Going for our first holiday in yonks, combination of my upcoming 60th and our belated 30th Anniversary.
Plan is to fly to Bilbao mooch around then go Donostia for the remaining. Thinking about 6 days or so.
Usual tips for B&B’s, food and frolics por favor… x
It’s all about the Food 
especially the local style Pealla
Both Bilbao and San Seb are such great towns. I loved my time there.
My favourite pintxos were the Brocheta de gamba at Bar Goiz Argi:
I didn’t get there but I’ve been told Casa Julian is the place for steaks, though its out of town:
Just eat and drink your way around the old town in San Seb and then wake up and do it all over again. Repeat ad infinitum. What a place.
There was a record shop there too around 10 years ago, Beltza records, right next to the market at the edge of the old town. Not sure if it’s still there though, grumpy owner, he wouldn’t let me check Discogs prices on my phone from within the shop but I picked up a few Barrabas LPs.
A week or so after we returned home my wife found out she was pregnant, that’s how good it is 
ooh good thread timing. I’m also got a few hours in San Seb on 1st September (first time) before heading to catch Manfredas @ NOUS across the border. The beach is very famous. A very elegant city, reputedly the poshest in Spain. And will be heading straight for the pintxos obvs.
Ooh I so hyped, keep em coming… off to work now but will check back on the morrow. x
Bar Nestor is a great spot for a chuleton. And tortilla. Tiny place so booking recommended.
Gerald’s Bar - the original outpost is in Melbourne and the Donostian version is the same vibe. Local produce done simply and excellently. Great drinks.
Gandarias is a poular for pintxos - they do an amazing steak one off the hot menu - essentially a piece of meat on a piece of bread but so very good.
Ganbara is another ace pintxos spot - the fried mushrooms with an egg yolk is really good.
oh - and add Bar Gorriti to the list
re SS
+1 to Bar Nestor
I really liked Hidalgo and Casa Urola too, sadly i gather a fuego negro is now closed
Craft beer shop which does takeouts by the beach on RHS
and there was a great cafe near the harbour for churros but name escapes me
Any last minute tips, we are finally going in a few weeks, only took a year to get there!
Making me hungry those pics, i’ll have to make do with a donut from Lidl, fml 
This Tortilla in SS was off the chart amazing, Bar Antonio, get there at 18.30 as they only make two and sell out fast. Nothing like the anaemic ones you get in most places, full of roasted caramelized loveliness.
Giving this one a re-up will be there in August for a few days. Tips and tricks welcome!
It’s the start of a bit of a road trip north through France via Bordeaux, Angers and then back across by boat, so any suggestions for stop offs along the way too would be spot on. Allez!
Bilbao: Café Iruña
+34 944 23 70 21
Lamb skewers in there. And the place is very cool.
Richard Serra sculptures in the gugg. I found amazing. Imposing, almost scary and humbling.
Pintxos all the way everywhere else. Bar Nestor in San Seb was a favourite as well. I wouldn’t bother with any Michelin stuff (we were gifted a meal for an occasion). The standard of all the food everywhere is already amazing. Watch yourself with the gin and tonics, had two and got accidentally totally smashed, hotel had a million stairs and my partner had a good laugh at my expense. Enjoy.
my kind of trip!
I’d wager @del has one or two Bordeaux tips
Around 12 years ago there was a restaurant in San Seb old town with vinyl record-style placemats. Alas, can’t remember the name but wonder if it’s still there.
Can’t really help with Bordeaux itself, but we did holidays for years in the Charente Maritime area about 100km north of Bordeaux.
La Rochelle - food heaven, worth a day
Fouras - fantastic market but beach not good
Chatellion plage - personally I wouldn’t bother
Ile de Re - gorgeous but pricey, worth a day or 2
Ile d’Oleron - personally I wouldn’t bother
Marennes - home of Oyster production in west France, the Seudre estuary is very picturesque, loads of fantastic beaches in the Marennes Oleron basin too
Cote Sauvage - pine forests, gorgeous beaches, pretty much the same as you’ll find in the Arcachon area south of Bordeaux
Zoo La Palmyre - great with kids
St Palais sur Mer - my favourite, excellent market and restaurants, sheltered little beach. Perfect for young and old alike.
Royan - personally I wouldn’t bother, unless you plan on travelling up through the medoc region and getting the ferry accross.
Hey Paul. I’d be happy to point you in the direction of fun places to see/visit/eat/drink/chill in the south west of France. Let me know what you’re after and I can have a think. Feel free to DM me or I can post here. Whatever you prefer.
Hondarribia is well worth stopping at. It’s on the Spanish Basque side of the border and not on most people’s radar. Right on the coast and less busy than Donostia. In Donostia, you could see if there’s anything going on at Dabadaba, a club. I’ve had some amazing nights in there. The Spanish crowd are always brilliant. Camping Igara is usually where we go. Great brewery nearby too.
On the way up the coast I like Mimizan, a sleepy wee surf spot on the coast. Before that there’s Bayonne. If you’re there during the festival, hold on to you hat, it’s totally bonkers and goes on for 5 days. And when they talk about running with the cows, I guarantee they’re a lot closer to bulls than cows!
