2026 Guide: Restaurants with Repsol Suns in Donostia where to eat like a local with a star
San Sebastián is well known for its culinary scene. The city’s culinary scene, deeply rooted in the local area and reflective of its landscapes, is an undeniable draw for tourists. But which establishments are truly worth a visit and which aren’t? We’ve turned to the Repsol Guide 2026 to recommend authentic restaurants offering personalized service and unique dishes, worthy of one or more Repsol Suns.
Repsol Suns: a mark of quality in the hospitality industry
The Repsol Guide is atourist and gastronomic guide, a benchmark for quality in Spanish restaurants and accommodation. It was launched in Spain in 1979 and was originally called La Guía del Viajero, although it was popularly known as the Guía Campsa. It began as a publication designed to recommend and recognise the country’s best restaurants, somewhat in the style of the Michelin Guide, which had been doing this since 1926.
Over the years, it has established itself as a leading culinary guide, and the Repsol Suns are updated annually to help visitors discover the culinary offerings of each destination. The recommendations are based on regular visits by experts to restaurants and eateries to identify must-try establishments along the way.
In 2026, a total of 808 restaurants in Spain were awarded Repsol Guide Suns, 15 of which are located in San Sebastián.
The Repsol Guide distinguishes between three categories based on various criteria. The recommended establishments are therefore classified into the following categories:
–1 Sun, for restaurants offering “high-quality produce and a commitment to honest, consistent cuisine; attentive, professional service; and a thoughtfully curated wine list.”
–2 Suns, for establishments with “the maturity, potential and ambition to continue evolving; a blend of technical expertise and a commitment to sourcing the finest ingredients; as well as impeccable service and a carefully curated wine list”.
–3 Suns, for “the pinnacle of culinary excellence,” and those “restaurants that offer a unique and outstanding dining experience, where every detail, from the cuisine to the service and the atmosphere, is exceptional.”
As the Repsol Guide is a travel guide, establishments with one Sun are those you would return to and recommend to a friend, and which are worth a detour ora stop on your journey. Those with two Suns are placesworth travelling quite a few miles for to enjoy their cuisine. And those with three Suns are places that become a destination in their own right and are worth a trip made especially for the occasion.
Where to eat at Sol Repsol-awarded restaurants in San Sebastián: updated guide for 2026
When we talk about Sol Repsol establishments, we’re not referring to places where you can simply enjoy a good meal. We’re talking about restaurants where the menu goes beyond mere culinary pleasure and where a visit becomes an experience with food as the catalyst.
Visiting an establishment with a Repsol Sun guarantees a certain standard of quality and originality. That is why restaurants bearing this distinction are places where you can discover the world, in this case, the world of San Sebastián, through its cuisine. The establishments recommended here offer a chance to experience the local landscapes, the customs of the region, the local traditions, and the unique character of its people.
In 2026, San Sebastián is home to a total of 15 restaurants that have been awarded a Repsol Sun: eight with 1 Sun, five with 2 Suns, and two with 3 Suns. And whilst, naturally, the food is a priority in all of them, the customer service is just as important.
Restaurants with 1 Repsol Sun in San Sebastián
These restaurants draw on Basque culinary traditions and are a must-visit for anyone wishing to sample traditional dishes from San Sebastián’s culinary repertoire, prepared using top-quality ingredients and modern cooking techniques.
ASTELENA 1997
This restaurant, located in the Old Town, takes its place as the successor to the former Astelena in Plaza de la Constitución (a symbol of San Sebastián’s old town, run by the father of the current owner of Astelena 1997). In its two dining rooms and several private dining areas, guests can enjoy seasonal cuisine featuring the most iconic ingredients of Basque gastronomy, as well as some of its signature dishes (hake pie – Astelena’s is the city’s favourite – lamb chop, or hake in green sauce).
