Clearly a well established and accomplished operation Service was almost flawless and attentive Atmosphere is modern with spectacular views Pedro greets at the entrance Food was interesting and unique. All the flavors didn't hit quite as impactful as we thought Some dishes were great (the savory macarons appetizer, pork loin, 1 or 2 desserts), but We felt it was too much food and spaced out over almost 4 hours. We finished after midnight. Too much, too late (for us ) Ymmv read more

See all

This is definitively among the 5 best restaurants in the world. It is worth the trip to Donosti. 1. Food is truly amazing. The Crujiente de Kisquilla con Sorbete de Salpicón is one of the most sophisticated gastronomic creations I ever had. The flor de alcachofa, the gilda macaron and the Baresarian lamb are equally mind blowing. This is beyond food! 2. The service is impecable. Both serious and rigorous, and warm and close. The entire team helps and show their enthusiasm about what they serve. 3. The space is very beautiful. An exceptional spot in Igueldo with helicopter views onto the Donisti bay. The design is quite contemporary, but not the strongest. By a not great office named Mecanismo. The interiors are quite predictable. Most spaces enjoy a privileged view on the sea, but still is good. The light can be dazzling. The exteriors: are quite a cliche. Architecture could be way better here. read more

See all

Aloha, as you all know I'm a foodie, who loves traveling around the world to find my next meal. Akelare came highly recommended, with their Mstars. You have 2 choices of a pre-fixed meal. I may have chosen wrong, as my friend really enjoyed her meal. Oh well next time. But at $500 per person, I felt I should have more than liked my dishes, ya? oh well it was just okay for me, no sauce or dish memorable. Hubby scored as he ended up eating most of my meal. Set on a cliff with the most beautiful ocean view, you are swept away into happiness. Hubby chose well on the wines, so I was still in wine-bliss, LOL. Really great wine list! It was fun getting dressed up and witnessing one of the touted restaurants in action. Staff was super attentive. So much desserts, yum! We actually took most home. Enjoy! read more

See all

Incredible food and service. The views from this location are outstanding. We started with drinks on the terrace then moved inside for a beautiful dinner. Two of us requested a deviation from the tasting menu to minimize the seafood. The outcome was still fresh and delicious. read more

See all

Ambiance was nice. Service was nice. Sommelier recommended some decent wines. Plating was very pretty. They were accommodating with our fish allergy: Food was very subdued, and underwhelming at times. Only thing that really stood out was the foie gras dish. The downside; apparently you need a number to get a taxi which we were never given when we checked out. So taxis came and taxis went, another couple took our taxi, and no taxi would take us down the mountain because a number is required. We waited and waited, last ones there. I'm completely disappointed in how our ride home was handled. The only way to get here, without your own car because of the super far proximity up in the mountains is by taxi. So we were forced to wait and were the last ones there. 1 am, waiting for a flipping taxi, because of their lack of organization in this part of the service. I probably would not recommend or come back. Not worth the trip. read more

Akelarre was a very memorable experience. The service and view are incredible. The food overall is very good, some highlights, but also some bites weren't exceptional. Presentations were very pretty, and you can tell a lot of thought goes into every course. I'd definitely return here, a great place to have a lunch and escape downtown San Sebastian. We ordered two different menus and shared everything to get more tastes. Some highlights from the Aranori menu - egg with caviar and cauliflower puree (my favorite dish of the meal), squid "risotto", sheep milk dessert. Highlights from the classics included the lobster salad, rice with snails, sauteed foie gras with "salt flakes and grain pepper" (what were these?? so good), the millet with sauce "fusilli", gin-tonic on a plate, and the basque egg pastry with coconut cloud ice cream. Very unique techniques, showcasing the gastronomy and creativity of the chef. Thoroughly enjoyed the meal here. read more

See all

Spectacular from start to finish! Food was extraordinarily inventive worthy of haute gastronomy. Service was impeccable and the staff has the encyclopedic knowledge about every ingredients on the food including the unfamiliar ones only native to the basque region. View is of course unparalleled overlooking the vast expanse of the bay of biscayne! read more

See all

Just back from a week long trip to San Sebastian, Spain. Went to two Michelin star restaurants and this was one very disappointing. It began when we were seated with a view of the parking lot , a wall and a window into the kitchen. They have three tables in the back corner of the restaurant and for whatever reason we were seated there. We requested another table and they moved us one table over so that we didn't have to stare at cars and a wall all night. Still had no view and looked at the kitchen window all night! They have two tasting menus, each one is 295 euros. Once you add wine our final bill was 708 euros. For this price I would expect more from the experience. Once we were reseated it was clear we were "off their schedule". We felt rushed to order and "catch up" with all the other tables. It appears that everyone is on the same course at the same time. They bring out the exact same course to everyone at all the other tables and then try and get you to eat at the same pace so that they can serve everyone in the section we were in at the same time. Felt like I was going out in the U.S. on Valentine's Day and you have a set menu and the restaurant is doing their best to push you out. Totally disappointing experience overwhelmed the food they served. The bad experience we had here was amplified when we went to Martin Berasategui, another Michelin restaurant the following night. The experience was completely different and totally worth the 672 euros we paid for our fabulous meal with wine. Start to finish it was worth every penny. Sorry to have gone to Akelare the night before! Don't waste your time here as there are many more Michelin restaurants to go to while in San Sebastian. read more

