Elena Arzak is the chef at Arzak

Elena Arzak is the chef at Arzak, a three-star Michelin restaurant in San Sebastián

Michelin Guide restaurants in San Sebastián

San Sebastián famously boasts the most Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in Europe. The city is also home to a whole host of other restaurants that feature in the Michelin Guide - a prestigious accomplishment in and of itself. Foodies visiting the area are spoilt for choice, so we’ve provided a guide to the very best of the best of San Sebastián’s restaurants - just be sure to book in advance.

San Sebastián’s Culinary Culture

The emergence of San Sebastián as a gastronomic capital of the world is due in part to its bounteous supply of quality produce. Ideally placed to harvest both land and sea, the area’s rich supply of fresh vegetables, meat and seafood combine to create a spectacular confluence of flavour.

Thanks both to its fertility and cultural history, San Sebastiáns’ quintessentially Basque culinary heritage can still be recognised in the menus of the city’s best restaurants today.

Elkano signature lobster dish in San Sebastián

Savor the exquisite Elkano's lobster dish in San Sebastián

It’s not all about the Michelin-starred spots, however - the city’s pintxos bars and family-friendly restaurants are more than capable of satisfying the more low-key foodie. Whatever your palate prefers, you can be sure you’ll find something tasty in the Basque region’s culinary capital.

3 Michelin Star Restaurants

The highest accolade awarded by the Michelin Guide, 3 Michelin stars denotes a dining experience of a superlative standard. The opportunity to eat at a restaurant awarded 3 Michelin stars won’t come around too often - but if you’re happy to spend a little more, San Sebastián is a one-pit-stop for foodie travellers.

Michelin restaurant at San Sebastián

Achieving three Michelin stars is a world-class culinary experience

Arzak

Arzak is one of San Sebastián’s longest-serving Michelin-starred restaurants - winning its first star in 1974, the second by 1979, and the coveted third star was awarded in 1989. Located in Alto de Miracruz, the family mansion built over 100 years ago, Arzak blends the modern and historic seamlessly to create stunning food, upholding the finest standard of hospitality.

Chef Juan Mari Arzak, one of the founding fathers of the New Basque Cuisine movement, will be handing over the reins to his multi-award winning daughter, Elena, in the coming years, as she prepares to take over the illustrious family business.

Although the menu’s roots are firmly in traditional Basque cuisine, the experimental approach of Arzak’s expert chefs - there’s a kitchen onsite known as ‘the Laboratory’ with a ‘Flavour Bank’ stocked with over 1,000 ingredients - has resulted in some of the most surprising and innovative flavour combinations to be found in the region today.

Arzak signature oyster dish

Experience culinary refinement at Arzak, where fresh ingredients meet extraordinary flavors

Choose between the complete tasting menu or a smaller set menu. Open from Tuesday to Saturday, book in advance to enjoy this truly exceptional gastronomic experience.

Address | Avenida Alcalde José Elosegi 273, Donostia / San Sebastián, 20015, Spain

Martín Berasategui

Chef Martín Berasategui and his incredible team - which includes his wife Oneka Arregui - are responsible for the wild success of his eponymous 3 Michelin-starred restaurant. Born and raised in San Sebastián, Berasategui holds the most Michelin stars in Spain - an astonishing 12 have been awarded to his group - and ranks third most Michelin-decorated chef worldwide.

Panceta Iberica from Berasategui restaurant

At the Berasategui restaurant, choose between the à la carte menu or the tasting menu

At Restaurant Martín Berasategui you can opt for the à la carte or tasting menu - both boast exquisite dishes. Signatures like the caramelised millefeuille with smoked eel, foie gras, spring onion and green apple (first created in 1993) are not to be missed - but you’ll have plenty of new creations to choose from, too: the suckling lamb chop, liquid fritter, spicy carrots and fried bread is outstanding.

Chuletilla signature dish from Berasategui restaurant

Martin Berasategui's signature dish since 1993

Everything comes with delicious artisan breads and rich locally-churned butter.

It’s worth mentioning that the actual dining room is beautiful, with gorgeous interiors perfectly reflecting the understated elegance of the food, and spectacular views over San Sebastián. Open Wednesday to Sunday.

Address | Loidi 4, Lasarte - Oria, 20160, Spain

Martin Berasategui's restaurant has elegant interiors

Berasategui's exquisite interior design reflects the sophistication of its cuisine

Akelaré

Chef Pedro Subijana is known as being the other founding father of the New Basque Cuisine movement (alongside Chef Juan Mari Arzak) - and his drive to constantly evolve, pioneering new techniques and creating something radical out of the traditional has served him ever since.

Chef Pedro Subijana restaurant Akelare

Chef Pedro Subijana founding father of the New Basque Cuisine

Akelaré’s accolades include 3 Michelin stars, the third of which was awarded in 2007, and the Golden Drum of the City of San Sebastián, awarded in 2015. Based in the exceptional hotel of the same name upon Mount Igueldo, the restaurant offers versatile tasting options - Aranori and Bekarki - enabling diners to mix and match dishes from each menu.

You’ll be able to choose from the house signatures, as well as a constant influx of innovative new recipes.

Open Wednesday to Sunday, visit soon to try the new gin and tonic tartlet - trust us.

