stars at Le Hittau in nearby Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse, which has earned plaudits for head chef Yannick Duc’s fusion dishes.

Local cafés

At Waxed Coffee in Hossegor it’s all about the artisanal bean, brought in specially from the co-founders’ favourite roastery on Brick Lane. You won’t go hungry though, as there’s a seasonal selection of brunch favourites – we’re talking spiced-up shakshuka and loaded blueberry pancakes – to accompany your speciality flat white. The cafe’s sleek surf-themed design makes it the perfect caffeine pit stop before heading out to catch some waves. Stop by Café Bleu for a light lunch of vibrant salad bowls, freshly pressed juices and generous slices of couldn’t-say-no cake. Between the candy-coloured chairs and the blooming potted-plant population, this health-conscious café is as photogenic as it is wholesome.

Local bars

If it’s a laid-back beach spot you’re looking for, La Cabane des Etagnots (open from April to September) is calling your name. Shared by 70 Hectares et l’Ocean with its sister hotel in Hossegor, this chilled-out cabana has a deck that spills out onto the sand, sea-facing loungers for when sitting upright is an ask too far and oversize cushions to cuddle up on for cosy oceanside nights. Choose from signature cocktails, classic aperitifs and Domaine de Fontenille’s homegrown wine, then sit back, sip and watch the waves roll in.

Strike out to Biarritz for glitzy bars and well-stocked wineries galore. For a dose of underground glamour, duck into Prohibido, a 1920s speakeasy at a hidden location deep in the city’s docks district. You’ll need the secret code to enter, and once you’re in, mum’s the word – this is the time of Prohibition after all. But give the dapper bartender a knowing nod and he might just rustle you up one of his globetrotting cocktails – we won’t tell if you won’t.