Awesome meal at MB. The menu is classic Basque fine dining, lots of techniques used and great…read moremerrying of flavors on the plates. The restaurant is calm inside, tables with a good amount of space between all looking out onto the property. The service is wonderful, well trained and coordinated, timing of the meal is great, they've got everything nailed down which is expected given how long they've held their stars. It was my first time trying Martin's food and I loved the flavors used - every dish was interesting and had some surprises. Standouts for me were the bread service (those butters!!), the eel and foie bite, their take on the classic gilda pintxo, the veggie salad, the red mullet and the lamb course. At the end Martin greeted every table which was nice. On a trip to Spain with 25 Michelin stars, this meal was a favorite.

What a special place to have dinner. My wife and I went on our trip in San Sebastián and it did not…read moredisappoint. This restaurant, along with a few others, changed the landscape of the food world for Basque Country 25-30 years ago. We did the tasting menu with a wine pairing. The food was simply incredible. It's a perfect combination of gastronomic flair with really amazing tasting food. All dishes are distinct and there are many classics on the dinner menu still (displayed by the year next to the dish). It is a place where some leaps of faith will be needed (from their famous eel dish and some others but so worth it) If you have the opportunity to dine here, take it! The restaurant is in Martins wife's child hood home. It has little touches that still show through (fireplace, wood beams etc). The service is of course incredible and they are attentive and very nice and willing to accommodate menu changes for preferences. 10/10

Fantastic local experience. Lucky enough to get taken here with a local native. Had the Sideria…read moretraditional lunch of salt cod omelette, fried salt cod and peppers, grilled t bone and cheese and walnuts. Cider is awesome and so is bread.

You must eat here. The food is outstanding. An eclectic menu with traditional Basque meeting…read moreinfluences from Asia, India, Latin America. All prepared with care and attention to detail. Portions are generous. Flavors are big and balanced. Just delicious, whether seafood or meat or vegetables. We had scallops in a deep seafood stock, grilled hake with Thai infused coconut milk and lobster oil, and classic Indian butter chicken. Each dish outstanding on its own, all from one kitchen is wow. Presentation is thoughtful and beautiful. Vibe is cool without trying to be cool. Feels relaxed. Fun music playing without being loud or intrusive. Staff are fun and friendly and precise in their care. And to take it all to the next level was our host, Cesar. Not just thoughtful and welcoming but his passion for each dish and the care and thought that goes into them was obvious. His joy is genuine and we appreciated him sharing details with us so we could be part of the fun. In a city with so much wonderful food, La Madame stands out because it is a sit down restaurant, serving fresh and inspired and delicious food, with care and creativity and obsessive detail and pure happiness. Make a reservation, it's worth it. And take in the joy Cesar shares with you through every dish.

We are so glad we chose this restaurant! D---DIEGO--- made us feel welcome from the moment we…read morearrived and shared the culture behind the food, which made the experience even more memorable. The food was outstanding, especially the scallop, the broth they were served in was incredible. The spicy mango margarita was one of the best cocktails we've had. Great service, amazing food and drinks, and an overall fantastic experience. Highly recommend!

This was our first dinner in San Sebastián, made reservations ahead of time, because I heard so…read moremuch about their Txuleta steak. It lived up to expectations in every way. This steak is a much older cow (8 to 18 years old) than your normal US cow (1-2 years old). It's literally aged beef all those years while grazing, working, and milking. Such an amazing flavor. This is what we came here for. 40 oz of bone in ribeye for the table. Tabla de Iberico (half portion). This was the best charcuterie we had while in Spain. 4 amazing meats, definitely start your meal with this. Jamon Iberico de Bellota - stole the show, due to eating nothing but acorns, has such a nutty taste to it. But loved the other 3 as well. Chilled Spider Crab - this is another don't miss dish, although you can get it on Pintxos here and other places, this presentation in the crab shell is great. And it was the best crab salad we had anywhere. Txuleta 44 oz Bone-in Ribeye. They don't ask how you want it, it comes beautifully rare, nice crust on the outside, only topped with some course salt. It's not the most tender steak you've eaten, but the flavor makes up for it. You actually want each bite to last a bit. The fat has truly rendered into the meat here, delicious. Had to try both cheese cakes side by side Cheesecake #1 - House made Basque cheesecake with hazelnut ice cream. This was the winner of the two for me. Maybe not as fancy as the 2nd one. Cheesecake #2 - Rafa Gorrotxategi "Gandarias" Cheesecake with butter ice cream. This had an interesting top that was an apricot caramel glaze and an almond crust. It wasn't as sweet as the first one. Pretty though. We did return a few days later for their Pintxos and everything was delicious at the bar side as well. Can't see myself coming back to San Sebastián without eating here.