ESPAZIO OTEIZA AKELARRE
Pedro Subijana and the stunning setting of Akelarre. This restaurant is a must-visit for those wishing to enjoy some of the city’s most magical views, as well as to sample the New Basque Cuisine that put San Sebastián on the global gastronomic map and of which Pedro Subijana was a driving force. The Green Pepper Sea Bass, a legendary dish by the San Sebastián-born chef, can be sampled here.
GANBARA
It was at this establishment on San Jerónimo Street that the trend forbite-sized cuisine, now so popular in the city, first began. El Ganbara is synonymous with a sociable bar culture and is one of the city’s most popular pintxo bars (you only have to look at the queues that form outside at every sitting). They use only locally sourced produce, treat it with a care rarely seen elsewhere, and serve it with impeccable service. Grilled mushrooms with egg yolk are their signature dish, though any seasonal ingredient becomes a delicacy here.
ITZULI
This newly opened restaurant has been included in the Repsol Guide for 2026. It offers a cuisine based on “roots and memories”, presenting a fresh take on Basque gastronomy. It is the latest venture by renowned chef Iñigo Lavado, and the menu takes diners on a modern journey through the Basque countryside, inviting them to connect with the local environment through dishes that combine exclusive ingredients with cutting-edge techniques. Located in the Hotel Luze, the Igeldo setting only enhances the experience.
MUKA
This restaurant invites you to explore fire in all its forms. Embers dominate the space in this venue located in the Kursaal. Most of the dishes on the menu are cooked on the grill, and the flames mesmerize diners wherever they sit, particularly those enjoying the unbeatable views from the front row of the bar. For lovers of charcoal-grilled delicacies, it is a must-visit in San Sebastián.
SUKALDEAN AITOR SANTAMARIA
In the latest recommendations from the Repsol Guide, Aitor Santamaria’s restaurant has been awarded a Sun in the latest edition. His concept is unique: miniature cuisine, a blend of tradition and innovation in every dish, or ‘Euskal-sushi’. This restaurant, located in the Hotel Zenit on Calle San Martín, is the perfect place to experience cutting-edge Basque cuisine in an atmosphere that seamlessly blends traditional recipes with international avant-garde.
ZAZPI STM
Located next to the San Telmo Museum, in Plaza Zuloaga, this restaurant offers a modern take on Basque cuisine, drawing heavily on the culinary heritage of the Basque people and the surrounding region. It comprises two distinct areas. The restaurant: where you can take your time to savour Basque cuisine, with a menu featuring dishes based on seasonal produce. And the tavern: for a quicker, yet equally rewarding, journey through traditional dishes with a contemporary twist.
ZELAI TXIKI
Located at the foot of Mount Ulía in an old farmhouse for the past 30 years, it offers the perfect opportunity to experience rural life without leaving the city. Its dishes reflect the landscape that can be seen from its terrace, and the ingredients used in its dishes come from the surrounding area. They source produce from their own vegetable garden, located right there on the premises, and bake their own bread daily. Only in this way do they manage, as the owners themselves say, “to ensure that every customer experiences our culture and way of life through the quality of our ingredients and the warmth with which we welcome them.”
Restaurants with 2 Repsol Suns in San Sebastián
These establishments demonstrate a level of maturity and mastery of culinary technique that makes them well worth a visit. The finest ingredients, a commitment to evolving their menus, carefully considered food and wine pairings, and exquisite service have earned these five restaurants in San Sebastián two Repsol Suns.
CASA UROLA
This historic restaurant, located in the Old Town, was founded in 1956. It is currently run by chef Pablo Loureiro Rodil, who received the Euskadi Gastronomy Award for Best Restaurateur in 2019. In his own words, they create a modern take on traditional cuisine, in which the quality of the ingredients is enhanced by the aromas and flavors of the charcoal grill, the restaurant’s hallmark. In addition to the dining room seating 40 guests, the ground floor offers a delicious menu of hot pintxos that give a true sense of Basque gastronomy.
