Espazio Oteiza — Restaurant in San Sebastián

A memorable celebration in a breathtaking setting

We chose Espazio Oteiza to celebrate my wife’s birthday during our stay in San Sebastián, based on a friend’s recommendation—and we couldn’t have made a better choice.

We made our reservation several weeks in advance and requested a table with a panoramic view, given the special occasion. Upon arrival, we were immediately struck by the stunning location of the building, perched high above the Bizkaia Bay, with the sun slowly setting over the Atlantic. The architecture—both inside and out—is a tasteful balance of modern design and natural materials that blend beautifully into the surrounding landscape.

Since we arrived a bit early, we enjoyed an aperitif on the terrace—cheers with a glass of Philippe Ponard champagne in hand, soaking up the relaxing, chilled atmosphere despite the slightly cool weather. For dinner, we were seated at a wonderful panoramic table inside, which we truly appreciated—thank you again for accommodating our request.

As for the food: We began with a mouse bouche of fresh local anchovies, house-cured with excellent texture—though for my personal taste, a touch too mild in salt. The chorizo with crispy egg cream, however, was a perfectly balanced and delightful bite.

My starter was a thinly sliced Atlantic bluefin tuna belly, lightly cured and served with a wasabi ice cream. It was evident that this was not ranch-raised fish—the belly had a relatively low fat content, which points to wild catch, yet the dry-aging brought out an intense umami depth that paired harmoniously with the wasabi.

My main course—slow-cooked suckling pig with crisp skin—was exactly how it should be. The presentation was refined without being overly artistic: clean, well-thought-out plating. The meat was juicy and tender, and the skin broke like glass—perfectly executed.

For dessert, I had the panxineta with baked apple ice cream, and we were pleasantly surprised when it arrived decorated to mark my wife’s birthday, complete with a candle, even though we hadn’t specifically requested it. A thoughtful and touching gesture.

We chose a bottle of Albariño "Sin Palabras" from Rías Baixas to accompany the meal—excellent and memorable. The meal concluded with a petit four inspired by a Basque classic: a chorizo-shaped chocolate paired with a mini brioche roll—fun, clever, and delicious.

In summary: A stunning minimalist environment with a breathtaking view, attentive and genuinely warm service, and beautifully prepared dishes that are simple—perhaps even a bit too simple for some—but of impeccable quality. Prices are in line with the fine dining experience, but the memory of the evening is absolutely worth it.

Highly...

The views were great but the maitre'd was incredibly rude and snooty. We just finished a wonderful 9 course meal at Akelarre for my friend's birthday and they suggested we enjoy a coffee at Espacio Oteiza. We ask for one of the empty tables to which we are told all are reserved for hotel guests, until we relay that we were told by the restaurant to come to this space.

Upon being seated, I ordered a French 75, to which I was lectured that they only do "classic cocktails" in a condescending tone. I showed them the recipe and the French origins of this fairly common 105 year old cocktail so surprise they were able to make it.

Then, the bill came unannounced and was deposited on the table, despite us wanting to order two more rounds of drinks. So of course the bill was replaced several times. I take this as an unsubtle signal to vacate our table.

Lastly, I took some photos with my boyfriend and my friend with his girlfriend and we were lectured against taking photos of the beautiful seaside views. It's a shame, because it's a wonderful location, and we're more than happy to spend our €1100 Euro at Akelarre upstairs, I just wish the snack bar could be bothered to give us a restful experience after a carnival of food upstairs, despite our €80 bill of cocktails and coffee there.

Enjoy Akelarre, and the views from the hotel lobby, but steer clear of Espacio Oteiza and the overly judgmental maitre'd and...

Casual version of Akelarre named after the sculpture Jorge Osteiza, a friend of the founder and owner Pedro Subijana. Just 15 minutes taxi from the city and you’re in the most amazing place high up in the hill. Food was great though I think the volume was too much and for my personal point of view it was too normal. We had the tuna sashimi which was amazing. The seafood soup was probably the best thing we had. Pork steak, fish grill and tripe were fairly normal. Cheesecake was probably a mistake. In the San Sebastián city, you find plenty of...