Hotel Akelarre sits high on the cliffs west of San Sebastián, overlooking the Bay of Biscay. Created by chef Pedro Subijana as part of his wider culinary estate, the hotel is closely tied to one of the defining names in modern Basque gastronomy. Floor-to-ceiling windows open the building out to uninterrupted sea views, while the surrounding hills create a sense of distance from the city. The stay is shaped by the restaurant, with the hotel offering a calm, architectural space to step back between meals.
Hotel Akelarre
Hotel Akelarre
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Overview
Hydrotherapy
Sauna & hammam
Spa treatments
Fine dining
Private terraces
A Handpicked Hotel
From £293
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Hotel Akelarre
The restaurant naturally shapes the stay. The meal isn’t something you head out for — it becomes the centre of everything. You arrive, settle in, and the anticipation builds quietly. Then dinner unfolds slowly, with the Atlantic always in view, and nothing else competing for your attention. Afterwards, you don’t leave the experience behind — you step back into it, whether that’s a walk on the terrace or simply sitting with the view a little longer. It all feels connected, without ever needing to say so.
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Place
Above San Sebastián
Akelarre sits on Monte Igueldo, the wooded hillside above San Sebastián’s western coastline. Around fifteen minutes from the city centre, it feels quietly removed, with open views across the Atlantic and the Basque hills rising behind. Beaches, coastal paths and the city’s pintxos bars are all within easy reach.
Table
Akelarre Restaurant by Pedro Subijana
Dining centres on the three-Michelin-starred Akelarre Restaurant, led by Pedro Subijana. Menus reinterpret Basque culinary traditions with precision and a lightness of touch, drawing on seafood from the Cantabrian coast and seasonal produce from the region. The dining room looks directly out to the ocean, where tasting menus unfold at an unhurried pace, each course building quietly on the last.
Spa
A quiet place to reset
The spa sits just below the hotel, with wide windows looking out across the Atlantic. Facilities include hydrotherapy pools, a sauna, hammam and treatment rooms for massage and restorative body therapies. The design is calm and minimal, allowing the view to lead. After a long lunch or time in the city, it offers a quiet place to reset.
Sleep
Rooms & Suites
The hotel offers just over twenty rooms and suites, each oriented toward the sea. Floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces make the most of the coastal views, while interiors are kept minimal and carefully balanced, with pale wood, stone and soft textiles reflecting the landscape outside.
Additional Information & Cancellation
Additional Information
Getting there
The hotel is located on Monte Igueldo, around 15 minutes from central San Sebastián. The nearest airport is San Sebastián Airport (approx. 30 minutes), with Bilbao Airport around 1 hour away. A car or taxi transfer is recommended for ease of access.
Child policy
The hotel is best suited to adults. Children may be accommodated in certain room categories on request, though the overall atmosphere and dining experience are geared toward a quieter, adult stay.
Things to do
Dining at Akelarre is the central experience, but time can also be spent exploring nearby beaches, coastal walking paths and the city of San Sebastián, known for its pintxos culture and relaxed seaside atmosphere. Wine experiences and cultural visits can also be arranged in the wider Basque region.
Experiences can be arranged through your Wellness Traveller concierge.
Points of interest
San Sebastián (approx. 15 minutes) offers beaches, pintxos bars and cultural landmarks, while Monte Igueldo provides coastal walking routes and elevated views over the Bay of Biscay. Nearby beaches such as Ondarreta and La Concha are easily accessible, and the wider Basque region offers vineyards, traditional villages and coastal drives.
Sustainability
The hotel’s design maximises natural light and orientation, reducing reliance on artificial lighting while framing the surrounding landscape. Its relatively small scale and integration into the hillside help minimise visual impact, with a focus on quality over volume in both hospitality and dining.
Cancellation
Your stay is booked with Wellness Traveller. Cancellation and amendment terms vary depending on the room, rate and dates you choose. The terms that apply will be provided before you confirm your booking and detailed on your booking confirmation.
For refundable bookings, Wellness Traveller requires an additional 24 hours' notice before the hotel’s cancellation deadlines, allowing us time to process the cancellation on your behalf.
If your plans change, please email hello@wellnesstraveller.co, quoting your booking reference. Your cancellation will take effect from the date we receive your written request.
A £25 administration fee per booking applies where you ask us to make a change or cancellation, in addition to any cancellation charges that apply to your booking. This fee does not apply where you have a statutory right to cancel without charge.
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