Hotel Niza

Hotel Nizu is housed in a multi-story white building built in 1908, and some of its charm can be attributed to its long history as a simple, family-owned beachside property. The lobby is filled with an eclectic mix of antiques, glass chandeliers, ornate mirrors and quirky clocks. The restaurant and bar have a more modern style, with warm lighting, wooden booths, and huge picture windows that look out at the beach and ocean which are just outside. The main draw of the hotel is its location, and Hotel Niza attracts beachgoers of all kinds -- couples, singles, and families -- who are looking for a relaxing vacation where they can soak up the sun and still be within walking distance of downtown San Sebastian. 

Hotel Nizu’s location can’t be beat for those looking to spend time at the beach during their stay. The hotel is located on La Concha Beach, separated from the sand only by a wide promenade. Cafes and bars cluster in this bustling area too, and beautiful old buildings line the streets. The Old Town, with its famous Michelin-starred restaurants serving traditional Basque pintxos, is within walking distance, about 15 minutes away on foot (or just five minutes by car). At the far end of the Old Town is Mount Urgull, a popular hiking spot for tourists where there is also a castle. It can be reached in about 20 minutes by bus from the hotel. Donostia train and bus station is less than 10 minutes away by car, and San Sebastian’s small domestic airport is about a 30-minute drive. The international airport in Bilbao is just over an hour’s drive away. 

Rooms at Hotel Nizu are clean and well-kept, but small, and lack some amenities that are generally standard at mid-range properties. While all rooms have a flat-screen TV, an armchair, and most have a work desk, none have safes or mini-fridges. Room sizes range from a tiny room with a single bed to a room that can comfortably fit two in a queen bed, but it’s important to note than some of the doubles have two twin beds pushed together rather than one big bed. In terms of views, beach-facing rooms have fantastic ocean views -- some with balconies -- but don’t have air-conditioning, while rooms that face the street on the other side of the hotel have air-conditioning but also pick up a lot of street noise from late night revelers below. The building is old and walls are thin, so there is no soundproofing, creating a lack of privacy between rooms, and also no buffer to block noise from the creaky old elevator for rooms that sit near it. Bathrooms are simple, but more modern than other parts of the hotel, and have a full selection of toiletries as well as a hairdryer. Wi-Fi is free in rooms, as it is in the rest of the hotel. 

As a mid-range property, Hotel Nizu has limited features, and Narru Bar and Restaurant is definitely the highlight. Located on the ground floor and also open to the public, Narru is run by a young, internationally recognized chef named Inego Pena who presides over an excellent Basque menu of traditional pintxos. Narru also has ocean views and a summer terrace. The breakfast buffet is a spread of both hot and cold dishes, and comes at an additional fee. Breakfast can also be served in rooms. An old fashioned, wrought iron elevator moves up and down the center of the hotel, and while charming, is unpredictable and is noisy for the rooms nearby. There isn't a real business center to speak of but there is a desk with a computer for guests to use. Laundry service and cribs are available upon request, and parking in the garage can be booked for an additional fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.