In short… Hotel Regina is the new cool spot to stay in one of our favorite seaside towns
The vibe… After an extensive makeover, the Experimental Group opened up this grande dame Belle Epoque gem in spring 2023. They brought in Dorothée Meilichzon to do the design, and she did a brilliant job. Hotel Regina feels bright and fresh and modern, but completely respectful of the history of the hotel, which first opened in 1907. Staff is super kind and very enthusiastic—you can tell they are excited to work in such a cool place.
The surroundings… Just a 10-minute walk into the center of action, and a 5-minute walk to the beach—it’s on a cliff that sits at the edge of town, and there are beautiful walks from the hotel to the lighthouse and then heading north towards Anglet.
The rooms… Our room was on the ground floor, and while we didn’t have a view of the sea from the room itself, we had a really nice patio area with a double sunbed, which did have a view of the lighthouse and the sea beyond. We were worried that being so close to the lobby and the bar it would be loud, but they invested in some serious soundproofed doors, and you couldn’t hear a thing. The decor in the room leans modern seaside–lots of rattan and rope accents, a palette of red and blue (a lot of it lacquered), and clever Basque objets hanging on the wall, rather than art. With thoughtful touches like a cooler/speaker that you can take to the beach with you.
The food and drink… The kitchen is managed by Frenchie, the great Parisian restaurant, and we loved the breakfast so much we actually indulged. Poolside lunch was delicious (an incredible paté with housemade pickles!), and pro-tip—it’s the best time to hang out at the pool, when all the kids are at lunch with their parents.
Be sure to… Rent a striped tent on the beach for 15 euros! The swimming and people-watching are great—and so are the photo ops in/of the tents!
Date of Stay… July 21-23, 2023
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