Experimental Group has opened the doors to Regina Experimental in Biarritz, following a full refurbishment and sensitive
redesign by Group Interior Designer, Dorothée Meilichzon. Standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean, the historic property faces out towards the bay of Biscay with views across to Biarritz lighthouse and offers guests 72 rooms, a Frenchie Biarritz restaurant and bar, a vast orangery and a spa, with an outdoor swimming pool.
An Illustrious History
Constructed in 1907 by architect and landscape designer Henry Martinet, the Regina Hotel & Spa is a renowned Belle Époque building with a monumental 15-metre high atrium, expansive bay windows, an Eiffel glass roof and plentiful Art Deco touches complemented by Neo-Basque architecture. Once a coastal haven for royalty, today Biarritz is a surfer’s paradise offering sandy beaches and rolling waves.
Standout spaces
A standout space, the expansive foyer has been brought to life with local design inspirations by Dorothée Meilichzon. Several small salons welcome guests to congregate beneath the lofty glass roof where natural light flows in and highlights shades of green, dark red and blue and materials including sandstone, ceramics and natural fibres.
At the heart of Regina Experimental is a bar plucked from the Roaring Twenties and serving a selection of classics and signature Experimental cocktails. Inside, a long counter pays homage to architect Eileen Gray and sofas echo the shapes of the Itsasoan footbridge in Guétary. Intimate nooks are softly lit with hanging paper lamps by Ingo Maurer and Anthony Dickens. A piano is the centrepiece, providing a nightly soundtrack for guests as they select from the clever cocktail menu.
Rooms & suites
Reaching skywards, corridors envelop the atrium where 72 white, blue, dark green and Basque red rooms face either the ocean or the iconic Biarritz golf course, one of the most prestigious courses in Europe. Bedrooms are awash with straw and rope combined with marine stripes and plaster frescoes with aquatic motifs. Evocative of an ocean liner, each bedroom incorporates curved forms and long horizontal lines.
Frenchie Biarritz by Gregory Marchand
The hotel’s vast restaurant and its large terrace overlooking the ocean are home to Frenchie Biarritz, a creative brasserie where Chef Gregory Marchand takes inspiration from local cuisine and the richness of Basque products. Culinary creations will feature Trout from Banka, black pork from Gascony, hake from Saint-Jean de Luz, milk-fed lamb, pink veal from Axuria, Basque ewe’s milk cheese from the Aldudes farm, Ossau-Iraty cheese and Espelette pepper.
Olivier Bon, Co-Founder & Partner of Experimental Group says of the partnership:
“We are very pleased to continue our collaboration with Gregory Marchand after opening Frenchie Pigalle in 2020 at the Grand Pigalle Hotel in Paris and Frenchie Verbier at the Experimental Chalet. The Frenchie spirit is strong: at once bold and generous yet open to the Basque country and its influences. The menu is designed to welcome new people and mix cultures, perfectly suited to Biarritz.”
Susanne Kaufmann & Alaena Spa
Regina Experimental also features a boutique, a Susanne Kaufmann & Alaena spa and a large outdoor pool.
Three spacious treatment rooms. Two built for two guests to enjoy. A steam room for pure relaxation. The new home of the Susanne Kaufmann & Alaena spa, an inspired take on the clarity of the mountains combined with the power of the ocean.
Developed in Bezau, in the heart of the Austrian Alps, and in Biarritz for Alaena, the Spa’s treatment protocols are a blend of natural essences and pioneering active ingredients with traditional massage techniques. Targeted movements and antioxidant treatments for the face; exfoliation and body wraps for the Atlantic Ritual; lymphatic drainage inspired by Japanese Kobido massage.
Brand expansion & identity
The launch strengthens the brand’s presence across Europe, following the opening of Montesol Experimental, Ibiza in April and accompanying the launch of Cowley Manor Experimental, in the Cotswolds this July. In keeping with Experimental Group’s strong sense of identity, Regina Experimental showcases the group’s unique “Made in France” approach to design, food and beverage, and atmosphere.
Next door, lies Le Garage, a former classic automobile garage that became a boutique hotel in 2020. The 27 key property boasts incredible architecture throughout, welcoming guests through the vast arch door through to suites with private terraces, and a swimming pool.
