A unique place. It is worth to climb up and overlook the bay. You can really good see the dune at the other side. Entrance fee is 7€ and parking can be done in the streets quiete simple.

Plenty of parking in the area and a nice place to visit. There was a queue to go up the tower so we just spent our time walking around the grounds and exploring the adjacent shelter detailing the history of the building. Very good gift shop

Beautiful place with nice views to the whole area. We drove 1,5 hours to get there and I am happy that we did not miss the chance. As we visited the lighthouse before ~45 minutes before closure, there was no crowd. For non-French speakers: in the museum everything is written in French, so at least a little French knowledge is beneficial ;) However there is an audioguide in English & German which can help!

Beautiful beach and dunes with WW2 coastal batteries still visible,worth the drive from Bordeaux

amazing views but tough steps ;-)

Fantastic views. Well worth the climb

You need to do it... 53m high 258 steps... Awesome view... And some nice information about it's use and so on... You can park easily around it so no need to go too far away. Nice information is that there's a blockus to be seen and that can be visited freely next to it.

Delicious seafood restaurant at Cap Ferret! Must try the oysters (as well as the foie gras)

Very nice place with a very nice view on the dunes de Pilat. Very good food, nice service, reservation is a must well in advance. Quite expensive but worth a visit.

Chez Hortense is an institution in Cap Ferret, and for good reason. The atmosphere is casual yet full of charm, with views that make you want to linger long after the meal ends. Their mussels with homemade French fries are simply the best — generous, flavorful, and perfect to share (one portion is more than enough for two). A true highlight is the baked oysters with foie gras, a bold and unforgettable combination. It’s the kind of place you recommend to friends without hesitation.

To provide some context for this review, we live in Cap Ferret a good part of the year, and we dine at Chez Hortense several times a year. We're also well-travelled people and know a thing or two about good restaurants. As others have said, Chez Hortense is indeed an institution in Cap Ferret, and it is an institution for very good reasons! The food is exceptional, and despite being known as a seafood restaurant, the saucissons are fantastic, by the way! ;-) The fries, too, are perhaps the best I've ever had and are part of what makes Chez Hortense Chez Hortense! That being said, perhaps what truly makes Chez Hortense Chez Hortense is the people! The service is professional and efficient--it's a busy place, so it needs to be--but it's warm too. We're quickly given warm welcomes by the team, including the lovely woman who owns it, as soon as we enter the restaurant. Then, there is the atmosphere! When the weather is good and the roof is retracted, few things beat it. And regardless of the weather, the unobstructed view of the Dune du Pilat is truly magical! For all of these reasons, having been there many, many times, I would place Chez Hortense in my Top 5 restaurants worldwide! I can't wait for it to reopen in March!

Excellent food and a gorgeous view! Fishes and seafood are so good they don't need complex preparation to be delicious. Portions are big so it's a good place for sharing both entries and main courses. The place is very popular so the staff can be a little pushy with the bill. Make a reservation ahead!

A very cozy and comfortable place, perfect for family and friends to get together. Although in the same sea area, I compared the other two and I found that the quality of the oysters here is particularly good. In the choice of white wine, the store may add some moderately priced Bordeaux dry white, such as Entre-deux-Mers.

Food is typical of the area, oysters, tartare, fries, mussels, fish, and it’s okay at best. My main reason for the 2 star review is the horrible service. My empty plates were left on the table for 30 minutes while the family next to me had their table cleared the millisecond they finished. Everyone else got exceptional service while it’s as if I’m invisible. Frankly they don’t enjoy English speaking customers as is the stereotype. This could be the reason for the bad service. So speak French and reap the benefit of being treated like a normal person…

That’s an absolute 5*. A cute small place in an old-fashioned cabane, excellent and charming service. We only had oysters, those were wonderful wonderful! It was kind of chilly, so we were sitting inside, can’t say how it is outside.

