Ithurria French Basque Country

Ithurria is at 239 D20, just steps from the Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption. The dining room runs smart, in keeping with the house’s standing as a Michelin-starred address in the French Pays Basque.

The restaurant holds a Michelin star, but its real merit is the focus it provides in a region often caught up in rustic, heavy-handed cooking. While the kitchen leans into French and Mediterranean seafood, it avoids the performative flourish found at most other tables within a five-minute walk of the Musée du gâteau basque. By sticking to precise preparation rather than the local urge to over-garnish, Ithurria justifies the trip for those who prefer their coastal ingredients treated with restraint. It is a necessary alternative to the area's more boisterous kitchens.