San Sebastián 🥐🍗🍷

ABOUT

San Sebastián is known for having the best pintxos (pronounced peen-chos) in the Basque Country. Pintxos are small finger foods served at bars and taverns in northern Spain, typically made fresh twice a day (lunch and dinner), and displayed at the counter.

HOW TO ORDER PINTXOS

You order pintxos by taking them and getting charged at the end by telling the server what you took/ate. If the server gives you a plate, you are free to help yourself. If the server holds onto the plate and looks at you, then just point at which ones you want. You typically order a few pintxos at a bar, stand and eat them, then move onto the next. We would go to 3 - 5 pintxo bars for one meal.

WHERE TO EAT & WHAT TO ORDER

PINTXOS (OLD TOWN / PARTE VIEJA)

  • Ganbara

    • Mini croissants with jamón

    • Tartaleta txangurro (spider crab tart)

    • Hojaldre de txistorra (chorizo in puff pastry)

    • Hongos (Porccini mushroom & egg yolk)

    • Txuleta (steak)

  • Gandarias

    • Fried calamari

    • Solomillo (sirloin steak on baguette)

    • Jamón de bellota (Iberian ham)

    • Hongos plancha (grilled mushroom)

    • Brocheta de jamón

    • Trus Roble red wine (from Ribera del Duero)

  • Atari

    • Carrilleras (veal cheeks with mashed potatoes)

    • Torrija (Basque bread & butter pudding with ice cream)

    • Seafood risotto (special of the month)

    • Gin & tonic

  • Goiz Argi

    • Mari juli (Toasted bred with green peppers, salmon & smoked anchovy)

    • Brocheta de gambas (prawns skewer)

  • Bar Sport

    • Txistorra (Local fresh chorizo)

    • Fried calamari

    • Chipirón con vinagre de Modena y salsa de ajo y perejil (grilled baby cuttlefish with modena balsamic vinegar and parsley and garlic sauce)

    • Morcilla con piquillo y pimiento verde (black pudding with piquillo pepper and green pepper)

    • Via Nova Godello white wine

  • La Cuchara de San Telmo

    • Suckling pig

    • Carrilleras con salsa de hummus (veal cheeks with hummus)

    • Foie gras con salsa de membrillo (foie gras with quince jelly sauce)

    • Pimientos (red shishito peppers)

    • Ravioli de pato con puerros (duck ravioli with leeks)

    • Glorioso Crianza red wine (from Rioja region)

  • Zulmetzegi

    • Brocheta de rape (monk fish & shrimp skewer)

    • Pimientos de Padron (green shishito peppers)

    • Croqueta de jamón (jamón croquet)

    • Queso de cabra con jamón Serrano (goat cheese and Serrano ham)

    • Gulas (fake baby eels)

    • Txakoli white wine (from Getaria)

  • Borda Berri

    • Risotto de Idiazábal (cheese risotto)

    • Pulpo con membrillo (octopus with quince jelly)

  • Zeruko

    • La hoguera (smoked cod with fine herbs mayonnaise and shot of liquid salad)

    • Hamburguesa de txuleta con mostaza (steak burger with mustard)

    • Tomate trampantojo (“lie to your eye” tomato)

    • Queso de tetilla con mermelada de tomate (Tetilla cheese with tomato marmalade)

    • White wine from Rueda región (Verdejo grape)

  • Nestor (Put your name down 30min in advance)

    • Solomillo (steak)

    • Tomato salad

    • Pimientos de padrón (shishito peppers)

    • Tortilla de patata

  • Casa Urola

    • Vieira en salsa ajoblanco (scallop in ajoblanco sauce)

    • Ensalada de tomate de temporada (seasonal tomato salad)

  • Txepetxa (Pescadería street)

    • Anchoa con centollo (anchovy with spider crab)

    • Anchoa con arándanos (anchovy with blueberry)

    • Anchoa con aceituna negra (anchovy with black olives)

    • Anchoa con huevas de trucha (anchovy with trout eggs)

  • La Mejillonera

    • Tigres (mussels with spicy tomato sauce)

    • Patatas Bravas

    • Calamares bravos (calamari with the bravas sauce)

  • Michelinmat

  • Kokotxa

  • Bar Azkena

  • In Gros

  • Bar Bergara

MY TOP 5 PINTXOS

DESSERT

  • La Viña (cheesecake)

  • Atari (torrija bread pudding)

  • Loco-polo (popsicles)

SEAFOOD

  • Casa Bernardo (Puerto street)

  • El Txoko (Mirador del Puerto calle Mari)

  • Bar Sebastian (Muelle street)

  • La Rampa

  • Elkano (in Getaria)

SIT DOWN RESTAURANTS

  • Nineu (Kursaal building)

  • La Fabrica (Puerto street)

  • Astelena (Traditional style, Euskal Herria st)

  • Aldanondo (Traditional Style, Euskal Herria St)

  • Txuleta (31 de Agosto street)

  • Rekondo

  • Bodega Donostiarra

  • Casa Julian

WHERE TO DRINK/GO OUT

  • Friends Disco

  • GU (right on the beach)

WHAT TO DO BESIDES EAT

  • Explore Old Town (Parte Vieja): Basilica de Santa Maria del Coro, Plaza de la Constitucion

  • Stroll along the seaside at la Concha promenade

  • Take funicular up Monte Igueldo for the views of San Sebastian

  • Hike up Monte Urgell

  • Hang out at the beach

    • Playa de la Concha

    • Playa de la Ondarretta

    • Playa de la Zurriola

SpainEunice ChinSpain, Europe, Food