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.
Casa 887 is a modern and laidback restaurant two blocks away from Playa de Zurriola. This iconic spot is home to the fusion of various cuisines, think Peruvian and Spanish flavours blended with traditional Japanese techniques. Known for its creative dishes, unconventional for the classic culinary scene of San Sebastián. Everything here is magnificent but the dishes that everyone talks about are: the Bomba rice with Huelva carabinero shrimp, the steak tartare, the Tuna nigiri and seared scallop with truffle nigiri and for light bites: the braised beef cheek empanadas and the crispy pork gyozas.
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.
