San Sebastián: What Food-Lovers’ Dreams Are Made Of
San Sebastián is the ultimate culinary adventure. These are from my first trip there and it is hands-down my favorite food city. A coworker of mine went here and, knowing my love of food, convinced me that I had to go. After eating at Ametsa in London, I decided to bail on my itinerary and booked a flight to San Sebastián. This beach town did not disappoint!
First, to get to San Sebastián, you should fly into Bilbao and then get on the bus going to San Sebastián . For whatever reason, the bus is 1 hour, but the train was like 3-5 hours? Very weird. Regardless, the bus is cheap and efficient, which we love! You might also notice that your ticket or bus says Donostia, which is the other name for San Sebastián. It is derived from San Sebastián coming from the Ostia region of Italy, therefore, Don Ostia or Mister Ostia.
Just a heads up that I don’t have a photo of everything we ate. I was too busy eating, sorry. I put together the dishes that I had. I will include more recommendations in the “Places Mentioned” section at the end of this article.
Pimientos de Padron y Piparras (fried green peppers) from Goiz Argi.
Vieiras (scallop with ajoblanco sauce) from Casa Urola.
Pimientos de Piquillo (roasted red peppers with garlic) and Vinestral crianza from Rioja. Both from Gandarias.
Here’s our crew! I’m the one in the gingham shirt on the left. I really enjoyed the group. I don’t want to call anyone out, but we were from all over. Two of them were from Norway, two from London, two from LA, two studying abroad from the US, and me from NYC. Nine strangers speaking the same language through food, the absolute best!
Onto the txakoli (pronounced “cha-ko-lee”)!
This is the Basque region’s pride and joy wine. Going to call out in the image above that I’m not holding a wine glass. I can’t really handle alcohol too well. I heard that it’s “impossible to wake up with a hangover from txakoli, so I gave it a go… delicious!
About the txakoli, it is always poured from a height so that the bubbles stay intact.
The day after, I dropped by Churrería Santa Lucia for their chocolate churros. These are the only churros you want, a must-visit.
Continuing on this mouth-watering journey. If you can’t get a reservation at Arzak, make one at La Muralla. Following below:
1. Aperitivo
2. Cherry gazpacho, cheese ice cream, salted pickles, and anchovies
3. Merluza sobre cama de patatas y verduras (Hake on a bed of potatoes and vegetables)
4. Lamb
5. Mushroom ravioli
6. Tarta de Manzana (apple pie)
I had some time before I had to go to the airport. I remembered someone mentioning oysters. In Bilbao, I made a pitstop at El Puertito for some oysters. What a great way to end the eating!
San Sebastián lived up to the hype. I couldn’t find anything that I wanted to eat after this trip. Everything was inferior to the food on this trip. I cannot wait to go back and I absolutely will!
PLACES MENTIONED
Mimo Foods
República Argentina Kalea, 4, 20004 Donostia
Goiz Argi
Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 4, 20003 Donostia
Casa Urola
Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 20, 20003 Donostia
Grandarias
31 de Agosto Kalea, nº 23, 20003 Donostia
La Viña
31 de Agosto Kalea, 3, 20003 Donostia
Churrería Santa Lucía
Portu Kalea, 6, 20003 Donostia
Arzak
Alcalde J. Elosegi Hiribidea, 273, 20015 Donostia
La Muralla
Enbeltran Kalea, 3, 20003 Donostia
El Puertito
García Rivero Maisuaren Kalea, 48009 Bilbao