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March 23-30, 2025

San Sebastián, Spain: Pinxtos, Rioja & More

Known for its great restaurants, San Sebastian and the surrounding Basque region are spectacular for many more reasons. Join us to experience the food and wines, the history and culture and all that they have to offer.

What You’ll Love about Your Week in San Sebastián

A bustling city skyline featuring numerous buildings alongside a vibrant harbor filled with boats and activity.

What You’ll Love about Your Week in San Sebastián

“You could make the argument that there is no better place to eat in Europe than the city of San Sebastián. There are more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita here than anywhere on Earth, but even the everyday joints are superb. The love of food, the insistence on the very best ingredients, is fundamental to the culture and to life here.” – Anthony Bourdain

We couldn’t say it any better than Anthony Bourdain, only to add that the city itself, and the surrounding seaside and countryside are beautiful, and full of interesting cultural and culinary experiences that you can’t help love. We’ll be staying in one truly gorgeous, elegant and comfortable hotel, and you’ll be able to venture out, experiencing the charms of San Sebastian. Lastly, the people in the group are an added benefit – new friends, new people to learn from, and to just enjoy!

Registered Dietitians may be eligible to earn continuing education credits pending review and approval from CDR.

Day by Day

Day 1

Sunday, March 23

Check in to the beautiful Maria Cristina Hotel and get settled, then join us for a welcome session and dinner at the nearby Restaurante Urepel Jatetxea.

Day 2

Monday, March 24

Get oriented on our walking food and culture tour of San Sebastian. Take the afternoon at your leisure before a cooking exhibition and dinner at Mimo in the Maria Cristina Hotel.

Day 3

Tuesday, March 25

Today is Rioja Day!  We’ll travel south to visit an esteemed producer.  We’ll have a traditional lunch in the town of Haro, the center of Rioja.  After a long day on the road, you’ll be free tonight to explore San Sebastian’s dining scene on your own.

Day 4

Wednesday, March 26

We’ll learn about Txakolina, the delightfully drinkable wine of Basque Country. After our tasting, we’ll enjoy a cooking demonstration and lunch with Chef Alex.  After lunch we’ll go to the charming coastal town of Getaria, where you’ll have free time before returning to San Sebastian. You’ll be on your own for dinner, but we hope you’ll join us for a late night cocktail excursion near the hotel.

Day 5

Thursday, March 27

Today we travel to Navarra to visit a small, traditional cheese producer. Following our tour and tasting, the family will host us at their home for a lunch of the region’s specialties including an extra special dessert using sheep’s milk. Upon returning to San Sebastian, you’ll have some free time to explore the city before we meet for a spectacular guided pintxos tour.

 

Day 6

Friday, March 28

We couldn’t go to Basque Country with a visit to the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum, designed by architect Frank Gehry. You’ll have plenty of time at the Museum, including a lunch at the delightful café at the Museum.

Day 7

Saturday, March 29

You’ll have options for this day! Starting in Pasaia to learn about Basque shipping or visit the Chillida Leku museum. We’ll conclude the day and our week together with a fabulous final dinner  at Muka, just over the bridge from the hotel.

Day 8

Sunday, March 30

Adiós, hasta pronto!

Your Accommodations

Photo courtesy of Hotel Maria Cristina

Hotel Maria Cristina

Luxury is the word. The Maria Cristina in San Sebastian is called the grand dame of the Basque Country, and according to Fodors, the Maria Cristina still reigns supreme as the favorite accommodation of celebrities, royalty, and the see-and-be-seen since its inception in 1912, when the Queen Regent herself became the first person to walk through its doors. This spectacular Bella Époque palace is ultra-luxury incarnate, with all the services and expectations that come with it.

View Your Accommodation

Meet the Chefs/Experts

Alex Raij
Alex Raij

Alex Raij is a first generation Argentine-American who grew up in the Midwest, attended

culinary school, and lived in Milan and the Pacific Northwest before falling in love with Basque

chef Eder Montero. Together they have opened five restaurants.

