Biarritz Nightlife

LE CAVEAU
4, rue Gambetta

LE BLUE CARGO (café concert)
plage d'Ilbaritz/Bidart

LA CITERNE (café concert)
Avenue Edouard VII

LE COPACABANA
24, avenue Edouard VII

LE FLAMINGO
Casino Municipal, 1, avenue Edouard VII

L'IBIZA
1, boulevard Général de Gaulle

PLAY BOY CLUB
Résidence Grand Hôtel, 15, place Clémenceau

LA PLAGE
Avenue de la Marne

LE WINNER
21, avenue Edouard VII

At the end the century, the Beautiful Time having followed the Second Empire, these are the heads crowned of Republic that adopts this place of holiday. In the meantime, the city decorated itself of homes to the varied and flaming styles. Sadi Carnot, Poincaré, Clemenceau, Jules Ferry, Alexander Dumas, Zolas meet around the beaches. The English aristocrats, whose forebears discovered the place in the beginning of the century during the Napoleonic wars, install themselves of it following the prince of Wales, future Edouard VII, that spends five seasons in the former imperial residence, transformed in hotel since 1893, the hotel of the Palace.

These are the English who will give in Biarritz his/her/its first golf, the Golf of the Beacon, and his/her/its first horse trials. As for the beautiful Elisabeth of Austria, so-called " Sissi ", she/it looks for there a consolation to his/her/its pain to live.

To the turn of the century, quite the new Municipal Casino as well as the Casino Bellevues attract stars of the spectacle and " show-offs ". Sarah Bernhardt and Lucien Guitry, father of Sacha, produce themselves of it. The spectacle finished, they dance all night long. The pleasures distinguished of the worldly of the past century make place at the nights agitated of the new Parisian noctambulists. Here, one exercises itself until the dawn to the art all new of the charleston, in twenties, and the big villa owners make dance all their friends in their park. Until the palace of Queen Nathalie of Serbia, that becomes " the Royal " Pavilion.

Dress Code: After World War II, Biarritz recovers its liveliness grace notably to the sumptuous feasts of the marquis of Cuevas. She/it always attracts the gotha: Farouk of Egypt, Michel of Romania, Pierre of Yugoslavia. But also the movie stars, such Rita Hayworths that make a stopover with the Aga Khan, or Frank Sinatra, Gary Cooper and Bing Crosby.

The feasts continue to be in the sixties in full swing, quite a small little more discreet, but not less brilliant. With the seventies and eighty, Biarritz will add at his/her/its ostentatious nights of new activities, diurnal those, clean to seduce more hurried contemporaries.

A la fin du XIX° siècle, la Belle Epoque ayant succédé au Second Empire, ce sont les têtes couronnées de la République qui adoptent ce lieu de villégiature. Entre-temps, la ville s'est ornée de demeures aux styles variés et flamboyants. Sadi Carnot, Poincaré, Clemenceau, Jules Ferry, Alexandre Dumas, Zola se rencontrent autour des plages. Les aristocrates anglais, dont les ancêtres ont découvert le lieu au début du siècle pendant les guerres napoléoniennes, s'y installent à la suite du prince de Galles, futur Edouard VII, qui passe cinq saisons dans l'ancienne résidence impériale, transformée en hôtel dès 1893, l'Hôtel du Palais.

Ce sont les Anglais qui donneront à Biarritz son premier golf, le Golf du Phare, et ses premiers concours hippiques. Quant à la belle Elisabeth d'Autriche, dite "Sissi", elle cherche là une consolation à son mal de vivre.

Au tournant du siècle, le tout nouveau Casino Municipal ainsi que le Casino Bellevue attirent vedettes du spectacle et "flambeurs". Sarah Bernhardt et Lucien Guitry, père de Sacha, s'y produisent. Le spectacle terminé, ils dansent toute la nuit. Les plaisirs distingués des mondains du siècle passé font place aux nuits agitées des nouveaux noctambules parisiens. Ici, on s'exerce jusqu'à l'aube à l'art tout nouveau du charleston, dans les années vingt, et les propriétaires des grandes villas font danser tous leurs amis dans leur parc. Jusqu'au palais de la Reine Nathalie de Serbie, qui devient "le Pavillon Royal".

Dress Code: Après la seconde guerre mondiale, Biarritz retrouve son entrain grâce notamment aux fêtes somptueuses du marquis de Cuevas. Elle attire toujours le gotha : Farouk d'Egypte, Michel de Roumanie, Pierre de Yougoslavie. Mais aussi les stars de cinéma, telles Rita Hayworth qui fait une escale avec l'Aga Khan, ou bien Frank Sinatra, Gary Cooper et Bing Crosby.

Les fêtes continuent de battre leur plein dans les années soixante, un tout petit peu plus discrètes, mais pas moins brillantes. Avec les années soixante-dix et quatre-vingts, Biarritz ajoutera à ses nuits fastueuses de nouvelles activités, diurnes celles-là, propres à séduire des contemporains plus pressés.

Just outside of Biarritz's city center on the Plage d'llbarritz, lies a great, if typical, beach bar/club. Up until midnight or so, the place's lower level serves food, which I was told is good, but I can't confirm. After midnight I was told that the place really packs people in on the upper level, and this I can confirm! While it is nothing as special as, say Ibiza, it still provided a good night out.

Dress Code: Mix between clubwear and beachwear, but shirts required..

Playboy is the best option when it comes to nightclubs. You don't have that many options in Biarritz since if you are big clubber you will go in Spain for the night.
Good music, the place where the locals go which is a good sign.

Dress Code: Regular for a beach city, sneakers accepted.

Biarritz is one of the few cities of France where you will find casinos. You have 2 casinos there:
The first one is the casino municipal which is pretty much casual, it has been redone few years ago, and the inside has made redisigned by Willmote a famous french architecte who designed the Champs Elysees.
The second one is the casino Bellevue which more dressed up. Just depending what you are looking for.
FYI, the casual meaning is different in France than in many other countries. Do not try to get in in shorts and slaps!

Along rue Clemenceau are a number of bars with lots of folks enjoying the outdoor patios. This group was enjoying their own multi liter beer dispenser. This was not the first for the evening.