Biarritz in May is when the city comes back to life: the terraces of the imperial quarter reopen, the coffee shops put tables out on the pavement, the cabins on the Côte des Basques switch their lights back on. The salty air, the slanting light in late afternoon, the smell of maritime pines on the way up to the lighthouse: there's something here you won't find in any other city on the Atlantic coast. And for remote workers looking to work outside, it's a serious playground, as long as you aim for the right time slots. The tourist pressure between June and late August changes the picture completely.

We've done a full tour of the terraces in Biarritz where you can actually work, not just have a drink. Here's our selection of 4 spots designed for computer sessions, from a premium coworking space with a rooftop to a speciality coffee shop with an outdoor terrace.

Le Connecteur

45 Avenue du Président J F Kennedy, Clos Saint-Michel. Le Connecteur plays in a different league on the terrace front: its rooftop offers a view of the ocean on one side and the Pyrenean range on the other, which is unique in the city. You can genuinely work up there for several hours.

Café Working accessible without a reservation (rates on its website), Le Marloe restaurant on-site for lunch. Reception is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm (members have badge access every day from 5 am to midnight). The rooftop terrace is the one to aim for at the end of the day to finish your tasks at sunset.

Our favourite for long terrace work sessions in Biarritz, with an ocean view.

Lobita Atelier

1 Allée de l'Aéropostale, near the airport. Lobita Atelier has a pleasant, calm outdoor terrace right next to their roasting cube. It's the spot for a morning speciality coffee plus emails session: you grab a genuinely good espresso (they roast on-site), settle outside on fine days, and start your day in a bright, peaceful setting.

Home-cooked food at lunchtime, speciality coffee roasted on-site. Open every day from 8 am to 3 pm on weekdays, 9 am to 3 pm on weekends. The 8–11 am slot is the absolute sweet spot: you have the terrace to yourself, the coffee is perfect, and you get 2.5 hours of focus before it starts filling up.

The spot for productive mornings that deserve a genuinely great coffee, in a calm, well-kept outdoor setting.

La Maison Rouge

20 Avenue Reine Victoria, imperial quarter. La Maison Rouge has a garden terrace connected to the private mansion, right in the heart of Biarritz's imperial district. It's the discreet premium option: you work in a 19th-century architectural setting, 5 minutes from the Casino and the Grande Plage, with genuine attention to décor. The terrace is ideal for calm video calls and mid-session breaks when you need a change from an open space.

Open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6:30 pm, rates on its website. The user profile is more refined than in other coworking spaces, hushed atmosphere, genuinely designed for those who want a high-end setting without the bling.

The choice for a premium quiet terrace day, in an architectural setting unlike anything else in the city.

Deus Ex Machina

55 Avenue de la Marne. Deus has a terrace in front of its industrial façade, set on part of the forecourt, 500 metres from the beach. For working on a terrace, it's a genuinely different lifestyle option: you're surrounded by surfboards, custom motorcycles, shopping customers passing through, in an atmosphere that's radically different from what you'll find at the coworking spaces.

Food on-site, beers and wines available. Open every day from 9 am to 7 pm. The terrace is busier so forget deep focus, but for a lifestyle session, a relaxed team call or an afternoon of simple tasks, it's perfect.

The spot for terrace work in an atypical surf-and-motorcycle setting, right in the most vibrant part of Biarritz.

How to work well on a terrace in Biarritz

Three useful rules on the Atlantic side:

  • The ocean wind can be treacherous in the afternoon. On the Côte des Basques and around the Grande Plage, the wind often picks up from around 2 pm on summer days. Bring something to weigh down your papers and a light windbreaker.
  • Terraces fill up fast in July and August. Aim for mornings before 11 am or the 2–4 pm window to get a spot and work in peace. At apéro time (5–7 pm), give up entirely on Deus for any serious focus work.
  • Shade is scarce. In midsummer, many terraces face full south with no cover. Target Le Connecteur's rooftop or Maison Rouge if you want shade and plan to work for several hours without getting burned.

Going further

If you want our full selection of spots in Biarritz, we have a guide that brings together all the good coworking spaces, coffee shops and places to work in the city, not just the terraces. For detailed listings of Biarritz spots, head to our city page.

Looking for terraces in another city this summer? We also have selections for Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse.

In summary

Biarritz is one of the rare French cities where you'll genuinely find 4 different terrace spots for working: Le Connecteur's premium rooftop, Lobita's speciality coffee terrace, Maison Rouge's high-end garden and Deus's lifestyle terrace. In peak season, it's better to aim for off-peak hours (avoiding midday and the end of the day if you actually want to get things done) and head to a coworking space when you have a heavy workday to wrap up.

Looking for other types of spots in Biarritz? Find our full selection and our city guides on Deskover.