3 Must‑Try Restaurants in San Sebastián You Can’t Miss

San Sebastián is nothing short of a culinary pilgrimage. With more Michelin stars per capita than almost any city on earth, it’s a place that rewards those who travel with curiosity. As your personal guide here are 3 must try restaurants in San Sebastián for an unforgettable gastronomic experiences to add to your itinerary.

Mugaritz

Where creativity becomes a full sensory journey

Located just 15 minutes from San Sebastián in Rentería, Mugaritz is a two‑Michelin‑starred temple of avant‑garde cuisine led by Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz. With a tasting menu titled “What Cannot Be Seen”, stretching over 23 dishes, guests are invited to eat with their hands, guided by a keepsake notebook and cryptic glossary printed tableside that provoke playfulness as much as flavour.

This is not fine‑dining in the traditional sense it's modern art on a plate. Expect elements like cider‑gelatine skins, fried bread with pepper emulsions, and surprising textures that challenge expectations.

If you are the kind of traveller eager to be surprised, Mugaritz will reward you with novelty, introspection, and pure culinary theatre. Reservations are essential; the tasting menu price is around €297 for the 2025 season, with a non‑refundable prepayment of about €135.

Antonio Boulevard

Friendly, polished, and perfect for culturally grounded pintxos

Sitting on the edge of the old town, just steps from La Concha bay, Antonio Boulevard brings a polished twist to traditional Basque cuisine in a relaxed setting with both indoor and terrace seating. As a sibling to the beloved Antonio Bar, this bistró blends seasonal dishes, pintxos, and modern preparations in a convivial atmosphere.

Standouts include the famed Spanish omelette (tortilla) with a sweet finish, shrimp ravioli in Martini sauce, crispy oxtail, pistachio coulant, and beautifully cooked monkfish. The staff are known for warm hospitality and creating a welcoming local experience. Pintxo lovers should come here to relish both authenticity and accessible innovation alongside good wine and attentive service.

Muka

Where fire and vegetables take centre stage

Perched at the mouth of the Urumea River, within the striking Kursaal Congress Centre, Muka is chef Juan Vargas’s vegetable‑forward restaurant, born from the culinary spirit of Mugaritz’s group. With a Nordic‑inspired interior, terrace views of the river, and an open grill where coal, smoke, ash, embers, and flame define the experience, Muka celebrates fire in all its forms.

Vargas was once head chef at Mugaritz before launching this project focused on elevating vegetables. You might taste vacuum‑cooked leeks with meat emulsion, grilled monkfish with Ezpeleta pepper butter, or delicate seasonal anchovies dressed in lemon‑garum vinaigrette served with house‑made olive oil — often described as “anchovy in Armani”. The produce is local, extremely carefully sourced, and showcased with simplicity that belies depth.

Muka offers à la carte, tasting menus, and daily specials around €60 per person ideal for an informal but thoughtful dinner with local wines.

Why These Three?

From experimentation at Mugaritz to grounded but refined pintxos at Antonio Boulevard, to the elemental intensity of Muka’s fire‑lit plates — this is a trio that spans the culinary spectrum of innovation, warmth, and locality.

So… will you taste the unseen?

Each of these restaurants invites you to explore food not just as sustenance, but as story, texture, and sensation. Let Mugaritz challenge your preconceptions, Antonio Boulevard comfort you with Basque classics elevated, and Muka surprise you with the smoky soul of vegetables and grill.

Embark on your personal Basque food adventure full of flavour, flame, and unexpected delight.

Hungry for reservations, menus, or custom travel plans? Visit our website or fill out our travel form to start planning your San Sebastián gastronomic journey today.

Let's taste the Basque spirit together.