(updated November 2025)
What to eat, where to stay and what to do in the happiest town in France!
Le Touquet is like an old friend to me, but every time I visit (and I have been doing so for over 20 years), our friendship grows deeper and stronger, and this friend never fails to surprise me.
For my recommendations on how to spend 48 hours in Le Touquet, scroll to the end. In the meantime….
Where is Le Touquet-Paris-Plage?
This gem of a seaside town is situated approximately 40 mins by car from the Channel Tunnel, on the Cote D’Opale in northern France. Just exit Le Shuttle (don’t bother with a ferry – the tunnel is much quicker and easier), turn right (in the direction of Boulogne-sur-Mer), and you’ll see the Le Touquet exit in no time at all.
There is one ‘peage’ en route, but it costs peanuts (just a few Euros), and French roads put British ones to shame. Only once have we been held up, but that was when the ‘yellow vests’ were protesting and they let us through the toll without having to pay. Vive la revolucion!
What’s Le Touquet like?
I visit Le Touquet around six times a year and, every time, I find out something new about the darling place, which feels like home to me.
It’s been called the Monaco of northern France by the French themselves and, driving through the pine forest as you approach the town centre, you’ll see the thatched mansions of the affluent and understand why. Yes, it’s a playground for rich Parisians who have holiday homes here and property here is EXPENSIVE! But I disagree with this moniker.
Yes, the wealth is evident, but it doesn’t have that uber-rich, non-inclusive vibe which is so evident in Monaco or elsewhere on the Cote D’Azur. It simply isn’t snobby. Hands down, it’s the happiest place I’ve ever been. Visiting is like a tonic for the soul. You can’t leave feeling miserable; just reluctant that you have to go and planning your return.
I say this as someone who, on the way back from dinner one evening, happened upon a road closed outside a neighbourhood tabac/newsagent/bar, and a middle-aged monsieur sporting a sequined jacket, playing French tunes on his keyboard and the whole road alive with dancing locals. This is the fabulous Le Quento (more later). We all linked arms with the locals, put our O Level French to best use and danced until the wee small hours, making many friends in the process. It’s that kind of place.
HG Wells, Noel Coward, Sean Connery, Alan Sugar, PG Wodehouse, Serge Gainsborough, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are all said to have fallen for the charms of Le Touquet – and the wife of Monsieur Le President has a gaff here (you’ll see the armed guards patrolling near their place).
What is there to do in Le Touquet?
If you’re looking for things to do in Le Touquet, there’s a cracking golf course (I am told) and a world-famous equestrian centre, plus a casino and museum. The beach – an opalescent soft pink vast swathe of sand which stretches as far as the eye can see – is fringed with dunes. Even in the height of summer, with all of the activities that the French are so adept at providing (boules, volleyball, children’s play areas), it never feels crowded.
There’s a jolly tourist ‘train’ which leaves from the top of the steps by the carousel regularly and takes you around all the sights. The commentary is in French, but it’s worth it, whether you speak French or not. There is a great market at the at end of Rue de Metz every Monday, Thursday and Saturday and a farmers’ market in the Quentovic part of town every Sunday morning, where you can have a chilled glass of white and the freshest oysters, while watching a petanque match, or maybe joining in.
Before you book, check what’s on in Le Touquet, as there is often live music in the streets, which adds to the charm of this lovely place.
I come here for the food, drink, atmosphere and bit of shopping. Shops are good and varied – and not too exclusive. Chanel and Givenchy are not present in the town (monsieur le mayor has said no, apparently) and it’s not heavy on tat either! Expect reasonably-priced boutiques and a few household names, as well as chocolate shops, patisseries, galleries and interiors shops.
We come before Christmas, to stock up on wine and tins of duck confit at Cite Europe just by the tunnel exit in Calais (despite Brexit, you can still bring 18 litres of wine into the UK), then hot foot it to Le Touquet for lunch.
