hanl

Hello,

In a couple of weeks my husband and I will be off to spend a week in a rental property in the Pyrenees, not far from Pau and Oloron Ste Marie.

We are planning on visiting some of the smaller towns and villages in the area (on both sides of the border), including the Basque country, and also plan on a day trip to San Sebastian. We may also make it as far as the Basque Coast (French side), weather permitting.

I have a couple of guide books (Rough Guide to the Pyrenees and Guide Bleu - Basque Country) but while both are good for sightseeing and walking recommendations, restaurant recs seem rather few and far between (except for San Sebastian).

I'd be very grateful for any first hand recommendations for great eating places in the area, from budget to mid/high end. We don't mind driving for an hour or two to get a great lunch, and are quite happy to plan an entire day's touring around a particular restaurant location. (we love our food!!)

Any help/information would be gratefully received

Revulgo

Download a good free guide to San Sebastian:
http://maribelsguides.com/mg_sansebastian.pdf
Hondarribia is a pretty village close the border:
http://maribelsguides.com/mg_hondarribia.pdf

gustave

I you are near Pau, I can recommend Chez Ruffet, which is in Jurançon, a suburb of Pau. I think Chez Ruffet had a Michelin star at that time we went in 2005, when we had the lunch menu for about 24 euros. It was quite delicious, very fresh and imaginative. It also had whimsical presentations, one course was served on a piece of slate, while a clothspin was used to hold something in another course. We quite enjoyed ourselves.

cigalechanta

We stayed in the designated beautiful village of Ainhoa at the charmin hotel Ithurria (about 23k from Saint-Jean-de-Luz) It has an elegant restaurant where the Riohs Rosé and the basque dishes shine

hanl

Thanks for the recommendations.

thereyet

Hermandad and Yolla berri in Hondaribia. Great fish dishes at both and very reasonable.

thereyet

HappyTrvlr

In Hondarribia, Michelin * Alameda is excellent, and in Olaron Ste-Marie, we enjoyed the dining room at Hotel Alysson which was full of locals. www.maribelsguides.com has downloads for Pays Basque and Pais Vasco which you will find helpful.

sheila

The Majestic in Pau is a team favourite. I can't remember the name of the square but the Hotel de Ville is on it.

Avoid eating anywhere on the Boulevard des Pyrenees.

There are some very nice littler places down in Rue Hedas- La Table d'Hote went down well with us.

If you can be bothered with a longish trek to Nestier try the Monastere de Mont Ares. It's superb. They're aiming for a star. It might even be worth booking one of their chambres d'hotes- which are very reasonable- and staying overnight so you can enjoy the wine more fully.

Images2

We spent a week in the French Basque area this year and our 3 favorite restaurants were:

Hotel Euskadi in Espelette tele: 05 59 93 91 88 (Great Basque restaurant)

Ithurria in Ainhoa was wonderful, just as cigalechanta experienced!

Olatua, 30, boulevard Thiers in St. Jean-de-Luz Tél 05 59 51 05 22

We didn't eat here but it's supposed to be excellent:

Auberge Iparla Closed on Wednesday
Place du Fronton - 64780 Bidarray opened by Alain Ducasse
Tel : 05.59.37.77.21 - Fax : 05.59.37.78.84

hanl

Thanks again to everybody for your suggestions. Will try as many as we have time for

MyriamC

When in Donostia (San Sebasti&aacute;n), you simply have to do a <i>txikiteo</i> or pinxtos bar hopping. Any pinxtos bar in the Parte Vieja (old centre) around Fermin Kalbeton Street is good!