The historic cider house
Scrumptious scenes at Petritegi
The Basque Country is famous for its apple crop. At Petritegi – a 14th-century sagardotegia (cider house) just 7km from the city centre – you can sample the estate’s wares straight from the barrel, before sitting down to a delicious, substantial lunch of traditional local dishes, which might include salt cod omelette, griddled hake, local cheeses and T-bone steak to share, all surrounded by apple trees.
Petritegi Bidea, 8, 20115 Astigarraga
petritegi.com
The hidden gem
Zazpi works with foragers, fishermen and hunters
For a tasting menu to remember without the hushed silence and tweezered plates, head for Zazpi, which has a new home in the Museo San Telmo. For €75 the whole table can enjoy scallops and ajo blanco, hake, monkfish, sea urchin with crayfish cream, roast suckling pig and several desserts. The a la carte is full of modern twists on Basque classics like cod rice and txerri ham; everything is seasonal, and the kitchen works closely with foragers, fishermen and hunters to secure local bounty such as the best mushrooms, asparagus and bonito tuna.
Zazpi, Plaza Zuloaga Nº 1
zazpistm.com
The one with the famous tortilla
The tortilla at Bar Nestor / Image: Antonio Bellota @antoniobellota
San Sebastián is full of crisp-shelled, rich, golden tortillas, but Bar Néstor’s is widely held to be the best in the city. Just two are made each day, one for the lunch service (1pm) and one for dinner (8pm). You’ll need to get there an hour before service and put your name on the list to reserve a slice – once everyone’s inside they’re brought out of the kitchen and placed reverently on the bar, before names are called. The steak and tomato salad are also legendary.
Arrandegi Kalea, 11
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The one for ‘Parts Unknown’ devotees
Wild mushrooms, char-grilled with a golden egg yolk at Ganbara
Anthony Bourdain stopped off at the beloved Ganbara pintxos bar on his visit to San Sebastián to film an episode of Parts Unknown, so you know it’s somewhere you’ll be well fed and watered. The crab tartlets are supremely delicious, but the real star of the show is a plate of seasonal wild mushrooms, char-grilled to smoky perfection and served with a scattering of fresh herbs and a golden egg yolk. Simple, but perfect.
San Jeronimo Kalea, 19
ganbarajatetxea.com
The one for people-watching
The sociable terrace at Bodega Donostiarra / Image: ©KikeOnTour
One of London-based, Spanish-raised legendary chef José Pizarro’s favourite places to eat when he’s in San Sebastián, Bodega Donostiarra has a beautiful terrace that’s ideal for whiling away an afternoon with a series of cold beers and some pitch-perfect pintxos. From the gildas (moreish assemblages of briny olives and plump anchovies) to local cheeses, a winning tomato salad and lip-smacking chicken wings, you can’t go wrong here.
Peña y Goñi Kalea, 13
bodegadonostiarra.com
The one on the ascent
Good stuff on the grill at Galerna / Image: Asier Ibarlucea @sansebastianfoodies
For truly exciting cooking, head for the deservedly hyped newcomer Galerna. Rebeka Barainka and Jorge Asenjo – looking after front-of-house and the kitchen, respectively – are on a mission to ‘give prominence to the roots and the environment, rescuing “forgotten” and even gastronomically undervalued products’. The 16-course, €82 seasonal tasting menu is exceptional value: it kicks off with artisanal acorn and turmeric bread and features nasturtiums, violet potatoes, Carabinero prawns, cod tripe and more.
Galerna Jan Edan, Kolon Pasealekua, 46
galernajanedan.com
The one for foodie families
Caramelised bread pudding with coffee and milk ice cream at Casa Urola / Image: ©KikeOnTour
If you’ve got younger ones in tow but don’t want to spend your holiday eating chips and ice cream, make a beeline for Casa Urola. This handsome two-storey pintxo bar does a wonderful line in confidently cooked, unfussy, reliably delicious food: local line-caught squid, served in a variety of ways, is a speciality, as is hake loin and cheek. The desserts are spectacular too, with caramelised bread pudding bound to please all ages.
Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 20
casaurolajatetxea.es
The one with incredible sea views
Situated in an old farmhouse with an elegant terrace overlooking La Concha bay, Rekondo comes into its own when the sun starts to set. Expect elevated Basque cooking with an emphasis on the freshest seafood (clams in parsley sauce, spiny crab, cod pil-pil), accompanied by expertly chosen, sensational wines – the cellar is acclaimed, and easily ranks as one of Spain’s best. Serious carnivores won’t want to miss the suckling pig, or ox rib-eye steak.
Igeldo Pasealekua, 57
rekondo.com
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