We come in the summer to sip wine with our toes in the sand and enjoy the soirees at Le Quento. I come with girl pals for a raucous catch up and also annually on my daughter’s birthday, as has become family tradition. I bring my Spanish rescue dog (who has a European passport) to get his annual injections in neighbouring Étaples-sur-Mer. Basically, I can’t get enough of the place.
What kind of people go to Le Touquet?
Although the town is largely visited by the French, due to its close proximity to the UK, you’ll find groups of British golfers, car enthusiasts, people visiting war graves and the like, in the town. There is a mix of ages, but it’s not a Puerto Banus – full of young would-be jet setters. It welcomes all ages and everyone is friendly.
French people and mainland Europeans in general are very welcoming to young families and there are a lot of them on the beach, but it’s so vast, you never feel as if you are surrounded by screaming kids.
Where to eat in Le Touquet?
Rue de Metz is the main thoroughfare in the town, although it’s not the only street, so do stray off it and explore. That said, it is packed with bistros and other eateries, as is Rue St Jean, which leads down to the beach and to the iconic carousel and mini Eiffel Tower faux sand sculpture.
Here are some of my current/all-time favourites:
Opaline: best for brunch
When a friend asked for a glass of prosecco with her brunch at Opaline, she was (very politely) told they only serve champagne. If that’s not enough to make you love a place, what is? Music to my ears.
I always have the sublime Opaline brunch (€32) which includes orange juice, a hot drink, pastry, boiled egg with soldiers, avocado or hummus toast, 18 month old Comte cheese, smoked salmon or bacon and a sweet pastry of your choice, which I generally take away with me.
Avocado toast with pomegranate, feta, zatar and pea shoots is €14.50 and a glass of Veuve Clicquot €12.50.
It’s one of those places where you HAVE to take photos of your food, as it is obscenely pretty. If you can, have brunch from one of the deckchairs in the garden. The staff speak excellent English, but are patient with those like me, who get braver with their French language skills after the first glass of champagne.
La Base Nord: best for cocktails/dinner with a view
Dine on the roomy terrace in the summer for sublime sunsets over the Baie de la Conche or in the buzzing, cosy, cutesy interior throughout the rest of the year. Whichever choice you make, it will be a good one.
The planche de la baie (€19), comprising cod balls, fish ‘rillettes’, salmon carpaccio, tempura prawns and samphire, is not to be missed.
Le Matisse: best for people watching
In the heart of the town is Le Matisse; a Touquettoise institution.
Enjoy delicious moules (the pride of the region) on the terrace year round (they have an awning and patio heaters), sipping on Aperol Spritz and watching the well-heeled French shop for daily baguettes in the bakery opposite, kissing friends as they meet and carrying pocket-sized pooches under arm.
This place is often heaving, so I recommend booking. It’s open until midnight in peak season, so you’ll get a table at some point. On a recent visit, we sat inside and YMCA was blaring at full blast, so the interior might not be right for a romantic dinner for two. But if you like flaming flares in your bottles and to sing as you eat, don’t miss it.
Moules frites sets you back around €20. Try the garlic cream ones. They are amazing!
Perard – best for seafood
This emblematic establishment is everything you want a French seafood restaurant to be. Traditional, fresh, fun and proud are four words I would use to describe this restaurant, which is rated one of the top seafood eateries in France. The decor is old-school and the fruit de mer is piled high.
Macron has a regular table and Alan Sugar and Tony Blair have apparently been seen here.
Famed for its sumptuous (and bottomless) fish soup, service is far from stuffy. You can feast on mountains of ‘fruit de mer’ (€65 per person for its prestige plate) or choose a three-course set menu (starting at €34 a head).
Alex manages the restaurant with a friendly, welcoming warmth and watching Lucas and his waiting staff colleagues prepare Crepes Suzette at your table is a spectacle in itself (and the results are oh-so-delicious). 10/10 for this fabulous restaurant for me, every time!
Abaca: best for vegetarians
100% Instagrammable, Abaca is a beautiful little place at the posh end of town, past the Hotel Westminster, but be warned…..they only accept cash or cheques (very 1970s).