KOKOTXA
In terms of setting, it is unrivalled. Situated between the portico of the Basilica of Santa María and the port of San Sebastián, it is surrounded by the city’s most iconic gastronomic societies. Here, the restaurant offers cutting-edge cuisine based on local, seasonal produce, which can be paired with up to 400 wines from its cellar.
MIRADOR DE ULÍA
The views from this restaurant are spectacular. Situated on the slopes of Mount Ulía, its glass-fronted dining room and terrace offer a panoramic view of the city like no other, with La Zurriola beach in the foreground. Here, chef Rubén Trincado serves up innovative cuisine with a distinctive style. His dishes surprise diners at every course, and each one features a treasure from the Basque Country.
NARRU
Located in the heart of San Sebastián’s romantic quarter, opposite the Buen Pastor Cathedral, this restaurant celebrates seasonal produce and market-fresh cuisine. They grill seasonal fish and top-quality meats over an open flame. Furthermore, situated in the Hotel Arbaso, they also offer breakfasts to suit all tastes, and even a wide variety of dishes in their bar, where you can sample the cuisine of chef Iñigo Peña.
REKONDO
This restaurant’s wine cellar is world-renowned, and its collection is highly regarded internationally. Thousands of bottles make up this establishment’s vast treasure trove. A collection started decades ago by Txomín Rekondo, which his daughter continues to curate today, and which no lover of fine wine should miss. In its dining rooms and terraces overlooking La Concha Bay, the restaurant offers cuisine rooted in the region’s culinary heritage, prepared using state-of-the-art techniques by Iñaki Arrieta, who alternates the house specialities (always on the menu) with seasonal variations.
Restaurants with 3 Repsol Suns in San Sebastián
Restaurants awarded 3 Repsol Suns are those that form a world of their own. They offer signature, original and avant-garde cuisine; and in the case of those in San Sebastián, they embody the Basque spirit and are deeply rooted in the local area. These establishments, by taking the aforementioned values to the highest level of excellence, put San Sebastián on the global gastronomic map at a time when the city had yet to make its mark on the international stage.
AKELARRE
Signature cuisine that prioritises the quality of the ingredients above all else, set in an unrivalled setting. At this restaurant, perched atop Mount Igeldo with unbeatable views of the Cantabrian Sea, Pedro Subijana has been working his magic since 1975. Akelarre’s dishes offer unique flavours and textures, impossible to find anywhere else, which take Basque cuisine to a whole new level. In the same location is Espacio Oteiza Akelarre, also run by the San Sebastian-based chef, who has been awarded a Repsol Sun.
ARZAK
This is the only restaurant in the world that has managed to maintain the highest standards of culinary excellence for 37 years (only Arzak has managed to retain three Michelin stars for such a long time). It is the finest example of Basque cuisine, and its dishes offer a sensory journey that leaves a lasting impression on the hearts of food lovers. First with Juan Mari, the father of New Basque Cuisine, and now with Elena (in both cases, working closely with their talented team), Arzak’s cuisine draws on traditional Basque recipes and transforms them into unique dishes with a character all of their own.
Repsol recommendations in San Sebastián
In addition to the Suns, the Repsol Guide also makes recommendations. It selects restaurants and bars which, although not awarded a Sun, are mentioned in the guide as places that enhance the itinerary. Below is a list of these suggestions, so that if you come across them during your visit to San Sebastián, you won’t miss them:
- Abakando
- Agorregi
- Aitana
- Alboka Restaurante
- Amama
- Aratz
- Artean
- Asador Portuetxe
- Bodega Donostiarra
- Bodegón Alejandro
- Casa 887
- El Bistro Ondarreta
- El vaskito
- Elosta
- Gatxupa
- Geralds Bar
- Ikili
- Kai Sushi
- Kofradia Itsas Etxea
- La Taberna de Blas
- Manojo
- Saltxipi
- Topa Sukaldaria
- Usarbi Bistró
A journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media, specializing in creative storytelling and informative content. Through Go Local, she connects with the people, places, and events that matter in San Sebastián, reporting with journalistic rigor on the milestones that shape the city’s identity.