10 best hotels in San Sebastián for your next foodie escape
Chances are, that food bore that you know has already waxed lyrical to you about their life-affirming long weekend to San Sebastián. After all, it’s notable for having a greedy smattering of Michelin-starred restaurants – more than in Manhattan (apparently) – alongside a thriving local culture of pintxos (open sandwich) bars. Situated on the coast in the Basque region of northern Spain, it’s a melting pot of cultures too, both Spanish and Basque, also neighbouring France.
Yet despite its reputation for gourmet fine dining, San Sebastián has always lagged behind slightly on the hotel scene, with a notable lack of grand dames and five-star luxury hotels. Until recently. That all changed with the opening of the Nobu Hotel, the addition of rooms at Michelin-starred restaurant Akelarre, and the revamp of Hotel Maria Cristina.
The best hotels in San Sebastián at a glance
- Best For Couples: Nobu Hotel
- Best On A Budget: Mendi Argia
- Best Out Of Town: Arima Hotel and Spa
- Best In-House Eats: Akelarre
How we chose the best hotels in San Sebastián
We curated this list of the best hotels in San Sebastián with the discerning traveler in mind – obviously – blending stylish comfort with authentic Basque charm. Each selection was meticulously vetted for design, location, and overall experience. From sleek urban sanctuaries nestled in the heart of the Old Town to serene retreats just steps from La Concha beach, these hotels promise more than just a place to sleep.
After something else? Discover the best hotels in Mallorca, best hotels in Madrid and best hotels in Ibiza.
Ahead, our edit of the 10 best hotels in San Sebastián.
Akelarre
Look, if the purpose of your trip to San Sebastián is good food (and who’s isn’t?) then why not just stay at one of its famed triple Michelin-starred restaurants and take all the leg work out of it? After all, you can roll out of and into bed after dinner this way.
Located in the suburban hilltop village of Igeldo, Akelarre is the work of renowned chef Pedro Subijana, whose cuisine is known for being inventive and flavourful (natch). Having dreamed of adding rooms for a few years, he realised his ambitions in 2017, and Akelarre has been the hottest table plus bed in town ever since. With just 22 rooms, it’s worth booking far in advance to get a spot in this super-cool modernist enclave, which boasts amazing views of the coast too.
- Best for: Devoted gastronomes
- Address: Padre Orkolaga Ibilbidea, 56, 20008 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
- Price per night: £553
- Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Javier Tolosa EchepareHotel Arbaso
While the commercial district of any city is often a bit of a vibe-killer, the opening of the super trendy, design-led Hotel Arbaso has switched things up on that front for San Sebastián, attracting locals and visitors alike to this lesser-visited spot. Located in a protected neoclassical building overlooking the cathedral, it’s become a hub of activity, not least for its cool Narru restaurant, which specialises in local, seasonal cuisine. Rooms are on the spacious side, with the suites in particular great if you’re somebody who likes to pack the kitchen sink (read: several pairs of shoes) for their trips. Be sure to borrow one of the hotel’s electric bikes to make nipping to the beach all that easier (they’ll lend you the beach towels too – giving even more packing room for shoes…)
- Best for: Humongous suites
- Address: Hondarribia Kalea, 24, 20005 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
- Price per night: £172
- Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nobu Hotel
In many ways, it’s a match made in heaven for Nobu, the world’s best known restaurant-turned-hotel chain, and San Sebastián, one of the foodie capitals of Europe. Of course, you can expect classically cool Japanese interiors throughout, albeit with a little Basque something-something.
While not one of the city’s Michelin stars, that doesn’t mean that the namesake restaurant isn’t worth a visit – the black cod with miso alone is world-famous, and in a nod to its location, there’s a rather fabulous basque cheesecake too (yum). But the real pièce de la résistance here is the infinity rooftop pool, which looks out onto the sea.
- Best for: Glamorous couples with refined tastes
- Address: Mirakontxa Pasealekua, 32, 20007 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
- Price per night: £696
- Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Iñaki Caperochipi PhotographyVilla Favorita
Home to one of San Sebastián’s most iconic restaurants, two Michelin-starred Amelia, bagging one of the 23 rooms at Villa Favorita is a sure-fire way to tick off at least one of the city’s must-tries – in fact, even the breakfast is Michelin-approved. Brag-worthy restaurant booking aside, it's also one of the most refined and elegant buildings, with the interiors to match, with marble bathrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows and antique furniture (make sure to check out the grandfather clock in reception). It’s also right in the thick of the city’s thriving pintxos bar scene, so you can experience everything San Sebastián has to offer.
