The spectacle is, as one regular guest put it, fabulously dramatic: “One night, the wind was so fierce that a gargoyle broke loose from the roof, and the sea – I’ve never seen it so wild,” the guest tells me.
In daylight, the hotel reveals its time-warp charm – sagging sofas, swirly carpets, grand staircases – though modern comforts now soften the edges: an excellent spa, and delicious food at ocean-facing RenMor.
During storm season, the ocean churns and crashes against the cliffs, but inside, all is comfort and pampering, comprising a heated indoor pool, chic, pastel-toned bedrooms with enormous sea view windows, alongside an excellent wellness centre.
The best rooms are within the original lighthouse keeper’s accommodation block, where you can witness the North Channel’s relentless waves crashing against the cliffs below, while the wind howls around the exposed headland.
Perfect for a celebratory treat, Akelarre Hotel is set high above the dramatic Basque coastline, just ten minutes from San Sebastian.