The most amazing meal of my life. Yes, it is expensive. But when else are you going to be in San Sebastian? The view of the Bay of Biscay is spectacular. Everything that they serve you is magical and an experiential food experience. Do yourself a favor and come here before you die. read more

Akelare - fisherman's net - Signature Cuisine Near Me - Donostia-San Sebastian, SS

5.2017 Best Meal of My Life - Not even close. Negative 1 star: * Disappointed they made guests wait outside the front door until opening. Folks that travelled half a world away. They have a full lounge within so there is no reason for such lack of deceny. * The patios are not tastefully done & are an eyesore. So, what was a great view is no more. Rather than wonderful views throught the restaurant like Sierra Mar @ The Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, CA. They are now tainted by these huge spaceship, saucer like patios (4 or 5) and once the hotel below opens, will have hotel guests getting in the way of diners views. You may disagree then again you may not be able to see every angle. Food: Small bites, nothing memorable except the butter/goat cheese spread. Fish and shellfish soup "a la Donostiarra" noted on the menu as (Traditional).  I love soup and fish within was cooked perfectly.  Broth good but can't tell if it's incredible as I've never had basque soup. Is it one of best soups I've had?  No. Roasted lobster and spices balloon - presentation was more impressive than overall taste. Roasted suckling pig.  I asked if the skin would be crispy (how I prefer).  Was told yes and I guess crispy means different things to different people.  The two pieces had a lot of fat between the skin and editable meat too.  Overall a turnoff. Dessert 1 - Gin - tonic on a plate.  Very good, Especially since the gin flavor was very subtle. Dessert 2 - pastry wrapped in edible wrapper.  5/5 on the cool points. Dessert 3 - assorted bites - all very good. If desserts weren't good to very good then 2 rather than 1 stars knocked off for the food. Service during lunch as expected. read more

See all

Delicious. We came here for lunch. There is construction underneath the windows so the view is not as good as it used to be. Each dish was nicely presented with a mix of some gastronomy and traditional cooking. read more

See all

We went for lunch and had a great view. Food was exceptional and wine was very reasonably priced as typical in Spain. Service was outstanding. They made special dishes for our 12 yr old daughter traveling with us. read more

Excellent lunch dining experience. The view here is spectacular so you should request a window seat if you make it out to this remote location. What's unique here is you can get different tasting menus for the table. I would recommend staying away from the classic menu and going with the other two. Service was expedient and attentive but not fawning or excessive. My favorites were the shrimp on fire, the steak tartare, foie gras leaf (the attention to detail to making a fake lead out of foie gras is amazing!), and monkfish. Everything was very well presented and playful. The food was definitely innovative and tasty all around. read more

See all

Probably better as a 2 star Michelin restaurant. Not 3. Not bad; pretty good with a few bumps here and there. Yes, the view is amazing. Yes, the drive up is beautiful. Yes, the ambiance is wonderful. The food and the service... both good, just not excellent. We each got a different tasting menu so we could try each other's dishes. I'd say the classic tasting menu was overwhelmingly disappointing and it's supposed to be what the chef is known for. My favorite dish was probably the beef carpaccio, which was elegant. It was kinda overly salty with the potato bits but I didn't mind it. Many dishes either lacked flavor or had way too much. A lot of dishes were forgettable. The view is nice but it's not worth paying that much for a subpar meal. Out of all the Michelin Star restaurants we dined it, this might be in our bottom 3. We happened to dine at martin berasategui (3 stars) a few nights earlier and that was extremely decadent in every way possible. Akelare just seemed sloppy and underwhelming. read more

We enjoy fine dining. Akelarre's setting is spectacular with a fantastic ocean view if you arrive before dark. Once it gets dark, the view is blackness- no spot lights on the ocean. The food was an huge disappointment, quite shocking that it is a Michelin 3* restaurant' We each ordered from 2 different tasting menus, neither menu was good. The ONLY good part was presentation of the food and the friendly service. I believe the table behind us left early after 3 courses. The restaurant was pretty quiet, maybe others were thinking the same as us?! August 2022 read more