Address | Paseo del Padre Orcolaga 56, Donostia / San Sebastián, 20008, Spain

Night view of Akelare restaurant

Akelaré has 3 Michelin stars and a stunning view from Mount Igueldo

2 Michelin Star Restaurants

While achieving 3 Michelin stars is the pinnacle for any restaurateur, earning 1 or 2 stars is no mean feat either. What differentiates 1 star from 2? According to the Michelin Guide: “[2] Stars are awarded when the personality and talent of the chef are evident in their expertly crafted dishes; their food is refined and inspired.”

Dessert at Mugaritz michelin star restaurant

The two Michelin-starred restaurants serve refined dishes

We’ve picked out San Sebastián’s coveted 2-star establishments for you…

Mugaritz

By Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz’s own admission, Mugaritz is not a typical restaurant - in fact, the staff prefer not to use that designation at all.

The groundbreaking innovation of Mugaritz has marked it as a place that breaks the rules - the dishes of the tasting menu don’t follow a classic order, flavours are constantly combined in unexpected ways, and it’s shut for four months of the year to allow for research and development.

Mugaritz open kitchen in San Sebastián

Mugaritz breaks the rules with its innovative approach

Earning its second Michelin star in 2006, Mugaritz is consistently ranked in the top 10 restaurants worldwide - and you’ll see why when you go.

Expect the unexpected - one particularly memorable dish is called ‘De frente: la piel que habito’ or ‘Front on: the skin I inhabit’ – a concept in which a skin of cider gelatine is added to a face, served with fried bread and a pepper emulsion.

Open everyday except Monday, Mugaritz is the perfect choice for the foodie with a predilection for culinary transgression.

Address | Aldura Aldea 20 - Otzazulueta Baserria, Errenteria, 20100, Spain

Amelia by Paulo Airaudo

Recognised as the benchmark restaurant of La Concha Bay, Argentinian Chef Paulo Airaudo’s Amelia can be found in the Villa Favorita hotel, overlooking the beach.

As you might expect from its location, the menu features plenty of fish and seafood, combining Basque, Italian and Asian flavours to produce the exquisite results which earned them their second Michelin star in 2021.

Amelia by Paulo Airaudo signature dish

Amelia by Paulo Airaudo achieves perfect harmony with seasonal ingredients and culinary technique

The decor strikes the same balance between classic and modern as the food itself, with the chefs working before diners and even serving dishes themselves. Open from Wednesday to Saturday, expect a single tasting menu inspired by select produce from around the world, with the option of a wine pairing.

Address | Zubieta 26, Donostia / San Sebastián, 20007, Spain

1 Michelin Star Restaurants

Don’t forget about San Sebastián’s 1 Michelin star restaurants. Just because there are a preponderance of 2- and 3- Michelin starred restaurants in the area, doesn’t mean you should neglect to visit the more humbly decorated spots.

In fact, the impetus to prove themselves often leads these restaurants to produce some of the most exciting cooking around.

Michelin star restaurant Kokotxa in San Sebastián

Kokotxa has one Michelin star and offers an exciting dining experience

Kokotxa

You’ll find Kokotxa tucked away in San Sebastián’s Old Town. So-named for the traditional (and delicious) Basque dish created with either hake or cod barbels, the menu draws on classic Basque cuisine, with a contemporary twist.

Chef Daniel López cites Japan, India, and Turkey as his gastronomical influences - and he’s dedicated to creating new, vibrant fish and seafood dishes using whatever the catch of the day is.

Address | Kanpandegi 11, Donostia / San Sebastián, 20003, Spain

Alameda

Alameda is run by the three Txapartegi brothers - the grandchildren of the business’ first chef, Julia - and sits on the banks of the Bidasoa in Hondarribia.

Their ethos is based on Julia’s opinion that the shorter the distance between the earth and the stove, the better - and this family-friendly restaurant continues to draw people in with superb produce from the Bidasoa-Txingudi area.

Address | Minasoroeta 1, Hondarribia, 20280, Spain

Elkano

For foodies keen on seafood, Elkano is a must. Grilling over a wood fire is an integral part of Getaria’s gastronomic heritage - and nowhere upholds that tradition more spectacularly than Chef Aitor Arregi, whose father opened Elkano. Don’t leave without trying their legendary turbot - thank us later.

Address | Herrerieta 2, Getaria, 20808, Spain

Green Michelin Star Restaurants

The Michelin Guide introduced Green stars to recognise those restaurants dedicated to sustainable practices - upholding the highest ethical and environmental standards, working with sustainable producers and suppliers to avoid waste and reduce non-recyclable materials from their supply chain.

Michelin restaurant Greenhouse awarded with Green Star

Michelin Green Star Restaurants acknowledges sustainable and ethical practices

The dining experience at Green-starred restaurants upholds culinary excellence alongside those crucial eco credentials.

Zelai Txiki

Chef Juan Carlos Caro’s Zelai Txiki sits on the slopes of Mount Ulía, enabling diners to enjoy incredible, panoramic views of San Sebastián from its terrace.

The à la carte menu celebrates organic ingredients, harvested from the restaurant’s own vegetable garden. The dedication of Caro and his team to producing and cooking with the finest produce was recognised by the Michelin Guide with a Green star, awarded in 2023 - and we can guarantee you’ll be blown away by the quality of your meal here.

Address | Travesía del Rodil 79, Donostia / San Sebastián, 20013, Spain

Merluza al vapor from Akelare restaurant

New recipes are regularly introduced on Akelare's menu

It’s no surprise that foodies travel from all over the world to visit San Sebastián’s best restaurants - its culinary scene is unsurpassed, and you’re all but guaranteed to experience the tastiest food of your life at one of its many exemplary eateries.

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