Lore Ttipia: A Michelin-Starred Gem in the French Basque Country
Lore Ttipia: A Michelin-Starred Gem in the French Basque Country
In Bidarray, nestled in the heart of the French Basque Country, lies Auberge Ostape, a five-star hotel embraced by gentle hills and meadows that shift in color with the light of day. Spread across 45 hectares, the estate is composed of several traditional buildings that invite unhurried exploration —on foot or by golf cart— through a landscape where silence asserts itself with ease.
One of these buildings, dating from the seventeenth century, houses Lore Ttipia, a restaurant distinguished with a Michelin star. Here, chef John Argaud turns fire into language: embers, the grill, and smoke become expressive tools in a cuisine that bridges sea and mountain, the Atlantic and the Pyrenees.
From Thursday to Sunday, the restaurant offers tasting menus conceived as a journey — from the immediacy of seasonal freshness to the complexity of the Signature Menu, which includes the chef’s most personal creations. The establishment’s pantry is marked by the surroundings: meats from the Landes, fish from the Basque coast, honey from the Ostape Estate’s own hives, and cheeses from Bidarray all evoke a territory that is reflected in every dish.
From Monday to Wednesday, Lore Ttipia takes on a more informal tone, becoming a contemporary bistro led by Albin De Larivière, offering lighter plates that remain true to Basque spirit.
The sweet chapter, orchestrated by pastry chef Damien Albert, introduces notes of freshness and precision with desserts conceived as a contrast to the intense, fire-driven nature of the main kitchen.
The wine cellar, which is visible from the dining room, holds more than four hundred carefully selected labels. Wines from Irouléguy and La Rioja coexist with bottles from Bordeaux and Burgundy, selected to complement the menus with balance and depth.
This sumptuous feast offers a serene pause — an invitation to let the rhythm of nature replace that of the table, and to allow the landscape to speak in silence. In the suites of Ostape, at the infinity pool, and in the spa and massage areas, guests will surely find that suspended sense of time that rounds off the experience.
Lore Ttipia
Domaine de Chahatoa, Bidarray.
Tel.: +33 559 379 191