"Underwhelming" pretty much sums it up. Having just been to Arzak two days prior, we couldn't help but to compare between the two. With Akelare, the experience felt quite transactional. Good service as expected from a restaurant of this class but lacks subtlety and stealth. The food was alright. Certainly had a few excellent bites out of our entire tasting menu but the house appetizers fell flat, some of the dishes were over-salted (Umami sea bass, Iberian pork shoulder to name a few...), and the unconstructed apple pie dessert was lackluster. That said, my son's Bologna's pasta had amazing depth and flavor. According to my husband, it was one of the best renditions he's ever had. On a positive note, the wine selection is extensive and not overly crazily priced. We had a nice bottle of 2005 Rioja for 65 euros. Quite a ste To sum it up, you should try it for yourself and be the judge of it. However, if you can only do one 3* in SS, I'd suggest Arzak. read more

The picturesque view alone made the visit memorable. Akelare is located on a hill overlooking the water. They have a downstairs and outdoor bar where you can take photos, grab a drink, and take in the beautiful seaside and countryside. Akelare was our 7th Michelin-recognized restaurant during our trip and first 3 star so we may have entered with unreasonably high expectations. While the food was delicious and well-presented, we felt that several comparable one star and two star restaurants had better service, food, and presentation, at a fraction of the price. The servers provided a good overview of the food, but seemed to be somewhat robotic and working off of the same script. We literally heard the servers give the same exact presentation to the tables next to us. Whenever we asked a question on where something came from or how something was prepared that would cause them to "break script" they were unable to answer and had to look up the answer before coming back to us. While delicious-ness takes time, the food also came out really slow and our lunch ultimately ended up eating (bad pun intended) into our afternoon as it took over 4 hours from the time we were seated until the time we were finished with our last dish. Moreover, while other restaurants that were off the beaten path recognized that a taxi might be needed and asked and ordered one in advance for us, Akelare did not. While this is a minor thing, I think it is indicative of the extra service steps that other Michelin-recognized restaurants took that Akelare did not. Akelare seemed to rest on the chef's name, the view, and its 3 stars. Again, the food was great and the scenery was stunning, but we both expected that extra step in service and food for the price tag that we paid. Michelin restaurants should be held to a higher standard and Akelare was average relative to the peers that we visited. read more

Originally pursuing a career in medicine before circumstances saw an interest in hospitality develop late in school. Pedro Subijana's resume bears little resemblance to those of contemporaries who honed their skills in the best kitchens of France, but continuing to develop a distinctive style since taking over Akelarre in 1975 there is little doubt forty years later that some things are written in the stars, the Chef and his seaside restaurant continuously holding Three from Michelin since the 2006 guide. Writing its own story in a land where Basque traditions often mingle with modernist flare, arrival at Akelarre is not dissimilar to that of other fine dining destinations but with the two-tiered room placing some along the windows while other are elevated at its center the choice is really a matter of preference, an afternoon overlooking the ocean probably the ideal though those who prefer to witness the service spectacle may wish to peer down from above. Divided into three eight-course tastings, a classics menu suggested as the best way to witness Subijana's evolution throughout the years, large parties are encouraged to choose differently with a focus on sharring, the Berkarki menu plus one classic addition proving the most compelling option for myself. Opening at 20h30 with a total of eighteen items offered along with four housemade breads when accounting for canape, mignardises, and palate cleansing sorbet suffice it to say that two hours at Akelarre features no lack of action, the opening quartet offering but a glimpse of the Chef's willingness to elaborate on familiar flavors with discrepant ingredients and textures as the mussel croquette featured a surprising sweetness amidst brine and butter, the "Bloody Mary" an airy meringue that quickly flooded the palate and just as soon dissipated. Impressed by the sort of bread that will challenge diners not to overindulge, both the spelt and hearty baton particularly great with curls of butter, course one of the tasting featured jumbo prawns cooked tableside over flames of Brandy, and coming out perfectly tender despite the directed heat all three were picked and sucked clean of their carapace with curls of green beans cleanring the palate between bites. Again embracing the region in course two, fleshy hake throat delicately fried with a bit of spice and garlic adding nuance without overwhelming the gelatinous core, its follow-up showed signs of whimsy amidst textbook execution of duck liver, the "salt and pepper" haphazardly tossed over top by my server actually flavored like cocoa and vanilla as the bittersweet juxtaposition enhanced a silky center beneath the caramelized sear. Returning to the fish from prior with a meaty fillet dusted in dried plankton that was as flaky as it was moist it was with suggestions to prepare the palate with a single Oyster Leaf that the evening marched on, the jet-black dish served next not containing a single grain of rice but virtually indistinguishable from the most delicate traditional versions given the finely chopped cephalopod and creamy stock further bolstered by butter. Rounding out the savories with a very special presentation of acorn-only fed Iberico Pig lightly grilled and as intense as any charcuterie seen to date, it was again riffing on a classic American Cocktail that the mouth was transitioned to sweetness, the airy notes of lime and mint far more appealing to me than the actual drink. No doubt a worldly man, hints at Americana not subtle in a "Melting" cupcake that tasted as though buttercream frosting was whipped via ISI-Container with fruit and then chilled, the Orange "Tocino de Cielo" was a return to Spanish flavors with a thin custard that tasted similar to a Carballon tinged in walnuts with light floral notes. Intrigued by the "broken jar of Yoghurt" but told that "The Different Apple Tart" was a dish that should not be missed it was in the later that the meal reached its ending, the mignardises probably good though I reall don't remember as the caramelized tart tatin on an all-butter shortbread was as intricate in flavor as it was in its look. read more

