BASQUE COUNTRY - France 2014 - page 792

Restaurants
(See “San Sebastián's Old Town” map, here .)
Bodégon Alejandro isagoodspotformodernBasquecuisineinatraditionalcellarsetting
(three-course fixed-price lunch-€20, Tue-Sun 13:00-15:30 & 20:30-22:30 except closed
Sun night, closed Mon, in Old Town on Calle Fermín Calbetón 4, tel. [phone]).
Seafood Along the Port: For seafood with a salty sailor's view, check out the
half-dozen hardworking, local-feeling restaurants that line the harbor on the way to the
aquarium. La Rampa is an upscale eatery, specializing in crab (txangurro) and lobster
dishes and seafood parillada (€30-50 for dinner, closed Tue evenings, also closed Wed
and Sun in winter, Paseo Muelle/Kaiko Pasealekua 26-27, tel. [phone],
www.restaurantelarampa.com ). Also along here, locals like Sebastián (more traditional,
closed Tue).
Picnics and Takeout
(See “San Sebastián's Old Town” map, here .)
ApicniconthebeachoratopMonteUrgullisatemptingoption.Youcanassembleabang-
up spread at the Bretxa Public Market at Plaza de Sarriegi (described earlier).
Solbes, just across the street from the Bretxa Public Market, has a reputation as the
gourmetdelistoreintheOldTown.There'saremarkablewineselectioninthebackcellar,
plus high-quality cured meats and cheeses out front. Be sure to price fruits and veggies
yourself on the scale to avoid confusion at checkout (Mon-Sat 9:00-20:30, closed Sun,
Calle Aldamar 4, tel. [phone]).
Upscale Barrenetxe hasanamazingarrayofbreads,preparedfoods,andsomeofthe
best desserts in town. In business since 1699, their somewhat formal service is justified.
There's also coffee served in a new bar section (daily 8:00-20:00, Plaza de Guipúzcoa 9,
tel. [phone]).
Breakfast
(See “San Sebastián's Old Town” map, here .)
If your hotel doesn't provide breakfast—or even if it does—consider one of these places.
The first is a traditional stand-up bar; the second is a greasy spoon.
Bar Gorriti, delightfully local, is packed with market workers and shoppers starting
their day. You'll stand at the bar and choose a hot-off-the-grill francesca jamón omelet
(fluffymini-omeletsandwichtoppedwithasliceofham)andothergoodies(€2each).This
and a good cup of coffee makes for a very Basque breakfast. By the time you get there
for breakfast, many market workers will be taking their mid-morning break (daily, break-