Trip to San Sebastian and France!

Chefsteppers,

I have a trip planned to San Sebastian and France and am in need of recommendations! I have reservations at Asador Etxebarre, and plan to secure reservations at Mugaritz. I have room for one more 3 Michelin starred resto in the schedule in Paris or virtually anywhere in France.

Our itinerary:

5 nights in San Sebastian

4 nights throughout the French countryside en route to Paris

5 nights in Paris

I would love suggestions for both the high end and the every day. I'm specifically interested in Cheese, Charcuterie, and Wine. In Paris: Boulangerie and Patisserie, as well. If anyone knows any great hole in the wall places, would love some recommendations. Also - Looking for unique places to stay along our drive, any regions / towns we must hit? I'm hoping to get an Airbnb and cook one of the nights in the countryside.

Didn't @Grant_Lee_Crilly_63791 spend some time in Paris? Hook it up folks!

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Comments

tshewman

I believe Grant worked with Pascal Barbot at L'astrance. May to choose from where you are headed and most on my wish list. Enjoy and please share upon your return.

m.buchanan0119

Lucky!!! I wish I had some recommendations for ya.

Matthew_Snyder_68770

We were in San Sebastián/Donostia in 2014, and it's a truly magical place. Took me the better part of an afternoon to get acclimated, because the language isn't like anything else in western Europe: lots of Ts and Xs and Gs, there's no overt correlation between many words and their Spanish counterpart ('Jatetxea' is the word for restaurant, for example) The accent is hard to pick up, it sounds like a French person raised in Spain speaking a Star Trek dialect. But it's such a cool place.

A word of note: foie gras is bar food in Donostia.

There's a 1-star place in the Old Part called Kokotxa, which I cannot recommend more highly. Of course, there is also Arzak, a couple miles outside of Gros, which is an incredible experience.

Frankly, you can't throw a ball anywhere in the Old Part without it passing by two or three outstanding places. But Atari Gastroteka (yards from Kokotxa) was a standout. Other places we went to include: Borda Berri, Bar Haizea, La Viña, Baztan, and a pastry place right at the east landing of the Kursaal bridge that I can't remember the name of. All of these places are in the Parte Vieja (old part), and it's really not that much bigger than a Costco store/parking lot footprint.

We stayed at the Hotel Parma. Not a richly appointed place, by any means. But it was right at mouth of the Urumea estuary and we had an incredible view. Aside from a cocktail at a surfer bar and the ride to Arzak, we spent our whole time in Parte Vieja, Centro and the Kontxa Pasealekua along the bay.

mike.minasian

Thanks Matt! I have actually been to San Sebastian once before, but appreciate the call outs, definitely a few places I hadn't checked out but certainly will!

dancurren

I am planning a similar trip for the fall - I'll be driving from San Sébastien to Paris via a detour through Lyon. In addition to Mugaritz, I plan on dining at Paul Bocuse and one or two more 2 or 3 star restaurants. I also plan on staying at a AirBnB with a well appointed kitchen in Lyon so I may cook my own Bresse Chicken and some other autumn wares. I may also tack on a visit to Brittany. I will be very much interested in hearing about your experiences or recommendations people may have about Lyon, Britannia or anywhere along the drive.

Cheers

tshewman

Daniel and Michael, if helpful, I can file papers and be up for adoption by the time your trips commence. :-)

mike.minasian

Sounds like great minds think alike! I was worried Lyon was too far out of the way, and or that there was too much to see and I should save it for another trip.

tangma27

ASTRANCE

tangma27

ALSO HAVE FUN MICHAEL. I WILL LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH YOU. POST PICTURES ON FB

Ellen_212162

Hi Michael! Belated response...BUT! Here are some of my favorite San Sebastián recommendations:

-Bar Goiz Argi has life-changing shrimp pintxos. I still dream about them and that, coupled with the Basque tradition of pouring beer/cider from high in the air, most of it missing the glass, was one of the highlights of my time there.

-La Mejillonera for mussels

-We had a really good dinner at Ganbara which is a tapas bar and has a restaurant in the basement too.

-Also, I think this is the list I referenced when we were there from Gabe Ulla at Eater...still good even three years old!

Well, now I'm dying to go back. Have a blast and I hope you'll any new recommendations with us coming off of your trip!