See all

Akelare is unparalleled in many ways, in terms of creativity, atmosphere, and of course, food. The food was simply amazing, likely the best fine dining experience I've had. It's hard to believe I would ever say that a tasting menu of €195 is a "bargain," and yet here we are. They offered three tasting menu options. I opted for the sampling of the restaurant's signature dishes, my wife ordered the newer creations. I enjoyed the food tremendously. The restaurant is also nicely designed and laid out. It's highlighted by spectacular views of Bay of Biscay. There isn't a bad seat in the house, plus it didn't get too noisy inside. I love Akelare. read more

See all

One of the several 3 Michelin star restaurants in San Sebastián and my 5th experience at a 3 starrer. Excellent food and presentation, beautiful views, and stellar service. Loved how understated this place was--wasn't needing to be showy or fancy and has the confidence to shine. Food: 4.5, Atmosphere: 5, Service: 5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 (175 Euros for a 12 course meal if you include amuses) Return worthiness: yes (though I want to try some of the other 3 star ones as well) Eve award: stiffest pours for a pre-meal cocktail Highlights: - Scampi with smoked monkfish and crunchy whole shrimp: a piece of shrimp beautifully placed inside a flower ring of thinly sliced fish and a crunchy whole shrimp on the side. Something so delicate and subtle with a play on textures was brilliant. 5 stars. - Foie gras in a salad: they colored foie gras to fit in as a leaf. So artistic and the flavor was amazingly smooth and mild. 5 stars. - Iberico and piquillo carpaccio thin pasta layer topped with Parmesan cheese and mushrooms. Stunning. Never had anything like that mixed pasta. 5 stars - Roasted suckling pig. Crispy exterior and tender meat. "Bone" was sugary. 5 stars. - Beef tartare with potato puff and thin crackers. Largest portion of the raw minced meat I've seen. 4 stars - Shrimp tart: thin with a glasslike thin later was unique to get started. 3.5 stars - Casual nice atmosphere: not stuffy or pretentious so we could enjoy a relaxing fine dining meal. Also liked that you could choose from 3 different tasting menu experiences. - View: whole restaurant covered in large windows to see the water and we were seated in the elevated middle area. - Cocktails: a simple vodka soda or gin and tonic was served tableside in a huge wine goblet! - Chef was there: not common among famous chefs. He even waited to take a photo with us after our meal which was awesome. Midlights: - Tomato amuse: tasted a bit too fishy for me. - Desserts: creative presentation but taste was just ok for me. Lowlights: - Anchovy olive: not due to the quality of the fish--mostly cause I don't care for either ingredient - Raw plate with the cod: I didn't quite understand it accompanying a cooked fish Excellent meal that lived up to the foodie hype of arranging a trip here from SF to eat for the weekend. :-) read more

