A new restaurant is set to open within Hotel María Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, located in the heart of San Sebastián.

Two-Michelin-starred Amelia by Paulo Airaudo will be added to the culinary offering at the hotel in 2026, blending its Belle Époque heritage with Airaudo’s avant-garde vision.

Argentine-Italian chef Airaudo has seven Michelin stars plus restaurants in Barcelona, Hong Kong, Florence and Bangkok. With Amelia, he will showcase an open kitchen and his personal interpretation of an Italian omakase tasting experience.

The restaurant, designed by Javier Orduña (Biarkio Arquitectura), will feature counter seating for 12 and two additional tables, while the menu invites guests to join the chef on a gastronomic journey shaped by seafood, global influences, technical precision and ever-evolving creativity.

Founded in 1912, Hotel María Cristina is an iconic riverside property, named in honour of Queen María Cristina of Habsburg-Lorraine and designed by Charles Mewès of Ritz Paris fame. Amelia joins The Gallery, a restaurant combining Basque cuisine with international influences and seasonal ingredients; Dry Martini San Sebastián, a high-end cocktail bar serving signature cocktails in a cinema-inspired setting; and MIMO Bite the Experience, a culinary school and gastronomic centre offering classes, tours, and private experiences with leading chefs.