Dispatch from Spain

Where I ate in Madrid and San Sebastián

The week before last, we flew to Madrid for a friend’s wedding. It was my first time visiting the Spanish capital, and I loved it. We saw Francisco Goya’s breathtaking Black Paintings at the Museo del Prado. We drank vermouth and sherry. And we ate at a handful of delightful restaurants and tapas bars. Wedding festivities, some of which were truly epic, took up a good portion of our three days and four nights, so we didn’t make it to the Museo Reina Sofía (home to Picasso’s Guernica), the Museo Sorolla (where there was a literal avenue-long line), or many of the dining establishments that had been recommended to us. Still, we ate and drank well, and now we have reasons to return. 

Wedding gildas.

Afterward, we drove five hours to San Sebastián and spent a few days in the seaside Basque city. I can confirm that its reputation as a gourmand’s paradise holds up. I get why people, and especially chefs, rave about its pintxos bars and fine dining. Spoiler: I went to Asador Extebarri (details, below!).

Today’s missile is different from The Angel’s previous travel content in that it’s not an extensive guide to a city I know well and love (see New York, Paris, and London) but instead, a dispatch of eating and drinking highlights from a recent trip. I realize my travel section is very Euro-centric right now… this will eventually change, I promise. :) Without further ado, here’s where I ate in Madrid and San Sebastián.