See all

For me, the ambiance of a restaurant is a huge part of the experience. This restaurant which sits on a cliff overlooking the Bay of Biscay was key in our choice of which one of the 3*s to try in San Sebastian. This was my first 3 Michelin star experience, and we basically planned the itinerary of our entire Spain trip around this meal. was it worth it? Yes. First of all: Make reservation ahead of time. We made ours about a month in advance. Second of all. Start saving. It's going to set you back a few. After seeing things like their leaf disguised as foie gras, their edible bones, and their broken yogurt desert, I was a bit worried that there would be too much of a focus on "innovation" here and not necessarily just really great tasting food. I know to get three stars you need more than just good food, but the quality of the dishes remains the most important part for me. And I was not disappointed. I opted for the Aranori tasting menu with a wine paring. The leaves and the Foie gras under the rain: Here's where they made a leaf out of foie gras and disguised it in your salad. Love it. A vegetarian's nightmare. Very clever, but most importantly. Delicious. Green Broth Infusión, Scampi and Smoke Monkfish: Here you have a real bare bones broth made fresh from the head of the monkfish you get on a separate plate. I could appreciate the freshness and way the whole dish is self contained and straightforward, but it was a bit uninspired to me. Not super flavorful. Very thin and Light Beef Tartare, new Potato Soufflé and Aromatic Herb Bread: Now we're kicking it up a notch. This was the best tartare i've ever had, and the serving size was generous. Sea Bass "Umami": The menu gets better and better at this point. This melts in your mouth and now you truly are beginning to experience why this is a 3*. I've not had fresher or better prepared fish. Roasted baby Pig "Bone" and Iberic's emulsion: So this was the main event. Aaaand, i actually ordered the other option (veal), not this one... so kind of a slip up on their part, but luckily, it was fantastic. Really tender and flavorful, and certainly not overdone. Oh yeah, you can eat the "bone" ( I think its sugar or something - nice touch). The Broken Jar of Yogurt, "Gatzatua" and Berries: So this was probably the most unique part of the meal. It's an edible "jar" of yogurt which is "broken" on the plate, with the contents spilling out. As the waitress brought it out, she timidly said "sir, we've had an accident!" as it was being set down. I half wanted to screw with her and tell her to take it back and give me one that wasn't broken, but i didnt have the heart. Anyways, great end to a great meal. Fresh berries, the actual "jar" isn't very tasty, but it was a fun touch. Amazing meal in my favorite town in the world. You will not be disappointed. read more

See all

I came to Spain to go to Arzak - Akelarre was the "bonus." Instead it turned out to be the most magical moment of the entire trip. ATMOSPHERE Spacious, clean, rustic yet modern, relaxed and unpretentious - ask for a seat by the windows for the spectacular view of the sea and countryside. SERVICE Stellar. I saw this coming - multiple email correspondences about dietary restrictions for my friend, logistics, and schedule changes were always promptly addressed by Ms. Lopez, who managed to convey flawless hospitality over email alone. The staff are incredibly friendly, helpful, and somehow mesmerize in how they present the food - like well rehearsed theater. FOOD PLEASE set aside 2.5 hours and go for a tasting menu even if your dining partners won't, they can order a la carte while you bask in plate after plate of food that can be described as visually stunning, familiar meets molecular, clever, playful, and loads of other superlatives, the most important of which is: delicious. There was only one course that I didn't like, and each of the others had something about it that was memorable. I won't bore with the details of each course, since the menu will change - but I do have to say that their foie gras was one of the most clever cases of visual trickery that I've seen, and in taste, the best I've ever had, and I've had a lot. I can see that at the end of the day, the 3rd Michelin star really is all about the food. Chef Pedro Subijana greeted his his diners one by one (even at lunch!) - he is gracious, warm and joyful, and it is conveyed in his restaurant and food. This is one for the books... read more

See all

When my wife and I planned a trip to Spain I knew we had to fit in San Sebastián to experience the amazing food this city had to offer. However, our first meal was dinner at Mugaritz which was the most absurdly disappointing meal of my life. We had lunch scheduled at Akelarre the next day and I began to worry that we had made a huge mistake. I couldn't have been more wrong. Akelarre is one of the two greatest meals I have had the privilege of experiencing. The other being Joel Robuchon. The restaurant is beautiful and situated with spectacular views of the Atlantic. After settling in with a glass of champagne, my wife and I selected the Classic menu. Before we were served any of the dishes we were presented a series of four appetizers including "fake" olives stuffed with jamon and salted fish. Out of this world. Also out of this world was the blended goat cheese butter. The excellent wine pairing recommended by the sommelier perfectly accentuated the goat cheese. I had to take a sip after every bite. The entrees are simply too much to go into detail, but each of them were among the greatest tastes I've ever had. The presentation was fun and really showed Chef Subijana's personality. Thankfully he understands that presentation is nothing without the flavors. The staff was very nice, knowledgeable and attentive without being suffocating. The only misstep was that we could not get anyone's attention to bring our bill for nearly 30 minutes after we had finished our coffee. Not a big issue though. If you come to San Sebastián dine at Akelarre for lunch and take in the stunning views as you experience culinary perfection. read more

