Local restaurants
Take a big appetite and an empty credit card to one of the multiple Michelin-starred restaurants in the town. Arzak on Avenida Alcalde Elosegui (+34 (0)94 327 8465; www.arzak.info), Akelarre on Paseo Padre Orcolaga (+34 (0)94 331 1209; www.akelarre.net) and Martin Berasategui at 4 Loidi Kalea (+34 (0)94 336 6471; www.martinberasategui.com) have three stars each. Slightly more wallet-friendly, Brankaon Paseo Eduardo Chillida (+34 (0)94 331 7096) serves up Basque cuisine and some interesting takes on seafood (such as anchovies with strawberries). Juanito Kojua at 14 Puerto (+34 (0)94 342 0180; www.juanitokojua.com) is a simple and small seafood restaurant in the Old Town. If you don’t mind eating standing up, or being jostled by a lively crowd of discerning diners, head to La Cuchera de San Telmo (+34 (0)94 343 5446) at 28 Calle 31 de Agosto for some of San Sebastian’s finest pintxos. Gloriously succulent scallops, caramelised foie gras chunks and braised pig snout are just a few of the treats on offer. Kokotxa (+34 (0)94 342 1904; www.restaurantekokotxa.com) at 11 Campanario serves masterful, artistic food – book well in advance to secure your seats. Sample the eponymous kokotxa (cod or hake cheeks) while you’re here. Bar Nestor (+34 (0)94 342 4873) at Donostia serves the best tortilla in town.
Local bars
El Gavilan on Avenida Sancho El Sabio (+34 (0)94 346 1998) is a cosy bar directly opposite Astoria7 – open for coffee in the daytime as well as something a little stronger at night. For perfect pintxos, pull up a stool at Iturrioz on Aldamar (+34 (0)94 342 5884) and brave the raw sea urchin served in its spiky shell. For DJ sets and a cool crowd, head to Udaberri on Calle Larramendi (+34 (0)94 345 1538).
Local cafés
Café de la Playa (+34 (0)94 332 6521) on Zurriola beach is popular with surfers. Savour a cake and café cortado at Unión Artesana (+34 (0)94 342 2292).
Worth getting out of bed for
Switch lazy days in your suite for lazing on La Concha beach, a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Or spring into action and climb up Mount Igueldo for bay-sweeping views, day or night (you can always cheat and take the cable car). Explore the coastline peppered with fishing villages in the province of Guipuzcoa – stop off at Zumaia, Guetaria and Hondarribia.
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A packet of local almond cookies and a bottle of crianza
From the Guestbook…
Having landed in glorious Biarritz afternoon sunshine, we were greeted by a huge smile belonging to our transfer driver. The hotel organised this for us, and how lovely to cruise a...
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