Help....Is San Sebastian genuinely the foodie capital of spain????

ooh and meant to say we are particularly fans of tapas.

I would say the Basque Country is the culinary capital of Spain and San Sebastian is the center of this foodie culture. But Bilbao, Pamplona, Vitoria and other places in this area are excellent.

You won't normally use the term tapas in the Basque Country. They are called pinchos/pintxos and are works of art!

http://www.todopintxos.com/home/home.php

That said, I've never been to an area of Spain that is lacking in the food department. The Spanish seem to live to eat - which is perhaps why I love the country so much

thanks Cathy, yeah we just found a place in London called Pintxos where they actually have all the dishes out on the bar, it was so so so good and has inspired by dreaming of a spanish foodie trip.

San Sebastian is looking good thank you

17 Michelin stars in a town with 180 000 people, but any place serving less than great food is out of business in two weeks in food crazy San Sebastián.

The world's most renowned chef for the past decade, Ferran Adrià of El Bulli, has said that San Sebastián is the best place to eat in the world "in terms of the average quality of the food, in terms of what you can get at any place you happen to walk into". Have a look at the Guardian article "Is San Sebastián the best place to eat in Europe?": http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2005/mar/13/foodanddrink.shopping2

If you are tapas fans, you will love going for a pintxos tour (a "txikiteo", having a glass and a pintxo before moving on to the next place). Can be an affordable and fun gourmet experience if you know where to go and their specialities (each pintxo is about 2-3€). Here are some suggested routes. But you can't do much wrong in this city when it comes to food. Remember to ask for the warm house specialities directly from the kitchen. http://www.todopintxos.com/ruta/ruta.php

Kimhe

thank you....you have definitely convinced me....so want to go there now

We have spent a great deal in Spain except near Valencia, sorry Linca, and San Sebastian/Donostia has the best food and the best selection of tapas in Spain.

If it's not for the food alone, just being in San Sebastian/Donostia is just a JOY!

If I could go be back there, what a gorgeous/lovely city, I fell in love with it after 6 days there.

BTW in old town there is a Pizzeria, yes little pizzeria Little Italy, one of the best Italian food and pizza we tried and we were in Italy for 30 days after San Sebastian in 2010.

No, San sebastian is not the food capital of Spain. IT IS THE FOOD CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!!

Pls pardon my earlier reply saying "IT'S THE FOOD CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!'. That was clearly an "over the top" statement" Nonetheless, it is true! Michelin and I agree.

However, it understates my affection for the city. San Sebastian is gracious, hospitable, spotlessly clean, stylish, walkable, near areas of interest, and has a municipal/business community that is focused on bringing culture, [art as well as jazz] to the city. For my needs,it is the most liveable city in Europe.

Latest issue Conde Nast Travel thinks so!

HG001London - I think we may be kindred spirits. We live to eat and travel as well (although we are trying to add going to the gym into the mix!)

Is that tapas place called Pix? It looks great!

Have you been to Jose on Bermondsey St, its worth a try if you like Spanish food: http://www.josepizarro.com/restaurants/jose/

Perhaps we should meet up sometime

Hi HG,

>Is San Sebastian genuinely the foodie capital of spain?<

No.

SS has about 18 starred restaurants and a population of about 185, 000.

OTOH, Atxondo, has Asador Etxebarri and a population of 1400.

It's a great location for a special birthday dinner too.

haha HappyTrvir, were you reading my france post. I would loooovvvvee to go to San Seb for my birthday but it just is that bit further/more difficult to get to then France.

So SS seems to have won the food vote but is the Basque region for holidaying in in toher senses. We love the idea of a 10 day long foodie feast but we are normal too and thought we should find out if this is a nice area in other ways? which other places near by are good to see? is a car best way to travel or can we train it between places? Any nice coastal spots to stay (aside from SS) which nice swimming beaches?

thanks all

apologies typing on go, hence all the mistakes!!

Hi HG,

>is the Basque region for holidaying in in toher senses...

Start by looking up SS under "Destinations".

ok, will do i forget this has more to it than the forums. Thanks

Every time I see SS, I think someone is coming in the middle of night to take me away. Call it Donostia, they do.

I absolutely LOVED San Sebastian. Was there for about a week in 2010 and agree with what others in above posts have already said.

Food was fantastic, city lovely (clean, clean clean!) beautiful beaches, and I feel plenty to do in the area for 10 days. You can easily spend time in Bilbao (1 hour bus ride to/from San Sebastian) explore the villages along the coast and dip into France to explore the Basque traditions there, I enjoyed spending a day in Bayonne on the French side, all very do-able as day trips or you can hop from place to place every few days.

A great little seaside town between Bilbao and San Sebastian is Leiketio. Try the Hotel Zubieta. Accessible by bus from either San Sebastian or Bilbao.

Five years ago SS got very little atention but now, as always happens, it's getting way too much notice and very, very crowded and so losing some of it's charm for me.What a price to pay for fame!

HG, take a look at my blog on the BAsque Country for off thebeaten path places, from a local point of view, www.blogseitb.us/basquetourism, you may find some useful ideas on places to see and visit...

chapla,

Things of course change, but San Sebastián has gotten serious attention from toursists for at least some 150 years. Used to be the summer destination for the Spanish royalty back in the 19th century, it was a haven for the French and Spanish upper classes from about the same time and became ever more popular with tourists from other countries as time went by. The Casino, the famous film festival from 1953 and the great jazz festival from 1966 - one of the oldest in Europe - tells a story of a city which modern history is very much built on tourism. San Sebastián is over all very much used to cope with fame.

If you read Spanish, I recommend Felix Luengo's "San Sebastián. La vida cotidiana de una Ciudad - De su destruccion a la Ciudad Contemporánea."

kimhe-I know all about about SS fame when it comes to Spaniards and other Europeans.I was referring to Americans!I was in SS last October and the parte vieja was just ridiculously crowded even at this time of year! I heard alot of English and Italian-the tapas places spilled out into the streets!Hard to walk through the crowds.I was amazed to see so many surfers.
I usuallly visit in May and it's not that crowded!

chapla,

Yes, the spring is wonderful in San Sebastián, relative peace and quiet and a feeling of having it "on your own". The city has nevertheless had a growing reputation for a long time as a surfers paradise (at the Zurriola beach) and October is competition time attracting surfers from all around the world. No wonder you thought things were a bit different than usual in the Parte vija.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY-7WrBzcVE

Mikelg,

thanks for the blog link...really really useful.

Kimhe/Chapla, am hoping its ok in late summer too..

I expect we wont be able to get there till August/september 2013 as we are all booked up for this year and hoping to go USA next spring for a road trip....i am a super planner and am a bit mad when it comes to pre-planning!!!! we could maybe go in May...


I am feeling a little regretful that i booked our last space to to to Prague for 4 nights for bf 30th birthday, have paid the deposit or i would be switching to San Sebastian now!! cant believe i knew so little about this place....and i call myself a foodie!! oh well 2013!!

Late summer in San Sebastián would be great. Many predominantly Spanish and French tourists, but San Sebastián is very much used to that. You should also know of the summer festivals depending on if you want to take part or avoid. The jazz festival is late July, and the Aste Nagusia/Semana Grande/Big week is mid August.

Aste Nagusia: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2035066/San-Sebastian-holidays-Semana-Grande-bulls-fireworks.html

Jazzaldia: http://www.heinekenjazzaldia.com/?language=en