iBAi by Paulo Airaudo San Sebastian

Fantastic meal and experience at @ibai.donostia 💫 under the new leadership of chef @paulo_airaudo and team. The place feels homie and the service is warm and caring. The food has been elevated in technique and ingredients but keeping it classic at hearth. Those meals you can’t get enough of. 🙏🫶
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🐟 grouper, fish consommé
🦪 oyster, piparra
🥔 potato, truffle, sheep’s milk cheese
🐠 kokotxa, 3 way
🦞 lobster, salpicon
🍄‍🟫 porcini, iberico jawl, egg
🦑 squid, ink
🦐 carabinero, squash blossom
🐟 fish of the day, grouper, vegetables
🥧 soufflé Less

Ibai, a revered restaurant in San Sebastián, is celebrated for its deep-rooted Basque culinary traditions. Founded by Alicio Garro, Ibai gained fame for its exceptional seasonal dishes, especially its seafood offerings like hake in green sauce and kokotxas. Alicio's dedication to selecting fresh market ingredients and his unique cooking methods earned Ibai a loyal following.

Following a brief closure, Ibai has been revitalized under the guidance of Paulo Airaudo, an Argentine chef who has earned two Michelin stars. Airaudo, deeply connected to San Sebastián, took on the task of preserving Ibai's legacy while adding his innovative flair. His team includes Nico Baron, a young Venetian chef, and Martín Flea, a seasoned sommelier with a decade of experience working with Martin Berasategui. This new leadership has successfully reinterpreted classic dishes, maintaining the essence of Ibai's original offerings while introducing contemporary touches.

Customer reviews frequently highlight Ibai's intimate, nostalgic atmosphere, often comparing it to dining at a friend's home. The service, led by Giulia Ugolini, and the expanded wine selection curated by Martín Flea, contribute to a well-rounded and enjoyable dining experience

Ibai stands out for several unique aspects, including its discreet location, limited seating, and a menu that evolves with the seasons to showcase the best available ingredients. This seasonal approach, coupled with the legacy of Alicio Garro and the innovative perspective of Paulo Airaudo, sets Ibai apart from other dining establishments in San Sebastián.

In summary, Ibai excels in preserving Basque culinary traditions while embracing contemporary influences, making it a must-visit destination for both locals and visitors to San Sebastián. The restaurant's dedication to quality, tradition, and innovation ensures a memorable dining experience that honors its storied past while looking towards the future. Less

Day 3 of our Best of Spain tour took us on a lunchtime flight from Madrid to San Sebastián. Of course we landed in plenty of time to check-in and enjoy some pintxos and a few drinks before one of the most highly anticipated meals of the tour, dinner at the legendary @ibai.donostia . Not just dinner but an exclusive opening just for us. What a privilege. This restaurant has a lot of history and having been closed for a long time there is certainly some buzz surrounding it’s reopening. Not all of it positive. To the naysayers who look online and scoff from behind their keyboards I would say please go and try for yourself. @paulo_airaudo has done an incredible job of taking on this project and keeping its traditions intact while also giving it a little spit and polish. A quote from one of my guests who is far more well dined than I will ever be:
“lbai: Italian chef, Argentinian owner, out of this world expectations, what could go wrong? Nothing. It was spectacular, nearly perfect. Highlights for me were the tuna crudo aperitivo, lobster escabeche, grilled asparagus (dinosaur sized), sole and many others. Did not disappoint and a must stop in San Sebastián.”
We will be heading back there next year around this time for my best of Spain tour 2025 so please reach out if you’d like to grab one of the seats before they all go!
What an incredible week. The Achefabroad best of Spain tour was a huge success and I honestly think that the lineup was unbeatable. 8 days, 12 amazing restaurants and 11 even more amazing gastronauts. Time to catch up properly with the posts so you can see exactly why you should be heading to all these world class restaurants. Please click the link in my bio to see what other fantastic tours we have coming up (Scandinavia, Thailand & Spain) DM me for more info.

Michelin Guide -
OAD -
W50B -
Best Chef Awards -
.
#achefabroad #itravelforfood #foodie #foodporn #foodpic #achefabroad #itravelforfood #foodtours #foodies #foodporn #foodpic #foodpics #finedining #michelindining #eats #instafoodie #michelinstar #oad #bestofspaintour #worlds50bestrestaurants #worlds50best #eater #michelinguide #grandspaintour Less

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Day 3 of our Best of Spain tour took us on a lunchtime flight from Madrid to San Sebastián. Of course we landed in plenty of time to check-in and enjoy some pintxos and a few drinks before one of the most highly anticipated meals of the tour, dinner at the legendary @ibai.donostia . Not just dinner but an exclusive opening just for us. What a privilege. This restaurant has a lot of history and having been closed for a long time there is certainly some buzz surrounding it’s reopening. Not all of it positive. To the naysayers who look online and scoff from behind their keyboards I would say please go and try for yourself. @paulo_airaudo has done an incredible job of taking on this project and keeping its traditions intact while also giving it a little spit and polish. A quote from one of my guests who is far more well dined than I will ever be:
“lbai: Italian chef, Argentinian owner, out of this world expectations, what could go wrong? Nothing. It was spectacular, nearly perfect. Highlights for me were the tuna crudo aperitivo, lobster escabeche, grilled asparagus (dinosaur sized), sole and many others. Did not disappoint and a must stop in San Sebastián.”
We will be heading back there next year around this time for my best of Spain tour 2025 so please reach out if you’d like to grab one of the seats before they all go!
What an incredible week. The Achefabroad best of Spain tour was a huge success and I honestly think that the lineup was unbeatable. 8 days, 12 amazing restaurants and 11 even more amazing gastronauts. Time to catch up properly with the posts so you can see exactly why you should be heading to all these world class restaurants. Please click the link in my bio to see what other fantastic tours we have coming up (Scandinavia, Thailand & Spain) DM me for more info.

Michelin Guide -
OAD -
W50B -
Best Chef Awards -
.
#achefabroad #itravelforfood #foodie #foodporn #foodpic #achefabroad #itravelforfood #foodtours #foodies #foodporn #foodpic #foodpics #finedining #michelindining #eats #instafoodie #michelinstar #oad #bestofspaintour #worlds50bestrestaurants #worlds50best #eater #michelinguide #grandspaintour Less