Alex and Eder set a new standard for Spanish restaurants stateside starting in 2004 with Tía Pol

(which they no longer own) and in 2007 with El Quinto Pino, named the Absolute Best Tapas by

New York Magazine. In 2008 Alex was included in Bon Appetite’s “Women Chefs: The Next

Generation,” and soon after opened Txikito, her and Eder’s singular Basque restaurant that

transports guests to this celebrated region. Txikito, which reopened post pandemic in 2022,

landed in the top 50 of the New York Times “100 best restaurants in New York City”. Their third

restaurant, La Vara, opened in 2012 and explores Jewish and Moorish legacies in Southern

Spain; that same year Alex was awarded Eater’s first Chef of the Year award. La Vara went on

to earn Michelin stars from 2015-2018, receive a glowing two-star review from The New York

Times, and was named one of the 12 most outstanding restaurants of 2013 by GQ. Most

recently in 2019 Alex and Eder opened Saint Julivert, a small fish restaurant informed by travel

and ports of call that earned a Michelin bib gourmand and Le Fooding’s Best New Bistro award

within its first year of operation.

Alex and Eder are six-time James Beard Award Semifinalists for Best Chef: New York City and

Finalists in the 2019 Outstanding Restaurateur category. The Basque Book: A Love Story in

Recipes from the Kitchen of Txikito, is Alex’s deeply personal writer’s debut inspired by home

cooking traditions of the Basque country.

Alex distinguishes herself by creating dishes that capture a sense of place without giving up a

sense of personal intimacy. What emerges are stories of connection and intersection across

landscapes and timelines that are delicious, inimitable, and authentic on all levels.

Flight information
to Travel Destination

Flight information
to Travel Destination

There are three airport options for flying to the San Sebastian Culinaria, depending upon the airline you choose. The San Sebastian (EAS) is small and just 20 km away, is the closest to the city of San Sebastian, and is a good option if you are flying on Iberia, American or British Airways. The airport in Biarritz (BIQ) is also small, about 50 km away, and offers connections to other European countries such as England, France or Germany. Bilbao (BIO) is a larger airport, 100 km away from the city, and 23 airlines fly in and out Bilbao.

Pricing & Registration

Pricing & Registration

San Sebastián, Spain: Pinxtos, Rioja & More

Please download and complete the registration form below, which includes instructions for how to submit the form and deposit to Oldways.

Prices are based on rates of exchange, taxes, and other costs as of the tour publication date. We reserve the right to correct errors and changes, and to increase program prices to cover increased costs, tariffs, and taxes received after prices are published and to reflect currency fluctuations.

  • Price per person from $5,350 per person
  • If this trip must be cancelled due to COVID-19, refunds will be issued.
Register

Optional Hotel Upgrades

Optional Hotel Upgrades

For the Hotel Maria Cristina

The Maria Cristina has offered our group several upgrades: Junior Suite, Garden Suite, River Suite, Terrace Suite

The additional cost to upgrade for the entire 7-night stay is:

  • For a Junior Suite: 1365€ for double occupancy or single occupancy (2 available)
  • For a Garden Suite: 1855€ for double occupancy and 2030€ for single occupancy (4 available)
  • For a River Suite: 3500€ for double occupancy and 3675€ for single occupancy (2 available)
  • For a Terrace Suite: 4690€ for double occupancy and 4865€ for single occupancy (4 available)

If you are interested, please contact Abby Sloane at  617-896-4875.

Trip Insurance

Medical Insurance

Oldways has procured medical and evacuation insurance for all Culinaria participants while traveling on one of our Culinarias with an Accident & Health policy from The Hartford.  Additionally, Hartford partners with International Medical Group (IMG), a leading global assistance provider, to give us 24/7 access to medical and travel assistance services anywhere in the world.  The policy also gives you as a Culinaria participant insurance for medical expenses, evacuation, and repatriation.

Since 1990, IMG has offered travel assistance services and a global network of medical providers to millions of people in nearly every country around the world. Working across time zones and in different languages, IMG’s commitment to “Being There” provides end-to-end coordinated care – so you can feel secure while traveling.

Please let us know if you need more information about the medical insurance.

Travel Insurance

While we cannot offer travel insurance for the cost of the trip or your air travel, here are three widely used travel insurance companies:

Allianz

Travelex

Travel Guard by AIG

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For More Information

For additional questions, please reach out to [email protected] or contact Abby Sloane at  617-896-4875.

Contact Us