Arbaso: a hotel where guests can experience the essence of the Basque setting and culture
Arbaso: a hotel where guests can experience the essence of the Basque setting and culture
Just in front of the imposing Buen Pastor Cathedral in San Sebastián stands a neoclassical building that has been in existence since the nineteenth century and is now home to the Arbaso Hotel. The hotel’s name, which means “ancestor” in Basque, refers to the philosophy with which the hotel is presented: a space where the origin of history can be experienced with the five senses, a place in which guests will be able to breathe the essence of the Basque environment and culture.
Hotel employees wear uniforms created in the Basque Country by Irati Guarretxena, inspired by traditional Basque clothing and made from exclusive natural materials. The vests of Basque harrijasotzailes (stone lifters), the belts of Basque pelotaris (pelota players), and the use of materials such as rope and leather all make up part of the concept at Arbaso.
In the lobby, guests come across a site-specific piece of art created by the internationally renowned Bilbao artist Aitor Ortiz. Its name is “Muros de Luz” (“Walls of Light”) and it consists of a photograph of the black marble quarries at Markina which imitates a solid block of stone. Inside, it has a fireplace as a heat generating source, and light filters through a cut in the stone.
The hotel’s 50 rooms and suites, ranging in size from 23 m2 to 73 m2, are designed with the highest quality materials (finished traditionally) and include iconic decorative elements and the latest technology. Some also have an unusual element for a city hotel room: a working wood fireplace, turning the room into a cozy refuge.
Arbaso’s culinary space, divided into a restaurant and a bar with a terrace, is called Narru (“leather” in Basque) and it is run by chef Iñigo Peña. The restaurant is warm and elegant and features an open kitchen that is visible to diners and in which fresh, local products and refined flavors are paramount. The bar recreates the more informal experience of a txoko –a Basque gastronomic society– and acts as a meeting point amongst guests and locals who appreciate good food and architecture.
Arbaso also keeps a secret that very few people know of. The hotel has a private estate next to the Royal Golf Club of San Sebastián, called Basalore, which can be rented in its entirety for those looking for a more rural accommodation experience without missing out on the services expected of a luxury hotel. The property comprises a plot measuring 27 hectares in size and the main villa –built with exquisite taste while respecting the traditional architectural style of a typical Basque farmhouse– can sleep up to 10 guests. It´s an excellent alternative for families who wish to have the Arbaso experience in the heart of nature.
Arbaso Hotel
Calle Hondarribia 24, San Sebastián.
Tel.: +34 843 931 400
