"Fabian Feldmann's one-star kitchen turns Capbreton's day boats into the Basque coast's most personal tasting — make the detour for an anniversary."
About L'Impertinent
The 'Clin d'oeil a Albert' arrives early, a seafood plate Fabian Feldmann named for the harbour restaurant where he first cooked in the Basque Country. His own room, L'Impertinent, sits at 5 rue d'Alsace in the Saint-Charles quarter of Biarritz, a few streets back from the beach. It opened in April 2012 and earned its Michelin star within a year, a star it still holds. The headline tasting runs EUR 128, built almost entirely around fish landed that morning at the Capbreton market.
The Kitchen
Feldmann is German-born and classically trained, with time at L'Oasis in La Napoule and Pierre Gagnaire in Paris before he settled on the Basque coast. His cooking is precise and unshowy, built on the quality of the raw material rather than spectacle: line-caught fish from Capbreton, seasoned and plated with French technique and a few sharp, unexpected turns. The signature 'Clin d'oeil a Albert' is his nod to Chez Albert, the harbour kitchen where he started locally. Desserts carry the same wit, none more than the 'Curry vert', a green-curry dessert of coriander cream, coconut foam and ginger.
The menus are tightly structured: a EUR 128 tasting, a EUR 105 Decouverte and a three-course menu at EUR 85, with a wine pairing around EUR 190. The room is small and the kitchen cooks to it, which keeps the quality even across a service. For a one-star in a beach town better known for surf than haute cuisine, the seriousness of the sourcing and the consistency of the plates are what set it apart.
The Room
L'Impertinent is intimate, a handful of tables in a calm, contemporary room a short walk from Biarritz's Grande Plage. The sound level stays low, lighting is soft, and the spacing is generous enough for a private conversation. Service is attentive and well informed about the day's catch without being formal. Dress is smart-casual; this is the Basque coast, so a jacket reads as dressed-up rather than expected. With so few covers, booking ahead is essential, especially in the summer season.
Best for an Anniversary
Book L'Impertinent for an anniversary or a quiet celebration because everything about it is scaled for two: a small room, a long seafood tasting, and a kitchen that cooks for the table rather than the crowd. The Capbreton sourcing gives the meal a real sense of place, and the EUR 128 menu makes a proper event of the evening without the marathon length of a bigger tasting room. See the global best French restaurants and our anniversary dinner guide for more.
Not for
Not for a big lively group or a quick bite — the room is small and serious, the menu is seafood-led, and the EUR 128 tasting asks for a slow, full evening.
Frequently Asked
Is L'Impertinent worth it?
Yes, if you want serious cooking in a town that does not have much of it at this level. L'Impertinent holds a Michelin star for chef Fabian Feldmann's precise, seafood-driven menus built on Capbreton-market fish, and the EUR 128 tasting is fairly priced for a one-star in France. The room is small and personal rather than grand. Treat it as the evening's main event and book well ahead in summer.
How hard is it to book L'Impertinent?
Harder than its size suggests, because there are only a handful of tables. Book a week or more ahead in the off-season and considerably earlier for summer weekends, when Biarritz fills up. The restaurant is at 5 rue d'Alsace in the Saint-Charles quarter, a few streets back from the Grande Plage. Flexibility on date and time makes a seat much easier to land.
What is the dress code at L'Impertinent?
Smart-casual. There is no jacket requirement; this is a beach town and the room is relaxed, though most guests dress up a little for a one-star dinner. A blazer or a nice dress fits the occasion without feeling overdressed. Neat, considered clothing is all that is expected, in keeping with the easy Basque-coast mood.
What is the average meal price at L'Impertinent?
The headline tasting is EUR 128 per person, with a EUR 105 Decouverte menu and a three-course option at EUR 85. A wine pairing adds around EUR 190 for two, so a couple with pairing should plan for roughly EUR 450 to EUR 550 all in. The set menus are the format here; expect a multi-course, seafood-led meal rather than a la carte.
Is L'Impertinent good for a proposal?
Yes. The small room, soft lighting and long seafood tasting make it a strong choice for a proposal or a milestone, and the kitchen is happy to help mark the moment if you ask ahead. Book a corner table and the EUR 128 menu. See our best restaurants to propose for more ideas along the coast.
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Reserve at L'Impertinent
Direct booking · essential in summer
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Practical Information
Address5 rue d'Alsace, 64200 Biarritz
NeighbourhoodSaint-Charles
CuisineFrench seafood, tasting menu
Tasting MenuEUR 128 · Decouverte EUR 105
Dress CodeSmart-casual
ReservationDirect · book ahead
MichelinOne star (since 2013)
ChefFabian Feldmann