They say San Sebastian has the most Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in the world. But the beauty of San Sebastian is not just in those already-accredited restaurants. It is the fact that every up and coming chef, the younger and more creative the better, have arrived and are here experimenting with new concepts every day.

Home-brewed liquor to off menu delicacies, everything is. on the table in this stylish Basque Country town. And this is where we found Matalauva.

Pintxos bar hopping is the apres-beach of San Sebastian, and most places offer complimentary glasses of wine with an order of pintxos, or maybe the other way around. As we were exploring the lively bar scene - and trying to squeeze in a few design stores before they closed as well - we were instantly captivated by the smell of a plate of food traveling across the sidewalk from a small restaurant to patrons sitting al fresco on the terrace.

We asked if we could have one of those, and they offered us two seats at a tiny bar inside, which turned out to be first class seats to all the behind-the-scene action in the kitchen. We witnessed first-hand how the two partners communicated, how they examined each plate before it left the assembly line, how finishing touches were put on both for taste and to feast the eyes, how regulars were served their usuals, whether on menu or not. They were doing things to pork belly that I never thought could be done.

The creativity, inspiration, and friendliness of this town will lift you up. San Sebastian and its restaurants are more than just F&B, it's a whole new spirit that deserves you and you deserve.

Art on the wall is by Diego Besne, the same illustrator who drew the lead-in image on the front of this card.

LOCATION

Zabaleta 17

Donostia/San Sebastián

CONTACT

https://matalauvagros.es

matalauvagros@gmail.com

+34 943 846 817

After dinner, walk the streets. Everyone will be out.

LEAD-IN IMAGE

Art by Diego Besne; first shared by Matalauva on their Instagram site; all other images by Wonder Shuffle