Akelarre

It’s a familiar enough concept in France and even in England, yet for all the distinction of Spain’s high-end restaurant scene, a luxury boutique hotel devoted to a single chef is still something of a novelty here. Just west of Monte Igueldo is where you’ll find Akelarre, a stunning piece of modern architecture which adds 22 luxurious hotel rooms and a full-service spa to Pedro Subijana’s legendary restaurant.

The views of the Basque coastline are extraordinary, and they’re expertly framed by the windows of these masterful minimalist rooms and suites. Space is more than plentiful — the rooms here start out at fifty square meters, and the suites span a full hundred — and the visual spareness recalls the simplicity of Japanese design. Most rooms have massive soaking tubs placed before vast exterior windows, and the suites up the ante with plunge pools. And all come with the latest electronics, from high-end sound systems to Apple TVs.

Meanwhile the spa makes use of the calming effects of heavy stone architecture, with perhaps a whiff of Therme Vals, Peter Zumthor’s famous Swiss Alpine baths. But the main attraction, naturally, is the restaurant — partially for the space, with its endless sea views, but mostly for the cuisine of Pedro Subijana, who’s amassed three Michelin stars for his work here over the course of four decades and counting. It’s not just worth a visit, it’s worth planning a pilgrimage for.