San Sebastian: Greatest Urban Beach in the World. We love this annual by-daily tri-weekly sidetrip from San Fermin and Pamplona.
You cannot visit Pamplona without taking a side trip to San Sebastian. We rent a car, and have completely lost touch with the bus crowd. For a couple of bucks, we love to throw in the back seat for the ride.
Commonly, our friends want to know about places to each in San Sebastnian, which really is a culinary capital of the world.
Here’s our short list of favorites in the parte vieja.
Gorriti (c/San Juan, corner c/Lorenzio) . All time favorite!
Best Cow Cheek You’ll Ever Eat!
Nagusia Lau (c/ Mayor / Nagusia Kalea 4)
La Cepa (c/31 de Augusto, 7)
Ganbara (c/San Jeronimo, 21). As discovered by PNM, but as popularized by Gwyneth. Mushroom w/egg yolk.
Gaztelu (c/31 de Augusto)
Txepetxa, c/5 Pescaderia (anchovies w/creamed crab).
Narrika, c/Narrika (patatas bravas)
Astelena (corner of Plaza Constitucion)
Borda Berri (Fermin Calbeton, 12). Ask for the cow cheek, anchovies.
Bar Ganbara (c/ de San Jerónimo 21). Wild mushrooms.
Txepetxa, (5 C/Pescaderia). Anchovies w/creamed crab.
Bara Case Senra, San Francisco, 32
Alona Berri (Bermingham, 24). Ccod, mushrooms w/gizzards.
Bergara (General Artexe, 8).
Just look for anything on: 31 de Augusto, Fermin Calbeton, Pescaderia, Aldamar, or San Jeronimo
Dessert — Galparsoro, 6 c/6 Mayor (chocolate chip brioche). Trust me.
Dessert –Otaegui , 30 San Martin (macaroons). Simply the best french macaroons in the region. Be careful, because you can end up spending 50 € quickly, and on dessert. Someone please tell Ari that when I offer him a macaroon, I am just being polite. He’s supposed to politely decline, instead of saying “sure I’ll take 2.”
We spent more than a few hours eating in San Sebastian and consider this the list.
Here are some of our accumulated PDFs:
San Sebastain 20 Point Escape Plan (PDF)
San Sebastian Dining Etxebarri (PDF)
San Sebastian Great-Value Vacations (PDF)
San Sebastian Rick Steve’s Basque Country (PDF)
San Sebastian Sea’s Healing Power (PDF)
Sans Sebastian Meals Worth the Price of a Plane Ticket (PDF)
Don’t miss the site http://www.todopintxos.com (English version available), for more info about suggested bars, pintxos and tapas in San Sebastian.