We had an amazing oyster degustation! The staff were absolutely lovely and made us feel so welcome. The oysters were really special, fresh and full of flavor & the bulots were delicious too. The wine was stunning and paired perfectly with everything. Plus, the view was just incredible. Highly recommend this place!❤️

Everything is perfect here: the oysters, crevettes, pâté and a perfectly matching wine. Of course the service is top notch too. Well worth a detour of any length :)

Wow, what a spectacular setting! We aren't into oysters, alas, but they also serve two different pates and wines, so we stopped for an hour to enjoy the evening. Friendly service, and a divine setting. (Our pictures show the view from our table.)

It is not a restaurant but an oyster farm so they can only provide bulots, crevettes and les huites, of course wine and bread, that are the principle for French people. The oysters are super fresh, big and juicy. We ended up eating twice "every thing on the menu" 🤣🤣 the terrace outside offers also a fantastic view. It is a bit far from the port (compare to other very touristic restos) but it definitely worth the trip (in the end its only 25mins by walking, its not that far). I highly recommend it!!

Lovely oyster bar with great view on the sea.

Great place to come and have some Oysters from the bay. The waiters were lovely, and with beautiful views, this is a highly recommended.

A real institution of Cap-Ferret, this place is amazing! The menu is simple, offering a selection of entrées including a number of different varieties of sea bream carpaccio. The popular mains are the steak sharers (côte du boeuf, fillet, sirloin) that are all cooked on an open fire grill and come with a huge side of fries and green salad. The desserts are all presented on an open trolly that is wheeled to your table, the lemon meringue and strawberry cake are delicious! The cocktail selection is varied and there is a large choice of wine as well. Reservations are quite hard to make so I’d recommend being persistent in calling and make sure you try to book well in advance. We definitely noticed it tends to be more of a group spot than just for couples, and we were the only couple in the restaurant, but it made for some great people watching. The waiting staff were incredibly helpful answering any questions about the menu. As dinner went on, the restaurant began letting more people in to the bar area, and around 11pm the lights went dim, the music went up a notch, and people started dancing on and around their tables. Music tends to be classics, 80’s tunes and anything easy to sing along to. It’s not cheap but we’ll worth it for the food and the experience! Highly recommend!

They live out of fame. Quality going down the drain. If you are an unknown, you deserve no respect to them. Meat is chewy Their fish creation are strange mixing fruits, sugars and spices. 🤮 The only tasty food is the one they haven’t cooked like the iberico or the caviar. Bar is expensive Music basic, commercial but entertaining. Lacks a guide line. A bit like a teenage playing its best of list. But that is OK. I have seen old frustrated white bouncers being irrespecutful to customers. Total looser in life but kings the door. Bar is overwhelmed. Does not understand that when you have a crowd you need to wake up and speed up things. Service gets quickly overwhelmed when patrons are coming at once. There you need to start to be patient. The boss sits on its seat at the back and seems not to care anymore. She cashes in the dollars

Terrible service if your looking to go in without speaking French don’t bother because they discriminate against English speakers. We got rejected by the bouncer without a reason whilst many others were let in behind us. Even when google translate was used they still refused to give us a reason not to let us in.

It is highly overpriced restaurant with a fleur of glamour and big luck of attention to details. For example, 26 euros for 5 tuna rolls is really unfair price. The food is ok and well presented, but prices are like in Michelin star restaurant (from which this place is very far). During all evening nobody lightened up the candle on the table and even a boitille of water was not offered. The waiters and all other people looked nice but the luck of attention to details is visible. For example, during Covid épidémie there were no soap and no paper towels. I checked even the cabin for handicapped visitors - no 🧼 So, even if guests would like to respect sanitary measures they can not:( I felt like foolish tourist with this choice of place, unfortunately. Which is happened first time in Cap-Ferret, generally speaking the restaurants and bars are good here.

