L'Auberge Basque

We’ve been to Auberge Basque several times now, and it somehow gets better every time. There’s always something new or improved, but the warm, welcoming vibe stays the same. The people are genuinely kind, always with a smile. The rooms are super clean, the whole place is full of thoughtful touches, and it’s really family-friendly—which we appreciate a lot. And the breakfast? Still incredible. Fresh, local, and just what you want to start the day. We’ll definitely be back again.

We loved the Michelin restaurant. Some of the dishes were slightly too unusual / we didn’t grasp but the desserts were a highlight, atmosphere and service were great, too. View is nice.

This is not up to relais and chateaux standards - we have stayed at many before and this is nothing like the others - far more basic with a small room, limited facilities in the room (very little space for clothes, sparse bathroom etc) and very limited facilities in the "hotel". It is essentially a restaurant with rooms or a bed and breakfast and should be advertised as such rather than as a hotel. It is very expensive for what it is - more than other very luxurious properties within your brand. And it was annoying to be asked at check out to pay more for staff. I've never seen that before and I hope I never do again.

Enjoyed our stay at this lovely inn. Sipping Champagne on the lawn as the sun set over the hills was quite lovely. The breakfast buffet was delicious and extensive. Dinner menu was excellent - interesting, fresh and well prepared food. ||Our suite was large, well appointed and very clean. The bathroom was large and well-equipped. ||Treats and refreshments left each day were delicious and appreciated.

Regarding the restaurant: My partner (French) and I (Aussie) loved our 5-course menu - which really seemed more like 7 courses if you count the amuse bouche and the extra dessert with my coffee. The service was great and the waiter spoke in perfect English for me. I also explained my gluten intolerance which was catered to perfectly. I think the garden here is spectacular, especially for lunch. My favourite dish was the tuna but the oyster dish was also superb. I think it deserves more than 1 Michelin star because of the flavour complexities and originality offered by the menu. However, it does this all in a way that encompasses the true Basque spirit while maintaining a modern level of sophistication and class.

This is a Relais and Chateau. It was not easy to get to but once there overlooking the tranqil countryside it was wwell worth it,. I had room 2 which is on the top floor with a terrace and sunken bedroom for 6 days attending a food and wine event. Lovely pool and grounds with multiple places to eat and relax. Wine service was excelent the waiter previousy at La Tour Argent. Breakfast was perfect. My last night was a Sunday and was informed no bar or food available much to my shock but managed just fine.

Regarding the restaurant, it's an excellent Michelin starred restaurant. The atmosphere is delightful, the basque products are really well cooked. We loved everything, every meal was greatly done and well-thought. A must go. Regarding the hotel, we stayed 4 nights, which was way too long in those conditions: there was no Internet working and the room was quite small. The pool is outside, which means it was closed during our stay because it was rainy. I definitely advise staying 1-2 nights there, but probably no more than this.

The dinner reviews on TA for the restaurant are fair enough, so this is purely about the hotel. There are some very clever design details, many of which work, some don’t. The views from the terrace are world class. Most of the staff are young, charming and well intentioned, albeit with a high degree of self consciousness. ||I got the overall impression that too much is done for the sake of “being different”, with too little thought given to the guest experience. So if you don’t want chocolate chips in your muesli, the only alternative is one flavoured with curry. Want a swim before breakfast? Forget it - the pool cannot be used before 10.00 (checkout is 11.00). Fancy a refreshing orange juice with breakfast in July - no again, oranges are “out of season”, (although, perversely, they were sufficiently seasonal to have been included in a mixed juice of vegetables and fruit). ||The open plan kitchen is a nice idea but the cooking smells were truly awful at breakfast, presumably because the extraction was off - it wasn’t like that over dinner. The prepping of the constituent parts of dishes that are delicious when finished, say the boiling up of fish bones or the frying of garlic, is pretty unattractive with your yoghurt and Muesli, whether curried or chocolate flavoured.||Frankly, I would strongly recommend staying in one of the excellent hotels on the coast and taking a taxi to the Auberge for dinner.||