About to travel to the north of Spain after Christmas? There’s no better plan than celebrating the new year in San Sebastian!
Wondering where to eat dinner on New Year’s Eve and where to head on New Year’s Day? Whether your preference is loads of glitter and bubbly, or a cozy dinner with some amazing local food, there’s something for everyone in San Sebastian.
Make sure to plan your special night well in advance and step into the new year with our recommendations for celebrating New Year’s in San Sebastian.
New Year’s Eve dinner
Good news: one of our favorite new places in San Sebastian, Rita, keeps their doors open on New Year’s Eve. At Rita, delicious Spanish and Basque flavors take on a modern touch, and their New Year’s Eve’s menu guarantees that your night will be a success.
Ending the year with some fine dining doesn’t sound too bad either, right? And there’s no better place for that than San Sebastian, a city full of famous chefs and Michelin-starred restaurants.
Feel like dancing?
Feel like dancing? So do we! There are plenty of great after-dinner plans on New Year’s Eve in San Sebastian, such as Be Club with its great cocktails, or classic nightclub Victoria Cafe.
One of greatest events is the futuristic Cripta party at Convent Garden. With multiple cocktails included in the ticket price and some other specialties, it is one of the best deals in town.
No matter where you end up, be sure to toast with your co-fiesteros with a glass of cava—or as a local option, try txakoli, a slightly sparkling Basque white wine.
Relax on New Year’s Day
After a night of celebrations, a relaxing New Year’s Day is well-deserved. We’ll kick off the new year in the best way we know: with great food.
Prefer a classy dinner with a sea view? La Brasserie Mari Galant at the Hotel de Londres won’t let you down with its carefully planned menu. After dinner, the best way to digest all the food is to take a walk on the iconic La Concha Promenade nearby.
For traditional Basque food and never-failing quality, try Zumeltzegi. On their menu, you’ll find local specialties such as jamón ibérico, spider crab and monkfish or the famous txuleta (t-bone steak) if you’re a meat lover.
Don’t forget the traditional grapes
It’s not only a legend—eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s is an essential tradition for many Spaniards, and without it, the evening is not complete! So, if you want to take part of this somewhat comical but very local ritual, make sure to buy those uvas.
We should warn you, though, swallowing one grape with every stroke of the clock is not an easy task. Most locals have been practicing all their lives but still end up shoving their mouths (too) full of grapes. But if nothing else, you’ll end up starting the year with a good laugh!
Update notice: This article was updated on March 3, 2023.