Villa Favorita: two Michelin stars in La Concha Bay
Villa Favorita: two Michelin stars in La Concha Bay
In San Sebastián, the city of Michelin stars, two of them have been awarded to Amelia, the restaurant of the exclusive Villa Favorita Hotel. Located in the last original nineteenth-century villa of La Concha Bay, this accommodation option has 23 rooms (including three suites), of which 18 have exceptional panoramic views of the sea. The carefully designed naval decoration of the hotel (whose decorator, Rafael Sitges, has been awarded for his work renovating the establishment), the individualized and exclusive service from its staff, and –of course– the haute cuisine have all stolen the hearts of guests staying at the establishment.
The hotel has two gastronomic spaces, the Villa Favorita Bar and the Amelia Restaurant, both run by chef Paulo Airaudo. The first has an elegant indoor dining area and a terrace with views of the sea where you can enjoy exceptional breakfasts, a snack menu featuring products of utmost quality, and a wide selection of wines and cocktails. The knowledge and advice given by the service staff in relationship with the wines is quite remarkable, as the drink menu includes very interesting labels, some of which are little known.
The restaurant likewise does not fail to surprise diners with its striking decoration, which really hits the spot in tandem with the chef’s originality and marked character. Nods to pop culture and contemporary art surround diners, who take their seats on semi-circular Chesterfield sofas or at the bar being able to look straight into the open kitchen. Paulo Airaudo proposes a unique tasting menu that changes every month, based on local ingredients provided by small producers. It is a mixture of textures, smells, and consistencies based on the chef’s Italian and Argentine roots and influenced by his stays and experiences around the world – always modernized in European style.
This is how the Michelin guide describes Amelia’s culinary offerings: “creative cooking that stands out for its excellent fish and seafood, combining the essence of Basque cuisine with subtle Argentine, Italian, and Japanese touches… A single tasting menu with a choice of wine pairings and wines by the glass, featuring the best in-season ingredients.” Two well-deserved stars!
Villa Favorita
Calle Zubieta 26, San Sebastián.
Tel.: +34 843 931 111
