273 Avenida Alcalde Jose Elosegui, San Sebastián/Donostia, Spain.
+34 943 278 465.
Juan Mari Arzak is one of the fathers of modern Basque cuisine. In his family restaurant, he has spent 40 years refining a highly personal, experimental cuisine built on Basque traditions. Along with colleagues such as Pedro Subijana from Akelare, his influence on new Spanish cooking has been immense. Arzak’s daughter Elena is now co-chef and, even though it may have had three Michelin stars since 1989, the restaurant still offers a cutting-edge experience. If you only have a night or two in San Sebastián and you want to start to understand where modern Spanish cooking has come from, Arzak represents its heart and soul. Tasting menu €145 ($238). Other three-Michelin-star temples to try include Akelare in Igueldo (just out of San Sebastián) and Martín Berasategui in Lasarte-Oria (about 15 minutes out of town).
WebsiteSource: Qantas The Australian Way November 2007
Updated: August 2008