Les Frères Ibarboure - Hôtel 4 étoiles, Spa extérieur sensoriel et Restaurant étoilé à Bidart

The tiny Basque village of Guéthary is the HQ of one branch of the Ibarboure family. This characteristic Basque house, dating from the 1930s, has been treated to a classy, contemporary facelift with a glazed wine cellar and a view over the Rhune. Martin and his son David sign a delicate appetising score courtesy of top-notch, mostly Basque, ingredients, subtle seasonings and inspired plays on transparency or contrast. The delicate desserts unveil a similar deft hand and slalom between classical (soufflé and profiteroles) or more creative. Meanwhile Marie-Claude, mum, warmly greets diners, as C

On the heights of the village of Guéthary, the Ibarboure family hotel operates this pleasant bistro, independent from their fine dining restaurant. The chef meticulously adds an inspired new spin to traditional recipes in an uncluttered setting. Basque ingredients dominate the indulgent dishes of the concise menu: Bayonne ham, bellota chorizo, Banka trout, Ardi-Gasna cheese. A youthful, friendly team and sensible prices. Lovely terrace to the rear. A real treat.

In this 17C Basque watermill nestling deep in a picturesque vale, a conservatory commands views of the countryside and lush garden all year round. The site is emblematic of the ecological, humanist and gastronomic ethos of chef Fabrice Idiart. Now 100% vegetarian, his set menus, in which vegetables are dressed with plant-based and spicy sauces, reflect the chef's distinctive, unorthodox approach. Enticing.

Close to Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the coast, this old Basque farmhouse has an elegant contemporary wing overlooking the Rhune (Larrun) mountain and the countryside. It is here in the very heart of the Basque Country that Cédric Béchade welcomes you in the style of a true 21st-century innkeeper. This creative chef (who trained at the Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz, then worked in the kitchens of the Plaza Athénée alongside Jean-François Piège) uses top-notch ingredients sourced from the terroir and prepared with all due care – think squid, bluefin tuna, Ibaiama pork, yuzu from Ahyerre. The terrace is

The location, on the docks of Ciboure overlooking the port, is eminently suited to a restaurant called "storm" (ekaitza in Basque). The eatery’s interior, meanwhile, is bright and lively and furnished with bespoke tables from which you can steal glances of the kitchen to the rear. Guillaume Roget magnifies the best of the Basque region, in particular fish from the market opposite. Creative, uncluttered dishes, savvily balanced seasonings and fine produce matched with delicate sweet, tangy or vegetable notes embody the chef’s signature. His flair for deep, intense sauces will knock your socks o

This seaside resort where Louis XIV married the Infanta of Spain, Maria-Thérèse of Austria, is home to what is said to be the oldest building in town (16C). Behind the high walls and mullioned windows, the elegant restaurant is headed up by Basque chef Nicolas Borombo (from Bayonne). This son and grandson of rugby players settled here after clocking up experience in kitchens in Paris, at the Hôtel de Crillon (working under with Dominique Bouchet and Jean-François Piège), and at the Four Seasons Hotel George V under Philippe Legendre. A champion of his terroir, he crafts original and refined cu

Aurélien Largeau is now bringing his culinary creations to life on premises that used to accommodate Sillon, having brightened up the intimate setting of this restaurant a stone's throw from the ocean. The chef from La Rochelle lets Atlantic fish and seafood take centre stage, leaving meat the supporting role. A veritable maritime voyage, his multi-course set menu gives pride of place to Breton shellfish, wild seaweed and even traditional recipes – while also referencing the Basque Country. Exceptional ingredients (but also humble sardines) are adorned with intense jus (the red mullet is a cas