- Best for: A boutique feel in grand surroundings
- Address: Zubieta Kalea, 26, 20007 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
- Price per night: £581
- Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Inaki CaperochipiHotel de Londres y de Inglaterra
One of only a handful of the city’s grand dames, Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra transports you to a bygone era, when travel was glamorous and you didn’t have to pay for your cabin bag. Boasting perhaps the best location in the entire city, the hotel is mere footsteps from La Concha beach, with the Old Town just a picturesque five-minute walk down the seaside promenade. There’s a distinctly Wes Anderson-esque feel here, though some of the nautical-themed decor and British beach kitsch feels a tad dusty, but we can forgive everything for that impeccable location.
If you’re looking for top-notch grub, this isn’t the place (think classic burgers and chips) but with so many gourmet outlets nearby, who needs it?
- Best for: Proximity to the beach
- Address: Zubieta Kalea, 2, 20007 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
- Price per night: £195
- Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Arima Hotel and Spa
The 67-bedroom Arima Hotel and Spa is the perfect base if you want to combine your foodie adventure with a little wholesome outdoor exploring. That’s because it’s located in the leafiest neighbourhood of San Sebastián, a little way off the beaten track, which makes it ideal for dipping in and out of the action. Overlooking the Miramón Forest, it feels fairly Scandinavian in design, all minimalist decor and floor to ceiling windows.
As Spain’s first eco-hotel, it’s unsurprising that it takes its green credentials extremely seriously, utilising ingredients grown on the land for its restaurant, a natural rooftop pool that eschews chlorine in favour of more friendly bromine, and separate recycling bins in bedrooms, as well as organic homemade toiletries in the bathrooms. The hotel can lend walking boots and bikes, so there’s no excuse not to get out and explore the beautiful surroundings either. After a few days of gorging yourselves in San Sebastián’s Michelin stars, it might be just what you’re looking for.
- Best for: Getting away from the hustle and bustle
- Address: P.º de Miramón, 162, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain
- Price per night: £132
- Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mendi Argia
Mendi Agria is a real head-scratcher. Why? Because we’ve no idea how such a great boutique find could only be rated as a two-star. Once a dilapidated guest house, this hilltop bolthole was transformed by two brothers into the achingly cool space it is today, with exposed stone walls, roll-top bathtubs and a very glamorous infinity pool.
Though there are no restaurants on site, it partners with local eateries who allow their chefs to come and cook here for guests instead. Situated a mere five-minute drive from the beach, and equally as close to Ulia National Park, it’s great for travellers who want to experience everything this fabulous destination has to offer at a truly bargainous price.
- Best for: Budget-friendly option
- Address: Ulia Pasealekua, 184, 20013 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
- Price per night: £160
- Stars: ⭐⭐
Lasala Plaza
Refreshingly unfussy with a clean, modern design, Lasala Plaza is one of the more affordable spots in town, ideal for groups of friends who want to spend most of their money on eating out, not staying in. With an enviable location right in the centre of everything on La Concha Bay, it’s a hop, skip and a jump from the city’s famous smattering of pincho bars and gourmet restaurants, as well as the beaches and harbour.
While the bedrooms are pared back in their simplicity (though there are those fancy Japanese loos…) the rooftop is where the hotel pulls out all the stops, with a glamorous solarium, swimming pool and bar, perfect for some sundowners and sharing plates served up with a side of cityscape vistas.
- Best for: Girls trips
- Address: Lasala Pl., 2, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa
- Price per night: £302
- Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Villa Soro
Interiors buffs will love Villa Soro, a former summer house that has been lovingly revamped to bring it into the modern day. Balancing gorgeous original features, such as the hallway’s stained glass roof, with contemporary comforts, its slightly out of town location makes it perfect for anyone looking to combine a trip to San Sebastián with some much-needed R&R.
While it’s not got much to offer in terms of its own gastronomic offering (more quick and easy local bar snacks than gourmet feasts), it does standout for its two spa treatment rooms, a rarity in the city and clearly very much-welcomed – if you’re staying and want a massage or facial we’d definitely recommend booking in advance.
- Best for: Interiors lovers
- Address: Ategorrieta Hiribidea, 61, 20013 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
- Price per night: £160
- Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hotel Maria Cristina
Named after the Spanish queen who once visited here, the Hotel Maria Cristina lives up to its regal reputation and is a true grand dame of the scene here. As you’d expect, its interiors are glamorous and refined, but it was given a 21st century update in 2012 to mark its centenary: so think velvet tassel curtains alongside Dyson hair dryers and Byredo toiletries. As befits a hotel in foodie paradise, there’s a gourmet food shop on site, selling the local wine txakoli, charcuterie, cheese and preserves, and you can have cookery lessons in its subterranean school. Oh, and keep your eye out for celebs – it’s something of an A-list hotspot, particularly when the local film festival rolls into town.
- Best for: Being queen of the castle
- Address: República Argentina K., 4, 20004 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
- Price per night: £456
- Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
