Hôtel du Palais: everything you need to know about one of the world’s most iconic luxury accommodation options
Hôtel du Palais: everything you need to know about one of the world’s most iconic luxury accommodation options
After a meticulous four-year renovation, Hôtel du Palais of Biarritz, one of the most emblematic luxury accommodation options in the world and the only “Palace de France” on the Atlantic coast, has just reopened its doors – rejuvenated. It has done so under the umbrella of the brand “the Unbound Collection” by Hyatt. Built in 1855 by Napoleon III at the request of his wife, Eugénie de Montijo (who longed for the summers she spent as a child in Biarritz with her family), this palace has brought together illustrious figures throughout history: Ernest Hemingway, Gary Cooper, Barbra Streisand, etc. Likewise, it has been a place of passage for top-ranking politicians: Donald Trump, Angela Merkel, Shinzo Abe, Emmanuel Macron, etc., as well as members of the main European royal houses: King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, as well as Spain’s Queen Isabella II, her grandson Alfonso XIII, and his wife, Victoria Eugenia.
Hôtel du Palais has its own team of craftsmen and craftswomen made up of cabinetmakers, upholsterers, and seamstresses. These professionals are dedicated 24/7 to the repair and restoration of the building’s historic pieces. They have been responsible to a large extent for the hotel’s shining once again with the same splendor as in its early days. In the ambitious renovation of the building, all the common areas were worked on: the façade was updated; the large windows were replaced in the lobby and the gastronomic space known as La Rotonde (now divided into two different spaces). Likewise, curtains of a lighter shade were installed to increase the amount of light; a blue and red color scheme was used at the entrance, inspired by Napoleon III’s uniform; the columns were repainted in trompe-l’oeil style at the concierge station; and the bar now embraces the Napoleonic Code of the Second Empire, with the “royal blue” of the walls, brushed bronze moldings, and a chandelier weighing 410 kg whose update required 250 hours of work. The 86 rooms and 56 suites (with areas of between 28 m2 and 100 m2) were also renovated, preserving historical details such as the ceiling woodwork, the gold leaf from the Napoleonic era, and the tapestries. The bedrooms are now in light pastel colors and state-of-the-art technology has been added. The bathrooms were repainted in white and beige and decorated with photographs by George Ancely depicting the daily life of Biarritz at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Regarding services, the hotel is back stronger than ever. Chef Aurélien Largeau, accompanied by head pastry chef Aleksandre Oliver, is in charge of designing the menu for all the hotel’s culinary spaces: Côté Maison (a restaurant specializing in Basque cuisine with an attractive lunch offer called Le Marché du Palais, €50, with a new menu each week ), Le Salon (which offers light dishes throughout the day), Le Bar Napoléon III (which stands out for its signature cocktails), La Terrasse (where diners can enjoy local dishes outdoors), Le Sunset (a chic and relaxed space located next to the kidney-shaped pool), room service (featuring a pleasant and refined menu), and La Table d’Aurélien Largeau (French haute cuisine boasting a Michelin Star). Largeau’s creations represent an ode to authentic flavors and honest, subdued, elegant cuisine based on fresh ingredients from the sea and the land.
The absolute relaxation experience proposed by the hotel culminates at the Imperial Spa, a space measuring 3,000 m2 which includes an indoor pool with a counter-current swimming system, swan neck jets, and a jacuzzi, hammam, sauna, gym, hair salon (Leonor Greyl Hair Institute), and nine treatment rooms managed in collaboration with Maison Guerlain – remember that, in order to celebrate the marriage between Napoleon III and Eugenia de Montijo, the emperor commissioned the perfumer Guerlain to design an exclusive fragrance for her, Eau de Cologne Impériale, which was displayed in a bottle decorated with 69 bees, a symbol of French royalty and the Empire. Outside the hotel is the Imperial Club, a charming space surrounded by landscaped gardens and panoramic views of the sea and the Biarritz lighthouse. The kidney-shaped pool, which was opened by Frank Sinatra in 1957, is the heart of the Imperial Club. Surrounding the pool are the famous cabanas which can be rented by the day or by the season. Private tents are also available for the beach, located just 400 meters away. Added to this are the countless activities offered at the hotel: yoga, games for children, surfing, bicycle rentals with picnic baskets, etc. Anything one can imagine and wish for is possible at this palace.
Hôtel du Palais
Part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
1 Avenue de l’Impératrice, Biarritz.
Tel.: +33 559 411 234
