ECoC 2016, therefore our favourite 16 restaurants in San Sebastian

  1. Gandarias, Calle 31 de Agosto, 25, tel. 943 42 63 62 (upscale traditional lunch and dinner)

Who would have thought whilst drinking our first txakoli, the local white fizzy wine, and eating our first steak / txuleta during our honeymoon that this town will become our home for 5 years? And it remained our favourite place for txuleta in the Parta Vieja/Old town ever since.

  1. Bokado, Jacques Cousteau Plaza, 1, tel . 943 43 18 42 (upscale avant-garde lunch and dinner with a stunning view)

Restaurant on the top of the Acquarium with stunning views of the ocean and mountains. It is a restaurant ideal for celebrating special occasions; it was here we celebrated the baptism of our Flora. The dishes I recall are fish soup / Sopa Donostiarra de pescado, grilled king prawns / Gambas a la plancha , Monkfish / Rape and Veal Cheecks / Carrillera.

  1. El Saltxipi, Calzada Vieja de Ategorrieta, 3, tel. 943 323 310, 608 757 (upscale traditional dinner)

A well-hidden restaurant close to our house in a beautiful garden with a traditional décor inside and a charming terrace outside. We enjoy there fish and seafood, e.g. – rice with clams/arroz con almejas and monkfish/ rape or turbot / rodaballo a la brasa / on the barbeque

  1. Eiztari Etxea, Buen Pastor Plaza 13, tel. 943 46 35 01 (traditional lunch and dinner)

Restaurant as traditional as it gets; we were introduced to it by the mayor who declares it his favourite restaurant for sea bream / besugo, and mamia / boiled milk, a local dessert.

 

  1. El Ibai, Calle Getaria 15, tel. 943 428 764 (upscale traditional lunch and dinner)

Inconspicuous restaurant where you cannot walk in off the street, you must always make reservation in advance. Well recommended if you are in the mood to experience a traditional meal in a 20 year old interior with no windows, but absolutely divine food such local caviar if in season – peas, sole / lenguado in a butter sauce, kokotxa / cod’s cheeks and the most tender txipirones a la plancha / grilled calamares ever.

 

  1. Bernardo, Calle del Puerto, 7, tel. 943 422 055 (upscale traditional lunch and dinner)

Our local friend who knows something about fish as he happened to own two fish shops took us here for a dinner and since then we are always happy to come back for a plate of lomo to start and sea bream / besugo or lenguado / sole a la Parrilla (on the coal).

 

  1. Viento Sur, Avenida Zurriola 4, tel. 943 29 13 33 (avant-garde lunch including lunch menu and dinner)

Restaurant located right across from the Kursaal where I enjoy filet mignon with soya sauce / solomillo a la suegra, and vainas con jamon / grean beans with ham. They have a great selection of gins and make a superb gin & tonic.

 

  1. Portuetxe, Camino Portuetxe 43, tel. 943 215 018 (upscale traditional lunch and dinner)

Well hidden restaurant out of the center city located in an old house surrounded by modern buildings mostly belonging to university. Definitely worth visiting for the traditional atmosphere in which to eat classical and seasonal dishes such peas, asparagus, sea bream / besugo and steak / txuleta in San Sebastian.

  1. Mirador (Michelin star), Paseo de Ulia 193, tel. 943 27 27 07 (upscale avant-garde lunch and dinner with a stunning view)

Michelin star restaurant closest to our house, overlooking the ocean and mountains. A special place indeed, because I met here my second Harvard classmate Dante who was visiting in a role of the Corporate Social Responsibility Guru Deusto University, a local university in San Sebastian. Needless to say, my first Harvard visitor was Elka from Sofia who visited numerous special Basque places.

  1. nineu, Avenida Zurriola 1 (in Kursaal), tel. 943 003 162 (avant-garde breakfast and lunch including lunch menu and dinner with a stunning view)

Restaurant based in the Kursaal with a great terrace on the spot where you can see the mountains, river and ocean. Our favourite place for breakfast, where we always enjoy their tostada con tomate or pintxo de anchoas or torrija, local dessert. Other recommendations are either a small degustation plate with three warm pintxos for lunch or a full lunch menu in a restaurant.

 

  1. La Guinda, Calle Zabaleta 55, tel. 943 98 17 15 (avant-garde breakfast and lunch including lunch menu and dinner)

Local restaurant with a nice terrace in Gros in a French bistro style recommended for an early start as it opens at 8am, which is not that common around here at all. They offer a vast selection of breakfast items but my favourite remains tostada con tomate and orange juice. A bit later of the day they make great tortilla de patatas. It is also among my favourite places for a quick local lunch menu. In addition, reflecting French influence, they bake great lemon meringue pie and macaroons.

 

  1. El Iturrioz, Calle San Martin 30, tel. 943 428316 (avant-garde breakfast and lunch including lunch menú and dinner)

Restaurant I discovered thanks to my Spanish teacher MariMar who took me there for a lesson. And ever since I enjoy this place for breakfast. They make the best tostada con jamon together with tostada con revueltos de salmon. They also have great lunch menu and the second best tarta de queso / cheesecake in town.

  1. Ezkura, Miracruz 17, tel. in Gros (traditional lunch including lunch menu and dinner)

Restaurant I was introduced to by Leo’s teacher Margari with whom we used to go to the gym and whose sister lives above it. It is a plain restaurant, yet with an unusually friendly owner and where I can recommend bacalao ajoarriero and ensaladilla rusa.

  1. Restaurante Tenis Ondarreta, avant-garde lunch menu, Paseo de Eduardo Chillida 9, Tfn: 943 311150 / 943 314118

Restaurant surrounded by the tennis courts we noticed whilst cycling at the very end of Ondaretta beach and several times taking the fenicular to the top of the Monte Urguell where is an old amusement park and the fabulous view of the city and the surrounding countryside. Tried the lunch menu which was always worth the money and atmosphere.

 

  1. Mendizorroz, Plaza de Lizardia 4, Igeldo, tel. 943 212 023 (traditional lunch)

If you wish to eat a great txuleta – local steak with salad and home cheese cake in a real Basque traditional place, this restaurant in San Sebastian yet on one of the hill’s – Igeldo (where the former mayor comes from), you will feel the ambience of a rural caserio indeed. Do not forget the make the reservation as they do not take easily people of the street.

 

  1. Astelena, Euskal Herria Kalea, 3, tel. 943 42 58 67 (traditional / avant-garde restaurant)

Discovered only recently due to the fact that the chef is Ander Gonzalez who is my teacher in the Basque culinary centre. He is also running a TV show where 2 Basque pueblos / villages compete in cooking a particular local dish. This is my comment on the Tripadvisor: Got the tip for this place whilst taking a culinary course at the Basque culinary centre where the chef is an inspiring teacher! Without hesitation can recommend this traditional / avant-garde restaurant with a real great deal quality versus money! On the offer are old Basque dishes with a modern innovative touch whilst using seasonal products. Must applaud to their starter – grilled sliced asparagus and artichokes with cream potatoes and main course – grilled squid, caramelised onion and new potatoes with parsley. Looking forward to discover more from their menu!


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