San Sebastián Premium: hotels, restaurants, wineries, shops, and much more in the guide to discover the culinary capital of the Basque Country
San Sebastián Premium: hotels, restaurants, wineries, shops, and much more in the guide to discover the culinary capital of the Basque Country
The sentence that best defines this city is surely “Donostia, bat bakarra munduan” (“There is only one San Sebastián and it is unique in all the world” in Basque). It is from the March of San Sebastián and chanted every January 20 by the passionate residents of this magnificent place. Just four words to describe the city’s uniqueness: it hosts an international film festival every year, welcomes jazz stars in the summer, and boasts art and culture in the streets and museums. Traditional and avant-garde cuisines coexist here, with the municipality having the highest concentration of Michelin Stars in the world. Due largely to the luster of those stars that make up San Sebastián’s gastronomic constellation, the city has managed to become one of the “must-visit” destinations of the most demanding travelers.
San Sebastián Premium was created to help guide those visitors through the area’s starry skies and for all other aspects related to their trip: it’s a group of companies brought together by San Sebastián Turismoa, which offers the best experiences in the area in six different sectors: hotels, restaurants, resources, shops, transport, and agencies.
San Sebastián Premium offers different types of accommodation through its platform: five-star hotels, such as the classic María Cristina (where Hollywood stars who attend the film festival spend the night) and the contemporary Akelarre (which stands out for its exceptional architecture and avant-garde design, in addition to boasting a restaurant with three Michelin Stars); the four-star Lasala Plaza Hotel, which hits the spot with travelers thanks to its rooftop terrace with a pool; as well as tourist apartments by FeelFree Rentals, all of which are located in emblematic areas of the city and noted for their uniqueness.
Regarding good eating, the club includes –as expected– the three great culinary temples that guard the three Michelin Stars: Arzak, Akelarre, and Martín Berasategui. Arzak has boasted three stars since 1989 and that is no surprise: their cuisine is alchemy, with new organoleptic variations being researched, created, and developed in their kitchen. Their vast array of flavors is based on the thousand ingredients with which they work permanently. The Akelarre restaurant, a pioneer of New Basque Cuisine, is headed up by Pedro Subijana and has had three stars since 2007. The Martín Berasategui restaurant is the flagship of the establishments run by master chef Martín Berasategui, the man with 12 Michelin Stars in total. This eatery provides an experience that is initially unimaginable and subsequently unforgettable. San Sebastián Premium would also like to highlight the Mugaritz restaurant, with two Michelin Stars, in which chef Andoni Luis Aduriz and his team intertwine textures, stories, flavors, and emotions; as well as Rekondo, with a more traditional culinary offer, whose selection of wines is considered one of the most complete in the world.
The resources section includes special, custom, and unique experiences that can be undertaken at emblematic sites like museums and txakoli wineries, as well as boat trips. The museums recommended by the guide include the Aquarium, with its 32 spectacular wildlife spaces, Chillida-Leku, the museum dedicated to the work of sculptor Eduardo Chillida, and Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa, which features 4,500 high-fashion pieces by the great couturier Balenciaga. The list of txakoli wineries consists of Katxiña, which also has a magnificent restaurant specializing in grilled fish and meats, and Hiruzta, with its wine bar and outstanding roast house. Navegavela and Ostarte Sailing are the two companies that organize trips to sea. The first has a varied fleet of motor and sailing boats that can be rented with or without a captain. Ostarte has two historic wooden sailboats: the Lucretia (1927) and the Tanit (1961).
A trip to San Sebastián wouldn’t be complete without a day of shopping. Taking home a souvenir from the city –be it clothing, jewelry, an accessory, perfume or food– is a must for many travelers. To this end, the premium club brings together nearby firms with much history and big identities on the local shopping scene: Minimil is a women’s fashion brand that has been around for more than half a century and captures the character of Basque culture in its garments. Founded in 1935, Casa Munoa is a leader in jewelry that is managed today by the third generation of the same family. Skilled leathercrafters since 1948, Box’s fashion universe offers an extensive collection of accessories with timeless style. Since 1908, the master perfumers at Benegas have been seducing visitors with a careful selection of the best brands in the world as well as their own creations, like the Benegas and SSirimiri fragrances.
To be able to travel from one resource to another with utmost comfort and distinction, the club uses the services of Talur, a transportation company specializing in luxury vehicles with drivers. And for those who love an exclusive and fully customized trip, it is recommended to check with one of the specialized travel agencies – the best experts on the destination: Tenedor Tours, which organizes outings, corporate retreats, workshops, and exclusive-access visits; and Basque Destination, dedicated to designing and preparing à la carte outings and trips. These travel experts will ensure there are no loose ends in the wonderful journey through the starry constellations of San Sebastián.
San Sebastián Premium
