Elkano is located in Getaria, on the Bay of Biscay, a 45-minute drive from San Sebastian, but it is absolutely not to be missed. Known for its turbot, grilled whole outside the restaurant, Elkano is the holy grail of seafood experiences. The turbot and kokotxas prepared two ways — one plain grilled so you taste the fresh flavor of the fish itself, and the other in the traditional pil pil sauce — were beautiful, but I asked what was fresh that day, and the host/waiter recommended the squid prepared two ways. I will never forget the exceptional squid at Elkano. The first preparation was simply grilled in order to experience the freshness of the squid on its own merit, accompanied by squid ink sauce. The second was prepared with slow-cooked onions that were so sweet paired with the tender grilled squid that I was left speechless. Lunch was a gathering of gourmands from around the world who had traveled to indulge in the seafood feast. At one table, a group of young food-loving friends from Australia, England and the US were living it up pairing Salosse and other champagnes with their meal; I heard Russian and other languages spoken at other nearby tables. Getaria produces Txakoli, which is perfect with seafood, so while at the source, the pairing is a must-try. Also, go on a day that the Balenciaga Museum is open — it’s only a two-minute walk from the restaurant. And finally, a short drive to the Church of Zumaia (Ermita de San Telmo) with stunning views of the coast and lush green hills completes this perfect day trip!