Hotel of the Week: Astoria7

Foodie movie fans will be descending on Spain’s Michelin-studded San Sebastián’s later this month for its annual film festival. Where will they stay? At film-star-themed Astoria7 on the city’s shores, of course…

Style Film-star fabulous
Setting Foodie-friendly San Sebastián

Why this week? The sun is still shining over in Spain, plus you never need an excuse for a bar crawl that involves a fresh plate of pintxos at every pitstop.

Our favourite bits Interiors are sleek and bright, with retro furniture and pistachio-, cloud- or coffee-coloured walls. Of all the film-star rooms, Alfred Hitchcock’s wins our vote: it’s on the top floor with its own ceiling-stowed projector and screen, as well as a separate lounge, large balcony and a cinema library. We also love the hotel’s proximity to San Sebastián’s beach, but also Bilbao’s art galleries and Biarritz’s surf.

Mr & Mrs Smith say ‘Inspired by the half-century-old San Sebastián International Film Festival, the minds behind the Astoria7 have designed each of the boutique hotel’s 102 rooms as a tribute to moviemakers from across the globe.

Eager to make the most of the sun once we’ve arrived, we grab some towels and take the charming 10-minute walk up to San Sebastian’s beach, a golden crescent of sand lapped by waters calmed by the bay. I’ve always liked urban beaches – partly because of the sexy sparky atmosphere created by flirting teenage smokers and pumped-up poseurs, but mostly because you know you’re never more than five minutes from a cold glass of wine – and here we are at one of Europe’s best takes on this type of seaside.

After hours of idling in the warm shallows, we nip back to the hotel where Mrs Smith washes the salt from her hair with the Omnisens toiletries before indulging in a bubbly little Jacuzzi. Scrubbed, sun-salved and Mrs Smith’s evening frock donned, we are ready to venture out into the old town, and into the delightful warren of pedestrianised streets that comprise San Sebastián’s culinary centre…’

Read the full anonymous review of Astoria7