ATELIER ETXANOBE One Michelin Star This restaurant has an unusual setting in a former glass factory in the centre of Bilbao, which has retained a few vestiges from its past. Bilbao-born chef Fernando Canales is at the helm of this culinary project, featuring an elegant and intimate gastronomic dining room where he is keen, first and foremost, to impress his guests with creative cooking based on two tasting menus (Chef Atelier and Chef Atelier Plus) and the very best raw ing

HOTEL NIZA What Eastbourne hotels could learn from Hotel Niza would fill a telephone directory. It's got the seafront location you want and the period facade that every kiss-me-quick hotel needs. The bedrooms are fresh, airy, and stylish in an untrendy way The front rooms overlook the promenade and the stunning Playa de la Concha The view to the right takes you to Parte Vieja (old town) and the harbour. It is a lovely spot to sit and watch the world go by while enjoying a gl

ANTONIO BAR This is one of the top, more modern pintxo bars with a Restaurant in San Sebastián. It's in a not-so-busy area, a couple of blocks from the Parte Vieja (old town), but it's well worth the detour. It's a great place to visit, whether alone or with friends, to socialise in a casual atmosphere. Many locals stop by to grab a bite and chat with friends before going home. They also serve one of the town's best tortillas (Spanish omelettes). They have ultra-caramelised o

ANDANZA Andanza (luck or fate in Spanish) comes from the same people behind The Rose Gastropub opposite. In its previous incarnation, the restaurant was a William Hill betting shop for over 30 years, so as everyone says to the owners, “I hope your gamble has paid off!” The chef worked formally in Basque restaurant Lurra, and the team carver was from restaurant Brindisa, so they have some of the best food. On a sunny Tuesday evening, we went when most of the customers were eat

RESTAURANTE SALTXIPI Chef Jon Ortega is at the stove grilling sensational-looking gambas, hake, monkfish, turbot and T-bone steaks. Famous for its spider crabs, which it keeps in the basement, this has become a place for trendy thirty-somethings. Look out for the Ibiza-style chill-out to be added soon. The food is traditional, so if you order turbot or red sea bream, you get that —no extras, expertly cooked. The menu is quite spider crab-based, so it should be with such a g

BAR RESTAURANT TOKI-ALAI Heading east along the coast road from Mundaka, you will find this lovely restaurant, which is situated on a beautiful little surfers’ beach. It is a reasonably large stone restaurant/bar. One glass wall provides a fantastic view of the beach. It is an excellent spot for a nice, relaxing lunch, trying a few delicious pintxos at the bar, or having a more leisurely meal in the evening. There is a very good menu del dia for €25 (weekdays) and €30 (weeke

RESTAURANTE AMA LUR This famous restaurant has been an institution for over 35 years. Just before the COVID-19 disaster, the owners decided to close after all that time. In October 2021, new owners, whose story started in Formentera with a paradise called Can Carlos, reopened Ama Lur with the same ambitions but a new Italian style. The restaurant has had a makeover and is now in stunning blue to match the Ibicenco sky and sea. From its previous yellow. On a roundabout on the

CASA JULIAN This is an unremarkable, easy-to-miss little restaurant in the little-known Tolosa, 28 km inland from San Sebastián. Once you find it and walk in, you will think you are in the wrong place. You will see an area containing several fridges and a load of crates, and you are likely to turn around and walk out again until you are greeted warmly and seated in the old-fashioned dining room, which doesn’t look like it’s changed much in a century. The steaks are cooked to

EMBER YARD During a visit in September 2021, the food was not as good as in previous visits, and in a couple of cases, it was even poor, which was disappointing. In 2025, Chef Ricardo Sapimental updated the menu, and we believe it is now back to its best, although we haven’t been there again yet. This review is from 2019 Located in the ever-busy Soho, Ember Yard serves up excellent Spanish / Italian tapas cooked over Basque charcoal grill (embers, get it?) from the people beh

RESTAURANTE KAIA-KAIPE Michelin Plate IIO In December 2019, we returned to the fishing port of Getaria and the excellent Restaurante Kaia-Kaipe. Getaria is the typical picture postcard Basque Country fishing village. The village was home to Plácido Domingo’s mother and the famous fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga. You can now visit the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa (€7 entry fee) Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa It was also home to the explorer, navigator, and mariner Juan