See all

KenScale: 7.5/10 Akelarre is one of the three-Michelin star establishments in the Basque region sitting atop a hill overlooking the Bay of Biscay. I heard so much about the magnificent view from the restaurant and about the modern and elegant Spanish cooking from chef Pedro Subijana. The eating experience itself, however, felt short of my expectations. The restaurant has three different tasting menus that you can choose from (each at 175 euros per person), one set consisting of Akelarre's classic dishes and the other two sets based on more recent inventions. I keep wondering to this day whether I should've stuck with classics that would highlight all the dishes that the restaurant has been known for almost four decades. Instead, my inclination for something more modern and inventive took over me, and I decided to go a tasting menu option called bekarki. The beginning of the meal was excellent. Prawns cooked in flame came as juicy and delicate as I had expected with green beans. White beans with chorizo were also flavorful, and the best dish was in sautéed fresh foie gras with salt flakes and grain pepper. I don't know what kind of magic went into it, but the salt flakes didn't make the foie gras too salty but instead complemented what could've been stuffy piece of meat beautifully. Unfortunately, things started going downhill afterwards. Grouper immersed in "umami" sauce was very well-cooked, but the sauce itself was heavy and quickly overwhelmed the fish. "Desalted" cod box with shavings was more or less forgettable, and instead of juicy roasted baby lamb that I was expecting, the one coming out from the kitchen didn't have enough meat or had the best texture. The desserts turned out to be a little too sweet for my taste as well, from the melted cupcake to orange sheet with fruit leaves. I went to the restaurant for lunch, which lasted three hours, and came away overwhelmed by the heaviness of many dishes toward the end. The restaurant has a modern dining room with beautiful views, so if you're going to visit, lunchtime would definitely serve you better. The services were professional and attentive, and there is a wide selection of wines (many excellent ones from Spain) that would work well with the dishes. Getting a reservation wasn't particularly challenging, but the restaurant was almost full by 2:30 (one thing I realized while dining in Spain is how late people eat here; most groups started filling in after 2). I really wish I could've liked Akelarre more and believe I should give a second chance to this place ordering classic menus that have made this place a renowned institution for a long time. But for now, I would say my dining experience (with all the great places I've been to during my trip to Spain) at Akelarre definitely had some hits and misses. read more

See all

This restaurant claims the mantle of leader in Basque cuisine, and Pedro Subijana (the head chef) is a regional icon who has been working hard for decades to re-discover and innovate on Basque dishes. While some aspects of the restaurant are outstanding (the views, a handful of special courses) I was very surprised that this restaurant has a 3-star rating. Service was fall-down awful, and some of the dishes were so bad we couldn't eat more than a few bites. Service- clattering, stacked plates; silverware literally tossed down in front of us, courses sent back received with a mere shrug, half-hour waits between courses- this place has a long, long way to go here. The waiter serving our table was particularly put-upon; the other diners in his section spoke Basque, Spanish, and French along with us English-speakers, and he didn't appear to have any support at all for water, clearing, etc. But whether they were short-staffed or simply didn't believe in some of those activities, this part of the meal was just like an Applebee's. Food- some of the dishes like "slices of cucumber" that were in fact carefully-cut potatoes, shrimp, and basil, were a tasty and creative delight. That same theme of "things aren't as they appear" got a bit old when we realized that it was being applied with increasing awkwardness to almost every single dish on the menu. A complete photo play-by-play is here: ow.ly/POTS301ZTV5 Overall, if you're traveling in San Sebastián/Donostia, you have many much finer options available to you- Martín Berasategui, Arzak, etc. My experience does not strongly support a recommendation to visit Akelare. read more

Anelares makes dishes as masterpieces! 3 star Michelin chef Pedro Subijama allows all your senses in that awesome restaurant in that amazing view The experience is complete in all senses This is the true magic of gastronomy! Ideal for lunch and make sure to ask for a window table! Service is flawless! Useless to say! I had a Corton Charlemagne but ask for O Soro an amazing white rare to find that they have in their cave! Definitely ask for the tasting Manu and you can have two different of the three options of their tasting menus so u can share and taste more of that amazing cuisine! read more

See all

Akelarre is a delightful restaurant with 3 Michelin stars. It deserves all three of them, but for one reason. We were having a delightful, yet very expensive dinner, and enjoying ourselves for the first part of our meal. What shattered that experience was a large group of 14 that came in after drinking on the outside deck for who knows how long. They came inside an hour after we got to the restaurant, and they were out there prior to our arrival. They were extremely loud and destroyed the atmosphere of the entire restaurant. We had difficulty hearing our conversation to each other and could no longer hear the delightful music we were listening to prior to their seating. I asked the server why they didn't intervene and I was told that they do not interfere with their diners! What if they started a fight or started being inappropriate with other diners? I just spent a thousand dollars to have a meal that should have been perfect. What if the Micheline guides were in the restaurant when that happened? They were in a room with two walls that were retractable and they remained that way. The restaurant could have pulled the partitions closed but refused to do so. It was not funny and was ridiculous. For 500 a plate, I expected more. read more

You can enjoy the meals with very challenging matching of materials, and although based on the traditional regional food, of great creativity, in the modern but very cozy interior. I understand the difficult choice for the tourists between the bar hopping in downtown for Pinchos and the dinners at the Micheline stared restaurants in or in the suburbs of San Sebastián. However, I am pleased to guarantee that this restaurant is worth the visit while loosing one night of bar hopping. I hope that the visitors to this city understand the value of this restaurant by this explanation. read more

