anuta_n

Hi everyone,

We're travelling to the Basque region in May 2012 for my wife's birthday. There'll be 6 of us and we plan on making our home base either in an apartment in San Sebastian or one of the many villas/houses that are available for rent in the area (suggestions welcome, btw). What we're mostly interested in are the restaurants. Aside from Arzak, what else would you recommend as "must eat" places?

Thanks in advance,
Ari

Michael

You could start looking in viaMichelin, specifying starred restaurants.

Robert2533

There are so many great options in and around San Sebastian-Donostia, far too many to list on one page. Have you had a chance to read Maribel's Guide to the País Vasco (www.maribelsguides.com) for her insight into dining in the area? You should find it helpful.

I have several personal favorites, from expensive to simple, but it's all a matter of taste...

kimhe

I would recommend staying in San Sebastián itself, laid-back and beautiful, you wouldn't want to break up a night out in the Parte vieja/ Old town for catching some bus although taxi of course is an affordable option if you don't stay too far out of town.

When it comes to food, we are talking about the culinary capital of Spain if not all of Europe. The world's most renowned chef for the past decade, Ferran Adria of El Bulli, has even 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". http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...rink.shopping2

I have plenty of favourites after having lived here and visited almost every year since the late 80's, and even thoug Arzak was fantastic both times I've visited, I probably hold at least a dozen of other and much more affordable San Sebastián dining experiences and pintxos crawls higher on my list. Start with this great introduction to going for pintxos: http://www.todopintxos.com/home/home.php?lang=en

Perhaps have a look at three star Akelarre, nothing beats the view from up here. http://gastronomyblog.com/2010/06/04...san-sebastian/

When it comes to apartments, here are 10 three bedroom/six persons apartments. I would recommend all but the Amara and Orio apartments. Antiguo is a very nice district, but it would be a 20-25 min walk along the beautiful La Concha beach promenade to get to the center and the old town: http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...-bedroom-5.htm

I think I would have chosen either Gernika or Concha suite.

macdogmom

Kimhe, I hate to hijack this thread but I was wondering which apartment for our stay in San Sebastian you would reccomend? We need a 2 bedroom for ourselves and two grown sons. We stayed at Hotel Niza last year and although we loved it, getting an apartment is just a lot more affordable. Would love feedback on either place.

http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...ent-3145-5.htm
http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...ent-4803-5.htm

One of our favorite places to have a sit down meal in SS was Bodegon Alejandro (sorry if spelling is incorrect) in the old town. Wonderful food!! Also really enjoyed Zeruko for small plates.

kimhe

macdogmom,

Both would be great, but the first (Basque) would be just behind Niza and a bit more quiet than the second which is on the outskirts of, as you know, very bustling Parte vieja. The first looks more expensive though...

And agree, Bodegón Alejandro and Zeruko are both excellent!

macdogmom

Thanks so much, Kimhe. The Basque is also almost double the space so leaning towards that one. I found this under 3 bedrooms and would love to stay here, but so expensive.

http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...ent-4070-5.htm

Can't wait to go back to San Seb with our kids!

Egbert

Some of them:
Akelarre
Extebarri
Zuberoa
Mugaritz
Arzak
I believe these are approx. 180 euros per person
Also lunch at Kaia Kalpe or Elkano in Getaria is a must.

zeppole

For me, the best eating is in the pintxos bars, hands down. I tried a few recommended restaurants (including some recommended by Maribel), but they weren't anywhere near as tasty as the food from the bars. I also happen to dislike eating a very large meal so late in the evening. I didn't eat at any of the Martin Berasategui restaurants, just the cafe in the Guggenheim (which was a disaster).

You might want to look on the Chowhound message board for Spain for up-to-date experiences with the most famous (and expensive) restaurants in San Sebastian (and some of the very best maybe in the surrounding areas).

Robert2533

"For me, the best eating is in the pintxos bars, hands down" ?

Pintxos bars are fine and great for a quick snack, but will never equal a sit down meal at a nice restaurant, even a sidera. I guess it means that our criteria differs somewhat when it comes to dining in the Basque country.

kimhe

I would mean you could have much more than a quick snack in the pintxos bars. Here are some suggestions from my favourite places (+ Zeruko which recently has been strongly recommended by a friend):

Baby squid brochette, grilled with garlic and parsley at Txalupa: http://www.todopintxos.com/pintxos/p...23&do=verficha

Just across the street, the famous prawn skewer at Goiz-Argi: http://www.todopintxos.com/pintxos/p...39&do=verficha

Around the corner is Zeruko with their signature pintxo "The bonfire": http://www.todopintxos.com/pintxos/p...86&do=verficha

In one minute walk, the world's best jamón ibérico - litteraly - in traditional La Cepa: http://www.barlacepa.com/en/index.html

A couple of blocks away is gourmet Cuchara de San Telmo with the wonderful risotto: http://www.todopintxos.com/pintxos/p...erficha&id=150

Cylinders of beef cheeks with red wine at Astelehena in the corner of Plaza de la Constitución, the main square in the Parte vieja: http://www.todopintxos.com/pintxos/p...verficha&id=62

Mushroom heaven in Ganbara just off Plaza de la Constitución: http://www.ganbarajatetxea.com/presentation

In Gros, on the other side of the city river Urumea, you could have foie with apple at Ramuntxo Berri: http://www.todopintxos.com/pintxos/p...32&do=verficha

Shark pintxo at Garbola just around the corner: http://www.todopintxos.com/pintxos/p...verficha&id=30

The signature Txalupa at legendary Bergara: http://www.todopintxos.com/pintxos/p...74&do=verficha

In most of these places you can sit down and have several of the house specialities and a wonderful food experience in peace and quiet.

kimhe

Here's some photos of the fabulous pintxos at La Cuchara de San Telmo. Sit down for a culinary feast: http://11870.com/pro/la-cuchara-san-telmo

Goiz-Argi: http://11870.com/pro/bar-goiz-argi/media

Zeruko: http://11870.com/pro/zeruko

Bar Bergara: http://11870.com/pro/bar-bergara/media