Things to do in San Sebastián

San Sebastián evokes memories of times gone by; she exudes a certain old-world charm reminiscent of the French Riviera at the turn of the century, with her white wrought iron railings and Belle Epoque architecture. But in spite of her French influences (the border is only a 15-minute drive away), she is very definitely a Spanish city and a Basque one at that. Food is life here, and the Basques have a very strong culinary heritage. San Sebastián has long been on the list of gastronomic greatness, and it´s not for nothing that some of the world’s best restaurants are to be found here. Michelin stars are in great abundance, and 3 of the biggest names in the culinary world have their restaurants in and around the city, each boasting not one but 3 of the coveted stars: Martin Berasategui, Juan Maria Arzak at Arzak and Pedro Subijana at Akelarre. It goes without saying that dining of this calibre isn´t for everyone, this is the stuff of very special occasions, and reservations are often required months in advance. Thankfully, the Basques are culinary masters across all price points, and the answer to your prayers lies in the form of small bite-sized pieces of deliciousness served in bars and restaurants across the city. The Spanish lay claim to tapas but the Basques take it to a whole other level with their version, called pintxos: bigger, tastier and far more inventive than mere tapas, they are more than just a pre-dinner snack or accompaniment to a few drinks. Pintxos eating is a huge part of the local culture and a social event in itself.

Where to stay in San Sebastián

Okako is a small boutique hotel in the Gros district that is both comfortable and stylish. It´s a family run business and with only a few rooms available, personalised service is a given. Its central location makes it the perfect base from which to explore the city. For those looking to stay a short distance out of town, away from the hustle and bustle, the Iriarte Jauregia Hotel is a mere 20-minute drive from the city centre and located in the rolling green mountains of the rural Basque country. It provides a perfect little oasis of peace and tranquillity. Housed in a fully restored 17^th-century palace, the hotel also boasts an in-house spa and wellness centre, as well as a gourmet restaurant, which may make it difficult ever to want to leave!

Hotels

- San Sebastián

Bar La Cepa is a local favourite that is as famous for their speciality hot pintxos (made to order) as they are for the more traditional cold nibbles

Where to eat in San Sebastian

The Old Town, or Parte Vieja, is the heart of the city and where you´ll find the greatest concentration of tiny bars serving pintxos. As the afternoon turns to evening, these bite-sized morsels appear in great variety along bar counters across the town, and the idea is to visit a few places, snacking on pintxos before heading off for a sit-down dinner. The drinks of choice to wash it all down are txakoli (a local white wine) or kalimotxo, a blend of red wine and Coca-Cola served with lots of ice. It sounds terrible but tastes a lot better than you’d imagine, so “don´t knock it ´til you´ve tried it”.

Bar La Cepa is a local favourite that is as famous for their speciality hot pintxos (made to order) as they are for the more traditional cold nibbles, and it´s easy to see why it´s so popular. Service is friendly and informal, and when we arrived with our dog in tow our waitress, with a cheeky twinkle in her eye, informed us that canines are more than welcome to come inside, but that we (the humans) would have to eat outside! At Aralar, around the corner, the heavy wooden bar is laden with plates of pintxos and the ubiquitous Iberian hams hang overhead. In spite of the city´s glamorous foodie reputation, most bars and restaurants in this part of town are very down to earth and make no pretence at being overly fashionable. It´s clear that the food and drink take centre stage and everything else just details.

La Cepa | Photo: Kerry Murray

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Playa de la Concha

San Sebastián is built around a naturally formed circular bay with a narrow opening and is protected from the ocean swells, which creates a long stretch of white sand beach and safe swimming. This makes La Concha one of the best city beaches in Europe and the sweeping bay is lined with the famous white wrought-iron promenade, perfect for strolling and people watching. In summer this is the city´s favourite beach and the restaurants and coffee shops along the water overflow onto the promenade.

Oiartzun is a speciality bakery and coffee shop on the edge of the old town, just before you reach the bay. They are famous for their Pastel Vasco (Basque Pastry), an intensely sweet and almondy cake inside a shortcrust shell, as well as many other tempting pastries. This bakery is the perfect stop for a mid-morning coffee and cake as you wander the streets. Around the other side of the bay, overlooking the beach, Narru is one of San Sebastian’s rising stars. Head chef Iñigo Peña studied under Juan Maria Arzak and Martin Berasategi, some of the biggest names in the gastronomic realm, and at only 26 years old he has opened his own restaurant on the Playa de la Concha promenade. The focus is on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and traditional Basque flavours reworked with a modern twist.

Playa de la Concha | Photo: Kerry Murray

Gros | Photo: Kerry Murray

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