Set against the sea breezes of Biarritz and the lingering glamour of the imperial era, Hôtel du Palais Biarritz remains one of Europe’s most storied seaside palaces. Standing on Avenue de l’Impératrice, the hotel began in 1854 as Villa Eugénie, the summer residence built by Napoleon III for Empress Eugénie. Now part of Hyatt’s The Unbound Collection, it still preserves the grandeur of the Second Empire and the aura of a royal retreat. Today, the property features 142 rooms and suites, including 56 suites, with interiors inspired by Napoléon III's elegance. In some upper-floor accommodations, porthole-like details and streamlined forms subtly nod to the Atlantic setting, bringing together Biarritz’s surf culture, aristocratic summer legacy, and French palace refinement.
Dining is central to the hotel’s identity and sense of place. La Rotonde – Gastronomique frames the evening with sweeping ocean views and refined French cuisine, while Terrasse & Rotonde – Brasserie offers a more relaxed expression of brasserie dining shaped by regional flavors, seasonal ingredients, and the hotel’s signature Sunday Imperial Brunch. Lounge Eugénie adds a contemporary note with its sushi bar, creative cocktails, and sea-facing terrace, while the seasonal Le Sunset channels the spirit of Biarritz through summer dishes, grilled specialties, and fresh seafood by the bay. Together with Bar Napoléon III and Le Salon, the hotel’s dining collection creates a layered resort lifestyle rather than a single culinary address. More than a hotel, Hôtel du Palais feels like a living chapter of French high society. Its appeal lies not only in its luxury, but in the rare feeling of inhabiting Empress Eugénie’s coastal vision, where the sunlight and waves of the Basque shore meet the enduring splendor of an imperial past.