Mistral Coffee & Bakery has some very good ensaimadas and is definitely worth stopping by…read more I tried a few, but my favorite was the one with the cream filling. Soft, buttery, and perfectly balanced without being overly sweet.

Narru is on the Michelin recommended list and is located in the Hotel Arbaso. Stopped in for…read morebreakfast a couple times and a late lunch. Ordered the iberian ham and tomato toast and the Narru eggs. The iberian ham was sliced thin and easy to eat. There's so many grades of jamon/ iberian ham so when you have a good one you'll know. The hollandaise on the Narru eggs was more on the cold side. Still good but I hadn't had hollandaise in Spain before, so maybe the temperature is customary. Stopped in for avocado and smoked salmon toast, artisan cheese and cured meat and iberian ham and tomato toast. The charcuterie board was loaded with meat. Big breakfast. We also stopped in for a small order of their fried chicken with mashed potatoes (on the pintxos 99 list). Delicious! There's a case of pintxos you can order from at the bar. Lots of seating, clean bathrooms and friendly staff.

This was an amazing restaurant located in the Arbaso hotel. Centrally located across from the…read moreCathedral. Note this is not in Old Town. I made a reservation for a Sunday night in the dining room. Very classy, white tablecloth type of experience. Very quiet restaurant compared to most other fare in the area. Extensive wine list + classic and creative takes on local dishes. Waitress was really polite and explained the menu well. The woman who brought out the food though for explanation spoke no English. We did the tasting menu and would 100% recommend. I believe it was about 8 courses, including a steak for the table to share.

Clearly a well established and accomplished operation…read more 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

This is definitively among the 5 best restaurants in the world. It is worth the trip to Donosti…read more 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.

I'm not letting anyone reading this in on a secret here...while San Sebastián is known for all…read moretheir Michelin Star restaurants, it's the Pintxos that will be the most memorable and really what foodies come here for. It's like a high end food festival out there, and you just bar hop from place to place eating all these wonderful Pintxos and drinking cold glasses of Txakoli - a refreshing lightly carbonated wine. Everything in Basque Country is local and they have it all. Atari Gastroteka was our first stop, and we showed up right when they opened for the first Pintxos of the day. We focused on the cold Pintxos at the counter, just pointed at whatever looked good and ate it. Some of my favorites were... The marinated red Piquillo Pepper stuffed with tuna salad on a baguette. Smoked Mackerel on tomato bread Smoked Salmon with shrimp, egg, tomato, cream cheese on a raisin walnut toast. Topped with pickled veggie relish. Man this hit every flavor profile perfectly. We needed a 2nd one of those when I went back for Round 2. Jamon with Brie, honey, on dark walnut bread. I'm pretty sure they quickly hit this with a blowtorch to get the honey to caramelize on the Brie and also scorching the bread slightly. I could keep going on....but whatever bites you get here will be fantastic. Best to go with people who enjoy sharing bites, so you can try many different things so you don't get full.

Atari was one of our favorite pintxos stops in San Sebastián. We sat outside in the open-air…read moreseating directly across from the beautiful Basilica of Saint Mary of the Chorus, and the setting couldn't have been better. Watching the square come alive in the evening while dining beneath the illuminated basilica made for a memorable experience. We ordered several pintxos to share, and every dish was excellent. The standout was the Carrillera (slow-braised beef cheek with mashed potatoes), which was incredibly tender, rich, and comforting. The Platillo de Bonito with tuna, anchovies, green peppers, and olives was fresh and full of classic Basque flavors. The Panceta (pork belly) was another highlight, perfectly crisp on the outside and meltingly tender inside. We also loved the creamy Croqueta de Jamón Ibérico, and the Bacalao Confitado con Pil Pil de Piquillos was beautifully cooked, with delicate cod and a silky piquillo pepper pil pil sauce. We couldn't resist trying the Pintxo Especial as well, and it was a great addition to the meal. The staff were warm and accommodating, helping us get a table outside and making us feel welcome throughout the evening. Inside, the restaurant has a lively, authentic Basque atmosphere, but the outdoor seating overlooking one of San Sebastián's most iconic churches makes the experience even more special. If you're looking for traditional Basque pintxos in a fantastic location, Atari is an easy recommendation. We'd happily come back on our next visit.

After getting bounced out of nearly every place in town, including Casa Cámara, they set up a table…read morefor us outside (think Goodfellas walk through the kitchen scene). We had the best waitress ever (they don't normally serve outside) and incredible seafood, grilled shrimp, crab, sole and monkfish. One of the best meals of our trip and sooo simple...would highly recommend.