WELCOME TO OUR TAVERN, OPEN FOR EATING, DRINKING, MEETING, AND ABOVE ALL, TRYING TO BE HAPPY
It sounds good and has a certain "festive" ring to it: "Jarana." There's a song that says, in Spanish, that San Sebastian has things that nobody else in the world has. It even has a district called “de la Jarana”. And not just any district: its harbour. The place where San Sebastian becomes more playful, complicit and fun. Where all the possible “San Sebastians” come together. A port which, throughout history, has been a gate through which goods, ideas and ‒in particular‒ people, have come and gone. That's where the whaling vessels left from, and where the ships that brought new goods from America arrived – goods that ranged from chocolate to the potato. It is the place where the arrantzales (fishermen) unloaded their catches and where the net menders did their job.
Today, locals and tourists intermingle amongst this district's streets. It looks out over the bay as an essential part of the postcard image, but maintains its own rebellious personality. And in September it is the platform from where the ‘trainera’ regattas are held, the rowing Olympics that make San Sebastian the most beautiful setting for competitive rowing.
Jarana. A great-sounding word. Joy, meeting, party, freedom, friends, promise of happiness.
And from that jarana loaded with history, that eternal jarana, this tavern is born, an open Jarana where you can eat, drink, meet, and above all, be happy. Or at least try to be.