No star possible I’m afraid. Definitely the worst dining experience. Our food was confused with two other tables and sadly when being served, an hour and a half later, there was little satisfaction found in a dry Osso-Bucco. Diplomacy was attempted on our part however the manager and varying staff members were clearly not willing to be professional or polite. We ended leaving after the main meal with an extremely small birthday tart for 10 (6 portions) on a plate wrapped in cling film, to celebrate at home. We were told to take the tart and leave!

Very Good food, but no place to party well. They try hard to generate a party atmosphere, but with a texting and smoking DJ this is very hard. Very much outdated in my opinion!

Amazing place to have diner, the music is great to dance later in the night . Strongly recommended .

Delicious seafood restaurant at Cap Ferret! Must try the oysters (as well as the foie gras)

Very nice place with a very nice view on the dunes de Pilat. Very good food, nice service, reservation is a must well in advance. Quite expensive but worth a visit.

Chez Hortense is an institution in Cap Ferret, and for good reason. The atmosphere is casual yet full of charm, with views that make you want to linger long after the meal ends. Their mussels with homemade French fries are simply the best — generous, flavorful, and perfect to share (one portion is more than enough for two). A true highlight is the baked oysters with foie gras, a bold and unforgettable combination. It’s the kind of place you recommend to friends without hesitation.

To provide some context for this review, we live in Cap Ferret a good part of the year, and we dine at Chez Hortense several times a year. We're also well-travelled people and know a thing or two about good restaurants. As others have said, Chez Hortense is indeed an institution in Cap Ferret, and it is an institution for very good reasons! The food is exceptional, and despite being known as a seafood restaurant, the saucissons are fantastic, by the way! ;-) The fries, too, are perhaps the best I've ever had and are part of what makes Chez Hortense Chez Hortense! That being said, perhaps what truly makes Chez Hortense Chez Hortense is the people! The service is professional and efficient--it's a busy place, so it needs to be--but it's warm too. We're quickly given warm welcomes by the team, including the lovely woman who owns it, as soon as we enter the restaurant. Then, there is the atmosphere! When the weather is good and the roof is retracted, few things beat it. And regardless of the weather, the unobstructed view of the Dune du Pilat is truly magical! For all of these reasons, having been there many, many times, I would place Chez Hortense in my Top 5 restaurants worldwide! I can't wait for it to reopen in March!

Excellent food and a gorgeous view! Fishes and seafood are so good they don't need complex preparation to be delicious. Portions are big so it's a good place for sharing both entries and main courses. The place is very popular so the staff can be a little pushy with the bill. Make a reservation ahead!

A very cozy and comfortable place, perfect for family and friends to get together. Although in the same sea area, I compared the other two and I found that the quality of the oysters here is particularly good. In the choice of white wine, the store may add some moderately priced Bordeaux dry white, such as Entre-deux-Mers.

Food is typical of the area, oysters, tartare, fries, mussels, fish, and it’s okay at best. My main reason for the 2 star review is the horrible service. My empty plates were left on the table for 30 minutes while the family next to me had their table cleared the millisecond they finished. Everyone else got exceptional service while it’s as if I’m invisible. Frankly they don’t enjoy English speaking customers as is the stereotype. This could be the reason for the bad service. So speak French and reap the benefit of being treated like a normal person…

Really nice ambience! Recommend outside seating if the weather is good. Food was good though the delay between the entree and mains took quite a while. 9 oysters: tasted okay, some had broken shell fragments from (assumed) shucking. Tastes really good with the shallot vinaigrette. Risotto with asparagus: yum! Bit oily for my taste but still yummy Salmon with Rice: great portion size Grilled Canard: tastes ok!

A refreshingly healthy spot, especially for families with kids. The Kid’s menu goes beyond the usual fried suspects – think salmon and veggies, which is a welcome change. Adult options were also fresh and well-prepared — definitely above average for a family-friendly bayfront place. Located right on the bay, so the views and breeze are a big bonus. But: • It gets crowded, especially at peak times. • The understaffed service meant rushed interactions and a bit of chaos — more of a lively group dinner vibe than a quiet evening out. Great food, beautiful location — just bring a little patience if it’s busy.

