Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in San Sebastian

Martin Berasategui is the best example of the "second revolution" of Basque cuisine, following Arzak, Akelarre, and others in the mid-1970s. Martin's cooking has driven the development of imaginative and creative cuisine. He began his career in a popular restaurant in the old part of San Sebastian with his mother. Martin is also generally regarded as the best Basque pastry chef, so his desserts are of a very high standard. As happens in this kind of restaurant, the menu changes a lot, so you should consider the tasting menu, which gives an overall view of what the restaurant is serving. With three Michelin stars, this restaurant was rated as one of the "Top 100 Restaurants in the World" in Restaurant Magazine.

Restaurant Arzak is a century-old fine diner owned and run by the fourth generation of the Arzak family in San Sebastian, Spain. Chef Juan Mari Arzak, a well-known name in the gastronomic world along with his daughter and a fabulous team innovates and creates some exquisite dishes unique to this place. These dishes prepared by using fresh seasonal ingredients have roots in the traditional Basque cuisine with a personal touch by the master cook. Moreover, an excellent sommelier makes sure that every meal served here is paired with a delicious glass of wine from their rich selection. Housed in a family-home of the chef built in 1897 by his grandparents, this restaurant assures a memorable dining experience for one and all.

This is one of those classic bars you fall in love with, and is just a 10-minute walk from the town center. You should try to pop by around 8p to taste some of the delicacies along with a good Spanish wine or a txakoli (Basque white wine). The specialties are excellent, masterfully prepared pintxos (tapas). We highly recommend one called txopito, a small cuttlefish with onion that is traditional in Basque cuisine. This bar has won many awards for their expertise in seafood dishes. Service is excellent.

This is a totally renovated typical old local tavern that serves excellent traditional Basque cuisine prepared by a talented young kitchen team. The house special is cod, and theirs is some of the best around. The three-course sampler menu offers quality and variety. You can choose from a range of eight different starters, ten main courses and five delicious desserts.

Surrounded by a vast green landscape in close proximity to Errenteria, Mugaritz is a restaurant serving some ingeniously crafted dishes that ensure an unforgettable gastronomical experience. You will be awed by the unique presentation and robust flavors of their inventive food. The chefs here manage to bring something new each season that turns out to be a masterpiece in its own right, with creative titles that keep patrons guessing until their meal is served. The dishes are a great play of textures, ingredients, flavors, and colors. Time and again, dishes like Chilled Crab threads, Lemon Oyster, and foie gras sautéed with macadamias have managed to shock diners with their appearance as well as tastes. The desserts are a cherry on top after a delightful meal. A visit to this restaurant is sure to be a memorable one for it will certainly leave a lasting impression and keep you coming back for more.

The perfect place to go for pintxos (Basque tapas) before lunch or dinner; Bar La Cepa is very popular with tourists. Behind the long counter are many experienced waiters, so the service is very good and fast. This is a key feature for any place as big and busy as this one. Bullfighting posters on the walls and cured hams hanging from the ceiling make it very picturesque. Their deli items, particularly the cured ham, and their hot pintxos, such as their brocheta de champiñones y bacon (bacon and mushrooms on a skewer) are highly recommended. As for the wine, choose from the great variety of Rioja wines on display.