Local Restaurants
There are a number of superb restaurants within close vicinity of Casa Privada and fresh produce can be found in the local farmer’s markets for those who wish to dine-in.
Sinfo - Suesa – Don’t let the drab décor put you off trying the 5 Star Spanish food in this eaterie which offers Al fresco dining and a fantastic selection of wines.
Address: C/ Cantarilla Nº 30, Suesa, 39150, Cantabria Spain
Phone: +34 942 50 41 56
La Bicicleta - Hoznayo - A new generation of superb Spanish cuisine upbeat attentive service and charm housed inside a beautiful garden.
Address: La Plaza, 12, 39716 Hoznayo, Cantabria, Cantabria, Spain
Phone: +34 636 29 69 70
La Trainera - Pedreña - one of the finest fish and seafood restaurants in Cantabria with sophisticated renowned rice dishes, perched next to the Pedreña golf club with Severiano Ballesteros and Franco being amongst its "late" regulars. Both a feast for the senses and will surely pique your historical curiosity.
Address: Av. Severiano Ballesteros, 134, 39130 Pedreña, Cantabria, Spain
Phone: +34 942 50 00 07
La Mulata - Santander - a great foody experience that’s very similar to La Bombi.
Address: Calle Tetuán, s/n, 39004 Santander, Cantabria
Phone: +34 942 36 37 85
LOCAL MARKETS
For the foodies / cooks amongst us, don’t miss ‘El Mercado de la Esperanza’, a bustling wet market on three levels, offering a huge variety of fresh local produce including seafood, meat, cheese, spices and much more.
Canela en Rama - Suesa - fusion food with a Spanish twist. Indoor / outdoor and aesthetically charming
Address: Calle Calabazas, 30, 39150, Cantabria, Spain
Phone: +34 635 54 22 05
Casa Enrique - Solares - traditional Spanish and locally sourced cuisine and "template" - solid standard aesthetics. Great wine selection.
Address: Calle la Estación, 20, 39710 Solares, Cantabria
Phone: +34 942 52 00 73
La Bombi - Puerto Chico, Santander - one of most popular haunts for the up-market set seeking a fine dining experience while enjoying the traditions that Cantabria cuisine has to offer.
Address: Calle de Casimiro Sáinz, 15, 39003 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Phone: +34 942 21 30 28
El Puerto - Puerto Chico -Santander - very seasonally upbeat and the best of the best seafood, fish, eel, the delicious local "percebes", "setas" mushrooms and many other veggies.
Address: Street Cohiño, 15, 39450 San Cristobal, Cantabria
Phone : +34 942 82 36 69
La Conveniente - Santa Lucía - Santander - an eccentric, fun and very unusual proposition in this more conservative part of Spain. This large, open, wooden hall with live piano and a pulpit offers a busy and eclectic concoction of delicious foods, wines that caters to a wide variety of tastes.
Address : Street Gómez Oreña, 9, 39003 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Phone : +34 942 21 28 87
San Sebastian
San Sebastian, a 90 minute drive from Santander with breathtaking scenery, is internationally renowned for the quality of its cuisine and it has become an undeniable staple in the itinerary of food enthusiasts. Renowned for its molecular Basque cuisine, the northern Spanish city holds one of the highest number of Michelin star restaurants per square meter in the world. In addition it’s famous for its many fish restaurants, pintxos bars and fashionable designer boutiques.
RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS IN SAN SEBASTIAN
Arzak
Arzak not only offers one of San Sebastian’s best gourmet experiences but it also counts among the world’s top 50 restaurants, a ranking in which it has been present continuously since 2006. Juan Mari and his daughter Mari Arzak have additionally been awarded the Universal Basque Award and continue to strive for culinary innovation and excellence. From Tuesday to Saturday, visitors can stop by for lunch or dinner and enjoy the dishes meticulously prepared by the skilful chefs. Arzak offers both an a la carte and a 7 course tasting menu with delights such as foie gras bonbons, volcanic oysters with smoked vegetables or chocolate truffle. Adhering to the style of molecular cuisine, the presentation of the food in the restaurant is another noteworthy feature, few high end restaurants can compare to Arzak’s impeccable preparation or flavours. Arzak offers the eating experience of a lifetime and we cannot sing its praises highly enough. It comes as no surprise that Arzak continues to hold three Michelin stars.