See all

The best restaurant room I've ever been in. There's no bad table, the view of the Bay of Biscay is mesmerizing. I've never had food like that either - gorgeous, playful, delicious, sophisticated, essential. They give you your own copy of the tasting menu to refer to as you eat through the courses, because often you have no idea of what it is without reading its description. So why only 4 stars? We were jet-lagged, hungry, excited travelers when the taxi let us out in an empty parking lot. It's a little way out of town, and there is nothing to do and nowhere to go if you arrive early, except stand awkwardly in the parking lot. We were only about 15 minutes early for an 8 PM reservation. ( We know that's early for Spain, but they offered it when we booked on-line 3 months ago.) Turns out there is no 8 PM reservation in real Akelarre, as opposed to cyberspace Akelarre. The restaurant has no bar or waiting area and quite literally doesn't open its doors until 8:30 PM. So we stood in the parking lot for 45 minutes like sad alley cats waiting to be let in. The staff is welcoming and professional and the food is an indescribable experience of sensory overload, after they unlock the doors. read more

Akelare - waiting area at Akelarre - Signature Cuisine Near Me - Donostia-San Sebastian, SS

See all

Out of this world! Incredible! Worth every penny! We booked a lunch table knowing that with the three stars it would be good - now it absolutely blow our minds! We picked the tasting menu with the wine pairing. Not only food is delicious, presentations are imaginative and fresh. But the best thing about this restaurant is the service. We usually go to Michelin rated restaurant and ambience is usually quite up tight. Akelarre has nothing of that - it feels familiar, warm and cosy. Everyone smiles, actually talks to you and engages when explaining the dishes. On top of that the sea by the side is absolutely breathtaking. Strongly recommend splashing on this restaurant in the Basque Country! read more

See all

What a letdown. I can't imagine the good folks at Michelin have eaten here in recent years. Please do yourself a favor and opt for a proper lunch at Martin Berasategui followed by a well crafted pintxo path. There is no way this place retains three stars a year from now. The food is mediocre at best (we opted for each distinct tasting menu) , the timing was off (we were often bored), and the wine pairing was underwhelming and stingy. That said, the views are spectacular, albeit secluded (expect 20min taxi ride from center of town). Save your money and go elsewhere. read more

Wow ! We have been lucky to have been to some of the worlds best... Including Noma,Masa, etc... The experience starts as you pull up and you see the building and view. Then you add exemplary service all with smiles. We had several in our group with allergies and issues. No problem. We did each of the 3 offered tasting menu. This way we could see, share and taste... We ended our dinner in the Salon with our new found friends. I will end as I began... Wow!! read more

See all

Spectacular setting. Very lovely. We have dined all over the world also, but this was disappointing. Food certainly not up to the standards you would expect and the $$$$ you will pay. We were so looking forward to a fabulous experience, but walked away very underwhelmed. read more

I am updating my review and bringing it down one star based on watching Chef Table, Season 1, featuring Massimo Bottura. Why? It seems that Subijana has copied Massimo, and while I feel that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Subijana has not incorporated the dose of originality I would expect from a professional. The "broken yogurt" dessert is a direct copy of Massimo's "Oops I dropped the lemon tart" - an original creation based on a tart being accidentally dropped just moments before it was to be served. See for yourself: https://youtu.be/XAizxrBpUVA ---- original review ---- Chef Pedro Subijana has been cooking here for almost 40 years! Unbelievable! I was so pleased that he took the time to visit our (and others) tables during our meal. A congenial man, he greeted us with warmth and humility. The view of the Biscay bay is spectacular. When you go, try to get a table in the center that over looks the windows. That way both of you can enjoy the view. A table next to the window will only afford the view to the person facing that direction. When we dined, there were three tasting menus available: modern, traditional and a mix. We did the modern and mix. We also chose the wine pairings (recommended, if you imbibe). Each dish was an adaptation of the menu description. Our wait person presented our food with playful descriptions (e.g., broken yogurt was served with an "oops, we're sorry!") and the wine served with explanations of region, grape, etc. I was surprised that the portions were larger than is usual for a tasting menu. With the amuse-bouche and all the dishes, we actually got full! A great overall experience! read more

Set on the cliffs outside San Sebastian with a panoramic view of the Atlantic ocean, Akelare boasts one of the most spectacular settings of any Michelin class restaurant. The food was extremely good, though less complex than many places with fewer stars. I especially liked the octopus with tempura and ink sauce. The wine pairings were spectacular. A tawny white Cote de Jura 2012 had the most amazing nose of any white wine we've tried to date. A cheese and compote dessert plate was perfectly paired with two sweet whites, including one from 1949. The sommelier was thoroughly knowledgeable and explained the regions, vintners, grapes, and terroirs for each pairing. Highly recommended! read more

