San Sebastian on a Monday

[lbzeats]

We will be in San Sebastian in a few weeks and have reservations at the big 3 -- Extebarri, Akelarre and Mugaritz. Any ideas for what to do on a Monday night? None of these are open on Mondays plus we might want a day of rest... favorite tapas or other thoughts welcome. We will actually be staying outside of SB near Igueldo so out of the town proper is also an option.

[PBSF]

Monday night can be difficult to find a good restaurant. I would just head down to the Parte Vieja and eat at the pinxto bars. This old part of town is packed with so many pinxto places that some will certainly be open on Monday nights. This is what makes San Sebastian such a great food city and is a good break from the 3-star restaurant circuit.

[PhilD]

Folloe PBSF's advice - this may help:
http://www.todopintxos.com/home/home....

[daimyo]

Great website! Did you have trouble identifying the individual pintxos on the bar menu? Are they pretty much only in Euskara (sp?)?

[porker]

Agree wholeheartedly with PBSF. Stayed at the Mercure on Monte Igeldo a few years back. Took the fernicular down, walked around the bay to the Parte Vieja and it was tapas heaven! IMHO, some of the best food in the world. A tapas crawl is almost obligatory.

[daimyo]

Also, there's a bunch of posts on the boards regarding the high end options as well as the pintxos req's. Are there any mid range places that one can recommend around the area as well? Something a bit more sit down style than the bars, but where one wouldn't necessarily need a reservation?

[PBSF]

For midprice, Anastasio Berri and Zugasti are both very good. I would definitely make a reservation for Friday and Saturday nights.
Many pinxtos places have a sit down section that serve a more traditional style meal. I like Alona Berri, Txepetxa, Gambarra, La Cucha de San Telmo and I believe la Cepa also. One may not need a reservation but be prepare to wait.

[lbzeats]

Thanks to all for the advice. We leave Sunday and I hope to have some good reporting to do when I return.

[phipsi102]

We are in San Sebastian currently on our honeymoon, having a blast. We have had pintxos at several places, but our favorite so far is Bernardo Etxea, in the Parte Vieja. We also had a FANTASTIC, although somewhat pricey, meal at Bodegon Alejandro tonight, which is one of Martin Berasategui's restaurants. COMPLETELY worth the money and flawless dinner. I've noticed that the pintxos bars have menus, but you don't need to use them if you're just having drinks and pintxos- just ask for a plate, fill it up, order a drink, pay and enjoy! So much fun . . .