Azurmendi***

#49 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list.

I was, of course, hyped (!!!) when I realized I was going to be dining at Azurmendi, a three Michelin starred restaurant and ranked #49 on the 2021 World’s 50 Best List. The invite came just a few days before I left for Spain, and I was over the moon that the San Sebastian Gastronomika team could make this happen for me and some other members of the international press, as well as some distinguished members of the Spanish F&B community.

Upon arrival, the location is nothing short of stunning. A stand-alone building with an annex, garden, and vineyard, Azurmendi stands alone on top of a hill. We were there for a late dinner seating (9PM!!!), but my guess is that lunch would be incredibly special. Also, in my recent past, there have been minimal opportunities to simply ‘be’ in a complete space. That is, when a restaurant and the vision of a chef can occupy a place unto themselves, I think diners are genuinely able to be fully immersed in an experience. I realize that in a city like Dubai…