zazpiHotel

A hippest-of-hip hotel showcasing top contemporary design at the heart of St Jean de Luz's historic centre

The elegant townhouses of Boulevard Thiers are testimony to a time when St Jean became one of France's most fashionable seaside resorts. zazpiHotel's high, classical façade is in perfect architectural sync with its neighbours, yet once you step inside, you wave tradition goodbye. This is a hotel where top Noughties design takes centre stage, and if you're a lover of cool, contemporary and uncluttered sleeping spaces, you'll be in heaven.

A slick, open plan lobby-cum-living-cum-dining room, flanked by a citrus-shaded terrace, sets the scene: there are Rossi di Albizzate's remarkable lozenge chairs, a jazzy 3m-high lamp by Inga Sempé and Philippe Starck dining chairs alongside creations by Mendini, Newson and Wanders, all enhanced by the subtlest of ambient lighting. Up above is a rooftop pool and 7 swish rooms inspired by the Basque provinces: all are different yet share the same angular, spare good looks. And throughout, the Zen-inspired fusion of glass, wood and stone is as good-looking as it is practical.

Highs

• At the heart of one of southwest France's prettiest seaside towns
• A self-conscious design hotel, yet the mood that has been created is relaxed and light-hearted
• St Jean de Luz is a paradise for gourmets and an excellent place to try the finest Basque cuisine
• zazpi is a family affair with service of the most personal kind
• Beauty is in the detail: every decorative objet, most of them modern design classics, has been positioned for maximum aesthetic appeal

Lows

• Only light meals are served at the hotel, but with so many excellent restaurants just a short stroll away, this is hardly a problem
• High season prices are... high. But this is a time of year when the town fills up and you probably won't want to be around
• All the extras soon add up - breakfast, drinks etc