Bilbao - San Sebastian 4 days trip restaurants suggestions

Regional Dining Discussions Italy, Spain, Portugal
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Hi first timer in Basque region of Spain open for any suggestions to the current plan made. Thanks a lot in advance!

Day 1 (Bilbao)
Lunch: Horma Ondo (Alternatives: Amaren) not sure which would be a better choice for txuleta
Dinner (Pintxos): Gure Toki + La Olla de la Plaza Nueva

Day 2 (Coastal / Getaria / San Sebastián):
Lunch: Kaia Kaipe (Alternatives: Asador Etxebarri bar, Elkano, Elkano Txiki, Bodega Katxiña Txakolina)
Dinner (Pintxos): La Cuchara de San Telmo + Borda Berri + Ganbara

Day 3 (San Sebastián):
Lunch: Narru
Dinner: Rekondo

Day 4 (San Sebastián - Bilbao):
Breakfast: TrikuHarri Taberna + La Viña
Lunch: laia erretegia (Alternatives: Casa Julián, Casa Nicolás)

Due to a short preparation time in advance a lot of places seem to be fully booked. :smiling_face_with_tear:
Would really like to hear from any suggestions especially for txuleta.

Couldn’t make reservation on Casa Julian, Asador Etxebarri, Casa Nicolas and Elkano. I’ve read some people went directly to Etxebarri a day ahead and was able to get an opening due to cancellation, also some posts mention they open a Pintxos Bar for walkin for Sunday lunch, not sure if it’s worth to try our luck there or chances are pretty small.

For Casa Julian/Casa Nicolas/laia erretegia love to hear how those 3 compares (first two seemed to be booked up already but we’re planning to ask a day ahead when drove by)
Also appreciate any thoughts on horma ondo vs amaren for txuleta mainly.

Thanks!

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have seen some great previous posts from @Maribel already, Thanks for sharing!

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@jameslo

Day 1 (Bilbao)

Lunch: Will you have a car and plenty of time to reach Horma Ondo in the countryside? If not, stay in the city and have your txuleta lunch at Amaren. For evening pintxos go to the Plaza Nueva in the Old Quarter and have your pintxos at Gure Toki (crab in tempura), Café Bar Bilbao (chistorra) or Sorginzulo (solomillo con foie) or Víctor Montes (the classic on the square) and afterwards at Santa Maria 10, go to Gatz for steak tartare and see what’s on offer at the bar at Irrinzi at Santa Maria 8 in the Siete Calles area of the Old Quarter. For anchovies and a vermouth go to Taberna Basaras at Pelota 10. If you want chorizo, the Bar Bacaicoa on the Plaza Miguel de Unamuno is known for its “chorizos del infierno". These are my Old Quarter favorites.

Day 2 (Coastal/Getaria/SS)

Lunch overlooking the water on the terrace at Kaia Kaipe is a must with advance reservations. Elkano Txiki is really tiny (hence the name) and I would instead have a pintxo aperitivo and a txakolí at TX (the really nice husband/wife owners of the txakolí Txomín Etxaniz winery up in the hills. Bodega Katxiña is again up in the hills beyond Getaria and better for romantic evening dining (in summer they do weddings).

Dinner (pintxos) at La Cuchara de San Telmo (get there before they open to be at the head of the line), Borda Berri. You’ll find an equally long line at Ganbara, so choose which one you’re willing to stand in line for, either La Cuchara or Ganbara. A “must” for me not on your list is Casa Urola (check the hours, they’re very strict)

Day 3 (SS)

Lunch: Narru for txuleta or grilled fish, very simply prepared

Dinner: Rekondo for one of Europe’s most comprehensive wine lists and great views from its terrace

Day 4 (SS-Bilbao)

Breakfast at La Viña in the Old Quarter for cheesecake?? They don´t open until 10:30 am and I don’t know when the first cheesecakes come out.

TrikuHarri would only be if you’re actually staying in Antiguo–quite a walk, 30 minutes, from the Old Quarter. When we stay in Antiguo we have breakfast at Somos Coffee & Bakery.

Lunch in Hondarribia: Laia Erretegia up in the hills, which has made the number 3 spot on the World’s Best Steak Restaurants.

You won’t have a chance of a last minute reservation for upstairs dining at Asador Etxebarri. We’ve had the vaulted txuleta downstairs at the original bar open only on Sundays, but it’s first come, first served so you MUST be there when the bar opens at 11, if not before to be one of the first in line.

As to how Casa Julián and Casa Nicolás in Tolosa compare, for me they are simply both equally, but the former has more international tourist recognition. Laia Erretegia would give you the chance to visit absolutely lovely Hondarribia and have an aperitivo pintxos before lunch at Gran Sol in the fishermen’s quarter.