Akelarre
"What's the deal with this place? Who's here?Spain's Basque Country already attracts foodies the world over like a magnet. And here at Akelarre, just 15 minutes outside the center of the gastronomic mecca of San Sebastián, you'll find one of their flagpoles. The new hotel is an offshoot of Pedro Subijana's famed restaurant of the same name, which accounts for three of the region's 28 Michelin stars. How were the rooms? Anything notable?All 22 rooms are spacious and modern, conceived by the Madrid-based architectural firm Mecanismo. Rather than the belle-époque grandeur found at most hotels in this region, here the focus is on simple elegance embodied in stone walls, oak floors, and earth tones. Those views of the sea through floor-to-ceiling windows aren't so bad, either. Did you order room service, and if so, did it jam, or tank?We're talking about Pedro Subijana here, the man behind the world-famous restaurant that shares its name (and location) with this new hotel, so you can bet they're not skimping on room service. Local chistorra sausages paired with creamy truffled eggs en cocotte for breakfast? Yes, please. How was the service? Anyone you want to shout out?The rooms are delightful, the spa is superb, but the real perfection is to be found in the food here, naturally. And that extends to the dining staff, who have encyclopedic knowledge of what's on the menu and can answer any question about every unfamiliar ingredient you encounter. Quick: tell us about something (or a few things) that you really loved.An almost 9,000-square-foot spa is immaculately decorated—all dark gray granite, and soothing natural hues—and embodies the calm to be found in the countryside surrounding San Sebastián. Settle in for a soak in the hydrotherapy pool, or book one of the double rooms for a couples' massage. Bottom line: Would you book this place again?Not all crossovers work. But here, the attention to detail and knack for innovation found in Pedro Subijana's world-renowned Akelarre restaurant are seamlessly transferred to a hotel setting, to stunning results." - CNT Editors