See all

4.5 review. We visited San Sebastian this last weekend and given the proximity to our anniversary, I was given free-range in my choice of restaurants. Despite the large number of delicious cheap pintxos in town I couldn't visit Northern Spain without experiencing one of the many famed Michelin restaurants! After much deliberating I decided on Akelarre. We arrived for our evening reservation and were greeted with the most beautiful view. The restaurant sits right at the coast so you can enjoy views of the ocean while you decide on your meal. I decided to go with the Aranori tasting menu and J decided on the Bekarki. After ordering a different waiter came by to help us decide on a bottle of wine to suit our chosen menus. Despite the hefty cost of the tasting menu the wine list was pretty reasonable and we loved the red he recommended. Now to the food...if I try and chat about all of the dishes this review will drag on even longer than my standard rants so I'll stick to the standouts. For my menu, the "leaves and the Foie under the rain" was the most incredible foie gras I have ever eaten. Full stop. And the salad that accompanied it had single leaves infused with different flavours in lieu of any dressing. The beef tartar with potato soufflé was so rich and the flavours were wonderful. The beef's tail was extremely tender and juicy. The foaming coconut ice cream didn't look like much but was really unique and light. And finally the broken jar of yogurt was so creative and still tasted really nice. For J's menu I loved the Prawns and French Beans cooked in "Orujo" Fire. They were ignited at our table and the seasonings were light and wonderful. The Grouper "UMAMI" was so fresh and flaky. The roasted lamb was tender and juicy. And the orange "Tocino de Cielo" sheet had simple presentation but was really unique and tasty. We really enjoyed our experience at Akelarre. The service was impeccable and you can tell that the staff take pride in their craft. Here you can enjoy fine dining in a slightly more casual atmosphere as no jackets or slacks are required. Thanks for the lovely evening Akelarre! read more

See all

Ridiculous. Outrageous. Extraordinary. Incredible. Exceptional. ... If you enjoy food more than the average person, you enjoy to treat yourself to an experience such as Akelarre. Presentation, cuisine, service and explanations are orchestrated in a flurry of movements. Never is your glass empty, never is the table linen spotty, never is an finished plate in front of you for too long. This was a rare experience, and I thought I've been to a few equivalent restaurants and sat in front of chefs before. ...2nd thought, this was a great experience bringing me back to exceptional dining. For awhile I was tired of tasting menus and wanted simple preparations and honest food - this was a raving balance of the two. read more

See all

I was here with 3 friends in July. We had made reservations 2 months in advance. The good: The restaurant and especially the views from certain places are amazing. That's it. The not so good: They sat with a view of their employee parking lot. They sommelier took over 20 minutes to come to our table and there was no way to order drinks without him apparently. The wine was mediocre and very expensive. The food was incredibly disappointing and we paid $300 EACH!! None of us can comprehend how this restaurant achieved 3 Michelin Stars let alone one. We had far better meals for $20.00. Save your money for the dozens of other options in San Sebastián. read more

I wanted to write a review because I felt that there wasn't enough information on the web that pertained to real diners and the dining experience at Akelarre. Some friends and I were traveling through San Sebastian last week and this was our second choice to Arzak, where we weren't able to secure reservations. It was a friend's birthday and we wanted to go somewhere special. Akelarre is 20 minutes outside of Donostia-San Sebastian by taxi. Don't arrive early because there is no bar. Dress code is business casual - jeans are ok as long as you look put together. Some folks get dressed up and they're not out of place. What I liked about Akelarre is that for all of the Michelin stars and press, it's a down to earth, friendly restaurant. Sometimes it's loud with laughter and other times it's quiet with conversation. We all ordered a version of the 6 course tasting menu which took us 4 hours to eat. I started getting tired after the third course. Courses 3 & 4 were both fish - I would have been happy with only one fish dish. I have a shrimp allergy and the restaurant was very accommodating with substitutions. The chef comes out and greets every table personally, which was a nice touch. Each dish was inventive in its own way and had flavors that were both surprising and subtle. What I liked about Akelarre is that it didn't go nuts trying to be different and crazy, it relied on interesting methods and unique ideas. This dinner was definitely in the top 5 of the most expensive dinners that I experienced. It's hard to say it was worth every euro but it was definitely a memorable experience. We couldn't go through Basque Country without stopping at one of these restaurants and I'm so glad we did! read more

Came here after Pamplona(Running of the Bulls). The restaurant is in a gorgeous area and the view around the restaurant is Breathtaking. Love the food and the creativity of the chef. The details of each plate are exceptional. It is worth a try but I wouldn't come back to this restaurant again. Thank you for the experience! read more

See all