The Best Hotels and Resorts in the World: The Gold List 2026 | Condé Nast Traveler

"Perched on the slopes of Monte Igueldo in San Sebastián, with the Bay of Biscay at its feet, Akelarre is home to one of Spain’s most iconic restaurants. Long before the hotel opened in 2017, Pedro Subijana’s kitchen had already earned three Michelin stars and a place in culinary history. Today his legacy flows into a serene five-star stay led by his daughter, Oihana: just 22 rooms, carved into the hillside, each with panoramic terraces and warm minimalist interiors that echo the raw beauty of the north. There are two restaurants: the three-Michelin-starred Akelarre, where every plate is a tribute to terroir and technique, and Espazio Oteiza, a more relaxed concept. The 8,611-square-foot wellness area, with its hydrotherapy pool, hammam, and treatments, invites deep pause. More than a hotel or a restaurant, Akelarre is a radical, slow vision of hospitality shaped by salt air, silence, and a reverence for place. From $525. —María Casbas" - CNT Editors