Manexenea

A sprawling country estate on the heights of Bidarray and Itxassou is home to a 17C farmstead and outhouses. A panoramic terrace commands a jaw-dropping view over grandiose rolling countryside. Chef John Argaud, who trained with the best in the Basque Country (the Ibarboure brothers in Ithurria), as well as at Le Meurice Alain Ducasse in Paris, shines the spotlight on outstanding local produce. The food is crisp, legible and dotted with creativity; some ingredients are cooked over embers or finished on a hot stone for an added distinctive edge. An example: morels stuffed with sweetbread and du

Artzain means "shepherd" in Basque – in tribute to the owner’s father. Located in the centre of the village, this converted barn has retained a rustic feel, courtesy of old rafters and stone walls, which are contrasted with a contemporary edge thanks to furniture by Basque craftsman Alki. The menu features an enticing cast of seasonal and predominantly local ingredients that never disappoints: a country dish of black pudding, sausage, fresh pork belly, Tarbais beans and powdered garlic bread, or a wafer-thin tartlet of fresh goat’s cheese, confit lemon marmalade, squid and herb-spiked sorbet.

This delicious eatery occupies a verdant spot at the foot of the Ispéguy Pass. The authentic Basque house sports an attractive long dining room, whose crisp white interior echoes the immaculate garb of the Basque pelota players pictured on the walls. Local produce takes pride of place in the seasonal, market-fresh cuisine. Some of the house signatures include trout au bleu, straight from the restaurant's tank, and calf’s head with Emile Arcé’s iconic gribiche sauce, or addictive caramelised pork belly. In summer, tables are set up on the terrace, lined with plane trees. After your meal, stroll

You won’t find more typically Basque than Ithurria on Ainhoa’s Place du Fronton facing the village pelota wall! The attractive, traditional family-run establishment has retained its terracotta tiled floors, wooden rafters, gleaming copper pots and vintage tableware. With his pastry-chef brother Louis, chef Martin Isabal, who learned the ropes in star establishments, has taken over the reins from Uncle Xavier. The brothers sign a delicate menu in the zeitgeist founded on their Basque roots. Martin’s enticing score is sourced exclusively from local producers and their own kitchen garden. The ter

Clément and Flora are perpetually rejuvenating Choko Ona, exemplified by the kitchen garden of herbs and aromatic flowers that can be admired from the tables and tasted on your plate, without forgetting the emblematic piment d'Espelette. With this cornucopia of resources at his fingertips, the chef conjures up delicate, subtle, contemporary cuisine, sourcing everything as locally as possible: delicately confit Banka trout, hollandaise, broad beans and vinegar-laced elderflowers; steamed langoustines, jus of pig’s trotters and wild garlic emulsion; Dublanc pigeon, roasted whole, artichokes and

An institution in St Jean Pied de Port, passed down from father to son. Both the decor and the cuisine pay homage to the classicism and taste of the Basque country, all of which with good quality produce.

Beñat Bonnet is the third generation at the helm of this family-run restaurant, which is something of a household name in the region. Local ingredients are celebrated in a contemporary vein with dishes such as Herriko veal, herbs, artichoke and pressed potatoes. The desserts are equally high-flying as the trompe l’oeil Itxassou cherry extravaganza demonstrates. The terrace commands a sweeping view over the Basque mountains.