Restaurants in San Sebastián
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Arzak
With three shining Michelin stars, acclaimed chef Juan Mari Arzak takes some beating when it comes to nueva cocina vasca and his restaurant is, not surprisingly, considered one of the best places to eat in Spain. Arzak is now assisted by his daughter Elena and they never cease to innovate. Reservations, well in advance, are obligatory. The restaurant is about 1.5km east of San Sebastián.
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Martín Berasategui Restaurant
With three Michelin stars and dozens of other awards, this superlative restaurant, about 9km southwest of San Sebastián, is considered by foodies to be one of the best restaurants in the world. The chef, Martín Berasategui, doesn't approach cooking in the same way as the rest of us. He approaches it as a science and the results are tastes you never knew existed. Reserve well ahead.
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La Cuchara de San Telmo
This unfussy, hidden-away (and hard to find) bar offers miniature nueva cocina vasca from a supremely creative kitchen. Chefs Alex Montiel and Iñaki Gulin conjure up such delights as carrílera de ternera al vino tinto (calf cheeks in red wine), with meat so tender it starts to dissolve almost before it's past your lips. A percentage of profits goes to the worthy Fundación Vicente Ferrer charity.
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Restaurante Ni Neu
The former Michelin-starred Kursaal has been rebranded as the Restaurante Ni Neu and, although the old chef and his star have gone, the menu, and meal quality, remains much the same. Anyway, who needs a Michelin star when you have a setting, inside the Kursaal Centre, with a view straight over Playa de Gros?
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Casa Urbano
A comfy, old-fashioned dining room is the frame for excellent jamón (ham) and fish dishes here. The lomo de merluza con almejas (hake and clams) is delicious and traditional dishes such as bacalao con tomate y pimientos (smoked cod with tomato and peppers) are subtly done.
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La Mejíllonera
If you thought mussels only came with garlic sauce, come here to discover mussels (from €3) by the thousand in all their glorious forms. Mussels not for you? Opt for the calamari and patatas bravas (fried potatoes with a spicy tomato and mayo sauce). We promise you won't regret it.
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Astelena
The pintxos draped across the counter in this bar, tucked into the corner of Plaza de la Constitución, stand out as some of the best in the city. Many of them are a fusion of Basque and Asian inspirations, but the best of all are perhaps the foie-gras-based treats.
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Arraitxiki
It's not all writhing prawns and pierced pintxos in Donostia. This excellent vegetarian restaurant does a fine line in creative meals and everything is organically sourced. There's a menú del diá for around €13.
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Bar la Cepa
The best jamón jabugo (cured ham from southern Spain) does not disappoint here, and you eat beneath the blank eyes of a very large bull's head. The kitchens also produce decent no-frills menús for €13.50.
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Bar Txepetxa
Txepetxa's fame is worldwide and its walls are covered in press cuttings to prove it. Anchovy pintxos are a speciality. but there are other treats such as champiñón al horno, tiny towers of grilled mushrooms
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Kaskazuri
Upmarket Basque seafood is all the rage in this flash restaurant, which is built on a raised platform allowing views of the former home of your dinner. It cooks up a storm with their €18 menú del día. Book in advance.
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Bidebide
A change from all the traditional hanging-ham restaurants, this new place is light and cool, with slow sounds and a late-night-in-the-city vibe. There is a small but perfect range of pintxos and simple meals.
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Bodegón Alejandro
This highly regarded restaurant has a menu from which you can select such succulent treats as scallops and asparagus, baby tomatoes stuffed with squid or just plain old baked lobster. Oh, what choices!
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Restaurante Portaletas
Thickets of hanging hams set the tone at this popular local diner with its black wood-and-stonework décor. The pintxos and heftier dishes in the back restaurant are consistently good.
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Reloj Berri
This is a great breakfast spot for a piping hot selection of coffees and croissants that are always fresh. Breakfasts cost around €3 at the bar, but prices rise at the terrace tables.
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Tamboril
In a great position at the entrance to the arcaded Plaza de la Constitución this popular bar is noted for its banderillas, pintxos neatly skewered with a toothpick.
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Restaurante Alberto
A charming old seafood restaurant with a fishmonger-style window display of the day's catch. It's small, dark and friendly, but much of the fish is sold by the kilo so bring a friend.
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Juantxo Taberna
You won't find starry cuisine here, but if you want rocket fuel then this much-loved bar offers rocket-sized bocadillos stuffed with tortillas and other great fillings.
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Bar Goiz-Argi
Gambas a la plancha (prawns cooked on a hotplate) are the house speciality. Sounds simple, we know, but never have we tasted prawns cooked quite as perfectly as this.
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Restaurante Pollitena
Pollitena is notable for its menú de degustación (tasting menú), which is a great way to sample local specialties at a reasonable price.
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Bar Nagusía
This bar, reminiscent of old San Sebastián, has a counter that moans under the weight of its pintxos. You'll be moaning after a few as well – in sheer pleasure.
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Txandorra Restaurante
Pintxos served in a gritty though memorable bar filled with one-armed bandits and other local characters. It also serves up full meals, with mains around €15.
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Restaurante Mariñela
You pay for the fabulous harbour-front setting, but the location guarantees that the fish is so fresh it may well flop back off your plate and swim away. There are several similar neighbouring places.
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Casa Valles
With meaty pintxos beneath a forest of hung hams, this fine bar also does raciones (large tapas servings) and full meals (€13 to €30).
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Bikain
There's a great range of pintxos in this unassuming bar as well as filling bocadillos and cazuelitas (minicasseroles).
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