We sat outside, under blankets, on deck chairs and watched the well-heeled of 2k stroll pass, popping into posh boutiques and interior design shops. This place sells all sort of cute gifts and ornaments too and staff are super-stylish. There appeared to be about two or three items on the menu (vegetable terrine, avocado on toast and soup- all of which were huge and looked stunning), as well as smoothies, juices and teas.
This place is stunning, but take cash, as the nearest cash machine is a brisk walk away. I had a date and almond smoothie, which came with a veritable bouquet of fresh mint, a cinnamon branch (not stick and a satsuma on the side. Three drinks for €20.
Does Le Touquet cater for vegans?
Not massively so, I am afraid. In most restaurants, all that was on the menu for my plant-based diet daughter was a poke bowl, which she got a little bored with. There are some restaurants which cater for vegans, such as L’espadrille on Rue de Londres and Took Took on Boulevard du Dr Jules Pouget, but we struggle to find a typical French bistro/brasserie where we are all happy.
I also got some raised eyebrows, a tut and a head shake when I asked in one restaurant if they catered for vegans (in my best French)!
Where to drink in Le Touquet
There are a million and one lovely, welcoming bars in Le Touquet, so take your time and enjoy them all. Here are two of my favourites:
La Voile Blanche: best for the beach
Starting off in life as a hole in the wall with a few red plastic chairs at the bottom of the steps to the beach (look for the carousel and you can’t go wrong), this seasonal bar has Ibiza vibes in the summer, drinks service from your sun lounger, guest DJs and a nice menu.
There are several chiringuito-style bars along the boardwalk, but this is my favourite. Hire a sunbed for €20 a day in the summer and look out over the vast expanse of sand. I recommend the Minuty!
Le Globetrotter: best for late night revelry
An Irish bar or sports bar is somewhere I routinely avoid abroad, but not this one. Le Globe is decidedly French and is the place to be if you want to mingle and soak up the party atmosphere.
Yes, it is frequented by middle-aged blokes in dodgy shirts on golfing weekends during the summer, but I have also had a conversation with a local lady in here about measures on the roads to prevent frogs getting squished and learned how to give commands in French to a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, to make him do tricks.
Situated next door to Le Matisse, there is sport on the TVs, but I never pay it any attention. Get involved and make new friends. The Globe is open until 2am, after which L’Impasse picks up the party (until 3am). Enjoy le craic!
Le Quento: best for mixing with the locals
Is it a tabac? Is it a newsagent? Is it a bar?
It’s all of those thing and more.
Walk by in the morning and you’ll see elderly locals enjoying a small breakfast beer or glass of wine on the terrace (just the one). Pop in during the afternoon and it’s not uncommon for someone to pass round the Tupperware container of homemade Madeleines.
I simply love this place, but I’m not saying any more, as I don’t want to spoil it.
Le B au Touquet: best for wine
What used to be a petit corner restaurant mostly serving lobster at 39 Rue de Metz is now this tasteful, cosy bar serving beer, wine, champagne and finger food, with some great vintages.
Le B opened in April 2023 and now has a menu of great wines, minus the haughty atmosphere you might expect in a UK wine bar. Ask for recommendations and the owner will expertly make suggestions for you to try before you buy (he also speaks excellent English).
I thoroughly enjoyed an evening at Le B – attempting to speak my very best French, feeling more and more confident after every glass – and were very sad to leave. I did go back a second time, on another visit, and didn’t feel the same love that time…..so maybe we over-stayed our welcome on the first visit (we did keep them open until the wee small hours)!
Cafe de la Poste: best for traditional France
A friend and I happened upon the oldest café in Le Touquet (it opened in 1901) about eight years ago. We had broken away from other friends (who’d had enough fun and were going back to their accommodation for a nap) and we wanted to rebel. Rebel we did!
I went looking for it on my own a few years later, and thought it had closed. Imagine our joy when the same friend and I went back again this summer and found out I was wrong and it was still there!
