Hotel Iturregi

"Set atop a verdant hill 15 miles west of San Sebastián, this country retreat is a seductive reason to leave the Basque city behind. Outside, vineyards lead down past traditional Basque farmhouses and the odd grazing cow to a coast carved with dramatic rock formations and dotted with lighthouses. Indoors, the view is no less idyllic. Well-appointed public areas—filled with inviting sofas and interesting art—make you feel like you’re in the home of a friend with very good taste. The illusion continues upstairs in the hotel’s eight rooms. The Art Nouveau zinc fireplace turned bathroom sink in the Zarautz Room is a good example of the hotel’s eclectic aesthetic: intriguing antiques combined with the occasional piece of modern art. Not everything is perfect—on a recent visit, one towel heater didn’t work and the Wi-Fi connection was spotty—but the warmly attentive staff make up for any glitches. The hotel lacks a restaurant (though a restorative breakfast is served in a sunny dining room)."