Arenales is that hip, natural wine bar with a small yet exquisite ever-changing menu. Petite but charming, this place serves appetizers to share and munch on with influences from Italy, Spain and Argentina. Spot-on for a casual winter afternoon and dreamy for a carefree date night.
This place has pure San Sebastián icon status. Always packed, La Cuchara de San Telmo is where locals, wine lovers and food obsessives squeeze in shoulder-to-shoulder, and no one minds. The space is tiny (around 12 meters), with an open kitchen that fills the air with the scent of sizzling pork and seared tenderloin. The menu is tight, inventive, and unforgettable. Start with the slow-braised beef cheek in red wine jus or the Galician-style octopus grilled and topped with chimichurri. The real star? The crispy, boneless cochinillo from Leitza, roasted low and slow in beer. Order that—then order it again.
Laia, the 7th Best Grill Restaurant in the World is a grill-based fine-dining restaurant half an hour outside San Sebastián and a few steps away from the French border. It is run by the Ayala siblings, Jon and Arantza. Jon is the head chef and expert on meat ageing. Arantza will advise you on the best wine and cheese pairings. Their expertise and passion lie in the grill and the distinct ceremonies that occur when cooking meat, fish, veggies and fruits. Visit for lunch and commence the journey at their wine cellar, waltz around their gardens (where you will see all their produce) and munch on as much Txuleta PREMIUM TOP as possible, it's unparalleled.
Narru is the ideal spot for a fun fine-dining evening. This restaurant is the master of detail and carefully curated dishes, following the line of traditional cuisine with a disruptive twist. Whether you visit for their tasting menu or order dishes to share (they will kindly split the course into individual plates so everyone can eat from their own), you MUST try the following other-worldly delicacies: Seasoned tuna belly, Oxtail, foie, mushrooms, and truffle ravioli, Pork tail with carabinero shrimp, Seasoned oyster and for dessert: their warm cream cheese with red fruits.
Erre is a restaurant run by Obra, a Mexican from Cuernavaca and Ane Lore, a Basque from Beasin. Although they are not fans of labels, their restaurant is fueled by the combination of both their native cuisines. Like many other restaurants in the city, they love a grill and the subtle but sublime flavour of charcoal. Erre serves a daily changing menu, assembled from the early market finds. Besides their staple dishes, they also have a creative tasting menu and like anyone would expect from a Mexican and a Basque, a surreal selection of wine and mezcal.
Chef Iñaki Arrieta has been in charge of the traditional Basque delicacies at Rekondo for over 20 years. This cherished restaurant, nestled on the slopes of Mount Igeldo is remarkable for its top-tier local products and its proximity to ingredients... however, its wine cellar is one of the most popular in the globe. Stop by for an elite taste of Basque staples, a view of the bay of Donostia and everlasting bottles of the finest wine there is.
