Where to Base
Stay in the city center near the Château de Pau and Parc du Château. This area provides walking access to major sights, restaurants, and shops, ideal for both business and leisure travelers.
City hotel guide
Pau
Pau, nestled at the foot of the Pyrenees in southwestern France, is known as the 'Capital of the Pyrenees.' The city boasts stunning Belle Époque architecture, expansive Royal Park, and a mild climate. For hotel travelers, the city center offers the best base for exploring historic quarters, museums, and local gastronomy, with convenient access and an elegant atmosphere.
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Before choosing where to stay
Getting Around
Pau-Pyrénées Airport (PUF) is approximately 7 km from the city center, a 15-minute drive. Local buses and taxis are readily available for convenient city exploration.
Best Season
Spring through autumn offers pleasant weather for outdoor activities and sightseeing. Winter provides easy access to nearby ski resorts, making it a year-round destination.
Nearby attractions
Dining
Omnivore
Two minutes from Pau Château, on the picturesque Place Gramont, imagine a nostalgic bistro with a zinc-topped counter, wood panelling and upholstered seating. Pau's foodies flock here, sharing good vibes as they tuck into fish fresh from the fish auction or 24hr shoulder of pork. The slate menu features traditional nosh served generously and sometimes enhanced by touches of citrus fruit or well-balanced smoky notes. The jovial front-of-house staff are an added bonus.
WebsiteJumo & Co
In the heart of the old town of Pau, twin brothers, one a chef and the other a pastry chef, have successfully launched their family business in a modern bistro-style setting laid out over two floors, complete with a pastry counter and tea room. The menu is a real draw, and also represents great value for money. This talented pair bring a touch of magic to their apparently simple dishes, drawing on sweet and sour jus and a medley of condiments to enhance their ingenious and generous, yet always light cuisine. Think confit pork belly, barbecue jus, pickled vegetables, radishes, polenta croquette
WebsiteLes Pipelettes
Here, the delicious dishes are prepared according to the produce available at the market stalls and the harvests of some 30 farmers based near Pau. The chef does her job well, and her dishes are both sophisticated and delicious: beef ravioli with squash and yarrow, line-caught hake from Saint-Jean-de-Luz, or the goat's milk cream with vanilla and Landes raspberry. Set menus (without options) at lunch and dinner, but the value for money at this pleasant little bistro is excellent.
WebsiteL'Interprète
Right in the city centre, in a chic bohemian decor, you are invited to sample creative bistronomy that takes its cue from the seasons, in the form of well-constructed carte blanche set menus. Chef Quentin Maysou takes pleasure in cooking: pan-fried scallops, meat jus with chorizo, Brussels sprouts and verjuice gel; peanut praline and peanut cream, monk's tea gel, fromage blanc sorbet... Plus a friendly atmosphere.
WebsitePaute
Two friends who met at catering college have hit the jackpot with this picturesque spot hidden away in a narrow little stepped street in one of the town's oldest neighbourhoods. Aromatic herbs, spices, infused vinegars made in-house, citrus fruit and authentic jus often finished with butter – a wealth of flavours that come through in dishes brimming with original ideas and childhood memories. Often a full house, so be sure to book ahead.
WebsiteL'Ossau
The house speciality? Succulent poule au pot, with the chicken completely deboned, stuffed with a mixture of veal, foie gras and morels, finished with a creamy supreme sauce and accompanied by the broth of the chicken served as a drink and garnishes presented in small copper saucepans. At lunchtime, the weekly menu, which is renewed every three weeks, features classic bistro dishes (eg chicken with olives and preserved lemon; roasted sea bass with thyme and bayaldi). In short, this contemporary bistro run by two friends delivers a carefully prepared take on traditional cuisine that is sure to
WebsiteResto Dit Vin
In a pedestrian street in the centre of Pau, this inviting and indulgent place complete with outdoor tables is one to keep under your hat, as it is often packed to the rafters! In his semi-open kitchen, chef Alexis Bourdrel gives pride of place to local ingredients, attracting a loyal clientele with his no-nonsense, streamlined formule of flavoursome house-made dishes. A beloved bistro, lively and authentic.
Maynats
In this pavilion with an octagonal conservatory and a casual vibe, the Maynats (meaning "lads" or "kids" in the Béarn dialect) continue to tick all the boxes with their instinctive, playful cuisine, embodied by particularly spot on surf and turf combinations and a stunning dessert. The blend of an ambitious score and a happy-go-lucky ambiance have earned it a place in the hearts of the locals. Surprise menu with several courses in the evening and a well-curated organic wine list. What’s not to like?
WebsiteAttraction data from Wikidata (CC0) and open sources, ranked by notability and distance — for reference.
See all guide-listed restaurants in Pau (Michelin / Black Pearl) →
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Parc Beaumont Hôtel & Spa Pau - MGallery Collection
5★0 recordsSparse
Hôtel Villa Navarre
5★0 recordsSparse
Hotel De Gramont
4★0 recordsSparse
Kyriad Prestige Pau - Zenith - Palais Des Sports
4★0 recordsSparse
Hôtel du Palois Pau Centre Bosquet ex Quality
4★0 recordsSparse
Mercure Pau Palais des Sports
4★0 recordsSparse
All Suites Appart Hôtel - Pau - Zénith
3★0 recordsSparse
Hôtel Le Roncevaux
3★0 recordsSparse