Address: Av Alcalde Elósegui, 273, 20015 San Sebastián-Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain, +34 943 27 84 65
Akelaŕe
Akelaŕe has been awarded no less than three Michelin stars and ranks among the world’s most highly regarded restaurants. Situated high on Igueldo hill, visitors can not only enjoy outstanding dishes but also dazzling views over the Basque countryside and the ocean. The chef, Pedro Subijana, carries with him more than 50 years of experience and skilfully blends classicism and innovation. Not only are all dishes beautifully presented, but they also provide their recipients with some of the most scrumptious flavours and textures in the world. With dishes ranging from egg and caviar with cauliflower purée to foie gras and ox steaks, Akelaŕe manages to invoke a subtle play of ingredients and pays homage to its Basque heritage. The restaurant stands as a symbol for the development and success of Northern Spanish cuisine.
Address: Paseo Padre Orcolaga, 56, 20008 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain, +34 943 31 12 09
Kokotxa
Dani López, the genius behind Kokotxa, and maître Estela Velasco, provide one of the best reasons to visit San Sebastian and have contributed immensely to the elevation of Spanish cuisine to even higher spheres. The name of the restaurant refers to the morsels of meat which are acquired from the heads of certain fish and subsequently prepared in a green sauce, resulting in one of the most sumptuous Basque dishes. The skilled chef incorporates various international influences, always retaining his heritage at heart while balancing truly ingenious and novel flavours. Kokotxa creates some of the most sumptuous dishes in the city, and they do it without any pretension and a certain simplicity that will leave all visitors with fond memories and a desire to visit the restaurant again. Crowned with one Michelin star, Kokotxa serves its regional dishes with international standards.
Address: Calle del Campanario, 11, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, Spain, +34 943 42 19 04
Mugaritz
The two Michelin star Mugaritz has been called the world’s most adventurous restaurant and remains one of San Sebastian’s most prestigious. The head chef and owner Andoni Luis Aduriz learnt his profession under the likes of Ferran Adrià and has developed incredible culinary skills and a knack for extraordinary creations. The scenic restaurant, situated in a restored wooden building, offers marvellous views over the surrounding area, and serves unique dishes which range from edible stones to candy caviar. Mugaritz doesn’t have a conventional menu, instead, all their dishes are individually created and adjusted to the tastes and requirements of its guests. The restaurant has led a culinary revolution and continues to provide an eating experience that will remain in the memory of its visitors for a long time to come. Let yourself be dazzled by its 24 course menu and get a taste of some of the world’s most outstanding cooking.
Address: Aldura Aldea, 20, 20100 Errenteria, Gipuzkoa, Spain, +34 943 52 24 55
The Rioja Wine Region
In Spain, Rioja is synonymous with wine and is considered to be Spain’s Napa Valley. The denomination of origin spreads along 54.000 hectares around three different communities (La Rioja, Basque Country and Navarre).
The three principal regions of La Rioja are Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja with each area producing its own unique expression of Rioja wine. Most of the territory subjected to the Rioja Protected designation of origin is in the La Rioja region, even though their limits do not coincide exactly. There is a narrow strip in the left bank of the Ebro river lying in the southernmost part of Álava included in the La Rioja wine region, whereas the south-southwestern part of the La Rioja region is not a part of this Protected designation of origin.
Rioja Alta
Located on the western edge of the region and at higher elevations than the other areas, the Rioja Alta is known more for its "old world" style of wine. A higher elevation equates to a shorter growing season, which in turn produces brighter fruit flavours and a wine that is lighter on the palate.
Rioja Alavesa
Despite sharing a similar climate as the Alta region, the Rioja Alavesa produces wines with a fuller body and higher acidity. Vineyards in the area have a low vine density with large spacing between rows. This is due to the relatively poor conditions of the soil with the vines needing more distance from each other and less competition for the nutrients in the surrounding soil.
Rioja Baja
Unlike the more continental climate of the Alta and Alavesa, the Rioja Baja is strongly influenced by a Mediterranean climate, which makes this area the warmest and driest of the Rioja. In the summer months, drought can be a significant viticulture hazard, though since the late 1990s irrigation has been permitted. Temperatures in the summer typically reach 35 °C (95 °F). A number of the vineyards are actually located in nearby Navarra but the wine produced from those grapes belongs to the Rioja appellation. Unlike the typically pale Rioja wine, Baja wines are very deeply coloured and can be highly alcoholic with some wines at 18% alcohol by volume. They typically do not have much acidity or aroma and are generally used as blending components with wines from other parts of the Rioja.