Great place near the sea! Very friendly service and laid back ambiance. The Ceviche of Ton with cherries and avocado sauce was excellent and such a delightful surprise! I strongly recommend this restaurant for a relaxed dining experience!

Maxim took good care of our family on the boardwalk of Cal Ferret. Beautiful setting. Delicious fish. Great service.

First restaurant next to the pier - this must be a tourist trap for sure! But you’d be very wrong to think it about l’escale in lovely Cap Ferret. The seafood was delicious and fresh, the desserts on point, and of course the seaside location with views of the Dune du Pilat are spectacular. We both took the menu, which offered 6 choices of starters and 6 main courses and a variety of desserts. The price of 38 Euros is fair for the amount and quality of the food. staff was very friendly, though busy (which is to be expected on a warm sunny saturday afternoon).

It is overall a good place to have lunch dinner by the seaside. Food was nice, the people working there too and I can recommend the place 👌

We were on an excursion with a large group and were highly impressed with food and service.

Absolutely perfect location right next to the sand of the Arcachon Bay, probably one of the best meals I’ve ever had. The wine recommendations by the server were perfect too. I highly recommend this restaurant

Lovely food. Great location, lovely view at the sea. Food tastes as good as it looks. Pricey but you know what you pay for, fresh sea food. I do recommend this restaurant.

Fantastic place, great food and very nice service. Loved it ❤️

Crisp-skinned maigre with silky celeriac purée, carrot spheres, microgreens, and purple sweet potato crisps. A local dialogue between Aquitaine’s coast and inland roots - seasonal, balanced, and beautifully plated.

The food was so good. The service was next to perfect and the setting was also gorgeous. My uncultured English palette hadn’t been blessed with such culinary delights before. For starters the Foie Gras served with pineapple chips was really special, I had Duck Breast for my main and I’ve never tasted anything like it. I’m writing this review a few months after visiting and still remember how good it was. I really recommend it. The staff were very attentive without being overbearing, our glasses were never empty. I will definitely be returning on the next trip

Really lovely restaurant, set right by the pier with an amazing view! The staff was very friendly and welcoming which we appreciated. The food was also really good! Highly recommend.

Lovely spot on the waterfront by the jetty taking people to and from Arcachon. It’s vibrant and busy with a wonderful selection of seafood and meat. The staff are attentive and friendly and service was excellent. It’s in quite a busy spot so there are people constantly walking though, but worth it if you ask for a front row table which has views over the bay and the Dune of Pilat.

That’s an absolute 5*. A cute small place in an old-fashioned cabane, excellent and charming service. We only had oysters, those were wonderful wonderful! It was kind of chilly, so we were sitting inside, can’t say how it is outside.

We had an amazing oyster degustation! The staff were absolutely lovely and made us feel so welcome. The oysters were really special, fresh and full of flavor & the bulots were delicious too. The wine was stunning and paired perfectly with everything. Plus, the view was just incredible. Highly recommend this place!❤️

Everything is perfect here: the oysters, crevettes, pâté and a perfectly matching wine. Of course the service is top notch too. Well worth a detour of any length :)

Wow, what a spectacular setting! We aren't into oysters, alas, but they also serve two different pates and wines, so we stopped for an hour to enjoy the evening. Friendly service, and a divine setting. (Our pictures show the view from our table.)

It is not a restaurant but an oyster farm so they can only provide bulots, crevettes and les huites, of course wine and bread, that are the principle for French people. The oysters are super fresh, big and juicy. We ended up eating twice "every thing on the menu" 🤣🤣 the terrace outside offers also a fantastic view. It is a bit far from the port (compare to other very touristic restos) but it definitely worth the trip (in the end its only 25mins by walking, its not that far). I highly recommend it!!

Lovely oyster bar with great view on the sea.

Great place to come and have some Oysters from the bay. The waiters were lovely, and with beautiful views, this is a highly recommended.