By Mount Anboto in Spain’s Atxondo valley, Asador Etxebarri serves dishes cooked on a bespoke wood grill. The menu changes daily and focuses on locally sourced produce.
In Spain’s Basque country, the miniscule village of Axpe has few other significant draws and most foreign visitors to Asador Etxebarri base themselves in Bilbao, some 40 minutes away by car, or incorporate a visit to the restaurant as part of a broader foodie holiday centred on San Sebastian, about an hour’s drive away. Now is a particularly good time to consider exploring San Sebastián, which is one of two European Capitals of Culture for 2016; its most notable hotel is the belle époque Hotel Maria Cristina. A visit to Bilbao at any time should include a trip to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, one of the region’s most striking landmarks.
Asador Etxebarri reservations: To book a table, prospective diners should email reservas@asadoretxebarri.com from Tuesday to Sunday between 11am and 1pm or 6pm and 8pm. The restaurant is closed throughout August and from December 24 to January 7 inclusive.