Have a locally-brewed beer sitting at a barrel in the sunshine outside, as the bar man belts out tunes in French, or a glass of wine at one of the tables in the wood-panelled interior, the walls of which are covered in paraphernalia from yesteryear. Le Poste survived the wars (Le Touquet was occupied by the Germans in WWII) and proudly lives to tell the tale.
Where to stay in Le Touquet
Hotels and holiday homes for all budgets abound in Le Touquet. It is all about location. I have settled for the Quentovic part of town, which is situated midway between La Base Nord and Rue de Metz, making it quiet in the evenings but only 10 mins either way to either.
If you find yourself a distance from the centre, there are plenty of places to hire bikes in town. The tourist information centre can help.
Le Westminster is a part of Le Touquet history but not for me. I found it tired, didn’t particularly like the service and think you can get more for less.
Novotel Thalassa Le Touquet: best for sea views
Literally built into the dunes, book a room with a bed facing the sea and wake up to opal hues, crashing waves and the occasional, distant kite surfer. It’s built to withstand the sea air and has a breakfast to be marvelled at.
It is a 10-15 minute walk into the centre of town, so wander along the boardwalk and take in the salty air/some of the beach bars as you do so. Rooms with a dune view start at about £160 in low season, but are cheaper if you become an Accor member and book directly.
If it’s full/too expensive, it has an adjoining Ibis (unlike any other I have seen) with the same views. The Ibis has rooms starting at around £65 and they are spot on. An utter gem – and the adjoining hotels have a pool and a spa too.
Air bnb/VRBO/Booking.com: best for flexibility
Search on your preferred platform and you will find a plethora of accommodation – from cutsey cottages (above), to modern holiday apartments with astounding sea views (below), as well as whole houses in the pine forest.
Location is important, so always check how far you are from the centre of town (using Rue de Metz as a waypoint). Be aware that in high season, properties in the centre of town might be more noisy and that parking can be expensive (we normally pay €25 for 2 days). Several holiday homes have private parking spaces, so look for those if it’s vital to you.
Hotel Red Fox: best for budget stays & the centre of town
Three-star hotel in the thick of it, steps away from bars and restaurants. Ask for the annexe, where rooms feel bigger. Expect some noise. Rooms start around the €130 mark per night.
I did ponder about including the Red Fox as it’s years since I’ve stayed there and I remember the walls in the main building being paper thin!
How to spend 48 hours in Le Touquet:
Day one (Friday):
Get a morning crossing from Folkestone on Le Shuttle (book a short stay – it’s cheaper)
Stock up on wine at Carrefour at Cite Europe (closes at lunchtime on Sunday)
Hot foot it for a light lunch at Matisse, followed by a bit of shopping, then find a deckchair and watch the kite surfers on the beach
Check out Macron’s place,,,,he’s recently sold his property (or rather, his wife has) which was above an estate agency in the ‘triangle d’or’ for €3.2m. They’ve bought an old, red brick house on the seafront (above), where you can see his police security detail and a sign outside the house saying it’s due to be renovated. It overlooks the car park, but has a spectacular vista across the Channel.
Aperitif at Le Quento
Dinner at La Base Nord (booking essential)
Night cap(s) at Le Globetrotter
Day two (Saturday):
Brunch at Opaline, then head to the market for a mooch
If you have room, grab a crepe at Le Mignardises on Rue de Saint Jean
Tourist train around town or hire bikes and explore
Dinner at Perard (booking essential)
Back to Le Globetrotter to meet the friends you chatted to last night
Day three: (Sunday)
Grab a croissant for breakfast/baguette at Maison Hodin (a fab boulangerie in Place Quentovic- warnng: there will be a queue) and eat it with coffee at Le Quento, then head to the farmers’ market in the square
If you have time, the mini golf in front of the beach is fun, then back to Calais for Le Shuttle home
If in doubt, get in touch with the tourist information centre in town.
Found what you read useful? You can read about Le Touquet’s winter jazz festival here, dog-friendly places in the town here, the best bars along Rue de Metz here and find out about travelling to Europe with your dog in France here.
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