L'Essentiel Refined and creative cuisine in the heart of Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Opening hours

Temporarily closed

On social networks

Useful information

  • Michelin Bib Gourmand
  • Petit Futé
  • Gault & Millau
  • Le Collège Culinaire de France
  • Le Guide Michelin

Location : In town

Province : Labourd

Tariffs : 40€ to 80€

Services

  • Air conditioning
  • Bank cards accepted
  • Cash
  • English spoken
  • Groups
  • Open all year round
  • Spanish spoken
  • Terrace
  • English
    • The Essential, the story between a mother and a son


      Anne Arbo & Morgan Ortega, the two partners of the restaurant l'Essentiel appreciate the living environment and the beauty of the landscapes of the Basque Country but also the friendliness of the local people. In addition, the region offers multiple quality regional products, enough to delight the chef. They chose St-Jean-de-Luz, a seaside resort renowned for its gentle way of life and its culture.

      The restaurant is located in a lively area opposite the JOA casino and, above all, a stone's throw from the pedestrian street and the Bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

      Its chic and cozy decoration gives a warm atmosphere to the restaurant. The kitchen open to the room allows you to see the chefs at work. Noémie Vedeau welcomes you and advises you on the dishes and the subtleties of the products and on the beautiful wine list from the region and elsewhere. Finally, a large terrace that can accommodate 30 guests is ideal for summer days and evenings.

  • Français
  • Español
  • Deutsch
  • Euskara

Traveller Reviews L'Essentiel

4.9 sur 5 698 reviews

  • nespa93

    5 sur 5 Reviews posted by nespa93 on 12/11/2025

    Excellent experience. Friendly staff and quality food. Dogs are welcome on the terrace. 👍🏻

  • Jojo

    5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Jojo on 06/11/2025

    I don't regret my trip. (Paris) My son had raved about it!

  • Valentin Andre

    5 sur 5 Reviews posted by Valentin Andre on 05/11/2025

    A very pleasant restaurant. The food is well-prepared, a very nice presentation. The service is impeccable, and all three servers create a very enjoyable atmosphere in the restaurant. Thank you.

Traveller Reviews L'Essentiel

4.7 sur 5 424 reviews

Rating summary

  • Food 4.6 / 5
  • Atmosphere 4.5 / 5
  • Service 4.6 / 5
  • Value 4.5 / 5
  • "Good restaurant in Saint Jean de Luz near Hotel de la plage"

    4 / 5 Reviews posted by Thierry N (Vriezenveen, The Netherlands) on 19/09/2025

    We tried that restaurant which was located 5mns away from our hotel in Saint Jean de Luz, and we were not désappointe by the experience; staff, service, food and drinks were good to very good, prices...

    Read the full review
  • "Flavour , Flavour , Flavour !"

    5 / 5 Reviews posted by ADXBS (Paris, France) on 11/10/2024

    What an exceptional culinary experience. Had been wanting to eat here since the opening in 2019 but hadn’t had the chance. Finally made it on a beautiful October day for lunch. Started off with a...

    Read the full review
  • "excellent food and service"

    5 / 5 Reviews posted by Arno P (Leiderdorp, The Netherlands) on 06/10/2024

    lots of choices in the lunch menu. quality of food and wine is outstanding as well as service. one attention point is the temperature when the sun is shining.

    Read the full review

Ride around

De la mer à la montagne

De la mer à la montagne
De la mer à la montagne

157 m - Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Velo hybrid Bike / road

La route des contrebandiers (cyclotourisme)

La route des contrebandiers (cyclotourisme)
La route des contrebandiers (cyclotourisme)

432 m - Esquiule

Velo hybrid Bike / road

Le sentier du littoral de Saint-Jean-de-Luz à Hendaye

Le sentier du littoral de Saint-Jean-de-Luz à Hendaye
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470 m - Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Walking

To discover around

Pergola beach

Pergola beach
Pergola beach

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Bayona - L'espadrille Basque

Bayona - L'espadrille Basque
Bayona - L'espadrille Basque

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Manufactoum Workshop

Manufactoum Workshop
Manufactoum Workshop

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Espadrille Nicole Paries

Espadrille Nicole Paries
Espadrille Nicole Paries

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Maison Laffargue

Maison Laffargue
Maison Laffargue

The artisanal know-how of Maison Laffargue dates back to 1890. The team of passionate artisans handcrafts leather ...

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L'Essentiel

Address

3 Rue Vincent Barjonnet
64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Contacts

Phone : 05 47 02 41 47

GPS coordinates

43° 23'30.02"N, 1° 39'36.27"W

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