The María Cristina Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is celebrating its 110th anniversary in 2022. It is not an easy task to be the leader in luxury, good taste, and glamor for so long – but this establishment has been able to do just that. In addition, as San Sebastián is the Basque Country’s culinary capital and one of the most important cities in the world when it comes to gastronomic art, the expectations of this hotel’s guests are quite high when it comes to eating well. The lodge’s gastronomic proposal is both rich and varied and includes Dry Bar San Sebastián; The Gallery, a culinary space; the Patisserie by Luque; the Café Saigon Restaurant; the Lukas Gourmet Shop, and the Mimo Cooking School.
Perfectly integrated into the heart of the hotel, Dry Bar San Sebastián, which features an English-style tearoom that extends to the lobby and the terrace, is frequented by artists, actors, and famous local people. The bar is noted for its cocktails, designed by Javier de las Muelas, an international leader in mixed drinks.
The Gallery, the new culinary space of the María Cristina, is located in the quietest gallery of the hotel and features access to a terrace where you can enjoy a small but well-thought-out menu full of local dishes, in-season ingredients, and international influences. This space is open for lunches and dinners.
The hotel’s breakfasts, recognized as the best in the city, deserve special mention as they offer a menu full of specialties prepared fresh, among which the eggs Benedict stand out.
Afternoon tea recovers the elegance of yesteryear at the María Cristina thanks to impeccable service in the tearoom two days a week to surprise guests with the most exclusive afternoon snacks of San Sebastián.
On Sundays, to wrap up the week, the hotel offers brunch – a classic that the city has needed for a long time.
The hotel’s pastry shop shines thanks to pastry chef Daniel Luque, whose sweet delights can be tasted in the hotel itself or enjoyed at home, as they offer a custom-order dessert service.
Still within the classic and elegant atmosphere of the hotel, Café Saigon is a restaurant with spectacular views of the historic Victoria Eugenia Theater. It features an Asian menu with specialties from Mainland Southeast Asia, Japan, and Vietnam.
Lukas, the recently opened gourmet shop at the María Cristina, offers a selection of local foods and drinks of utmost quality with an impeccable collection of wines, hard-to-find spices, and kitchenware – among other products.
Last but not least, there is the Mimo cooking school, a space designed to learn how to prepare traditional local dishes and modern gastronomic delights. Mimo also organizes culinary tours, wine tastings, conferences, and team building activities – all with a gastronomic tie-in.
A review of María Cristina’s kitchen would not be complete without mentioning Chef Jesús Caballero, who is in charge of the hotel’s culinary selection – a man who is continually praised for his work in preparing banquets. His creations, featuring a menu in constant evolution, will continue to attract and surprise foodies for many more years to come.
María Cristina Hotel
Paseo República Argentina 4, San Sebastián.
Tel.: +34 943 437 600