Eating out in Navarre and the Basque Country is a holiday-maker's dream!
The Basque Country is world renowned for its cuisine, and for good reason! Especially Navarre, with its extremely diverse microclimates, offers no end of delights for the palate, from the delicious vegetables of the Ribera region, on through the lovely vineyards of the south and middle (contiguous with the famed Rioja region), up to the flavourful meats and cheeses of the north. Some of Spain's finest artisan food producers are to be found nearby.
Labetxea country cottage is located about 40 minutes' drive away from both Pamplona, where you can sample from all the rich variety of Navarrese cuisine, and Donostia-San Sebastián, the beautiful costal town famed worldwide for its fine cuisine, with its endless and friendly pintxo (tapas) bars and Michelin-starred restaurants.
However, on your marvellous rural holiday in Spain at Casa Labetxea, you will not have to travel far to experience the pleasures of eating out in the Basque Country! Right in the village of Baraibar, about 100 yards from Casa Labetxea, is the traditional Basque steak-house Asador Galarza III, one of the best restaurants in the area. Across the road you will find Restaurante Baraibar, with excellent daily menus and typical local dishes. Only 3 km away in Lekunberri, you will find many more options, suitable for all pocketbooks.
And directly opposite Casa Labetxea is an artisan producer of fine sheep's milk cheese with its "denominación de origen" (appelation) of Idiazabal, with the added distinction of the "Artzai Gazta" (shepherds' cheese) label, as it is made from their own flock.
Some of our favourite restaurants in the area are:
In Baraibar, Lekunberri, and the Larraun Valley:
Restaurante asador Epeleta. Excellent grilled meats. Located in Lekunberri.
Venta de Mugiro - about 3 km away - Traditional and very, very good.
Hostal Ayestaran - about 3 km away - Traditional and very, very good.
Bar-restaurante Lekuonberri. Great atmosphere and very accessible.
In Pamplona:
Casa Roche: A very old bar with loads of character, specializing in superlative pintxos (tapas - the quintessential Basque finger food). Near the Plaza del Castillo
In Donostia-San Sebastián:
Cuchara de San Telmo, C/ 31 de Agosto.
Casa Nicolasa restaurant, C/ Aldamar.
Kaskazuri restaurant, vegetarian, P. de Salamanca.
El Bocado, near the Aquarium, nice views.
In Getaria:
El astillero. Very good restaurant for fish, right in the port of Getaria.
Elcano. A classic restaurant with quality you'll not soon forget!