Last updated on November 4th, 2024 at 06:56 pm
Looking for the best Pintxos in San Sebastian? Here’s all you need to know!
I recently visited San Sebastian to attend the TBEX Blogging Conference. Little did I know when I booked my ticket that this was the foodie capital of Europe – maybe even (dare I say it), the world!
As I did my research into what to do in San Sebastian, again and again, I came across mention of ‘pintxos’ and how synonymous they were with this city. It soon became apparent that we should plan all our free time around these delicious little morsels.
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Short on Time? Looking to book a Pintxos Tour in San Sebastian?
✅ We recommend DEVOUR Food Tours – BOOK HERE
San Sebastian Pintxos and Michelin-Starred Restaurants
San Sebastian, with the exception of Tokyo, has the greatest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants per kilometre compared to any other city. That’s some title.
In fact, we booked one for when we were there: Murgaritz (one of the Top 50 restaurants in the world, and also quite strange)! But, I think, the magic lies in San Sebastian’s pintxos – which are much better value and often (in my opinion) just as good quality!
What are Pintxos and How Did They Originate?
Pintxos (Pincho singular), are small bar snacks – a bit like tapas. The main difference is they’re often skewered (or ‘pinched’) with a small stick – often to a piece of bread. Pintxos are particularly popular in the Basque (northern) region of Spain.
We did a food tour one evening, and our guide told us that Pintxos hadn’t actually been around that long.
They are said to have originated in the 1940s when a customer at a bar popped an olive, pickled pepper and anchovy on a small skewer to have alongside his drink. The first pintxos (the ‘Gilda’) was born, and a trend started.
Other theories relating to the origin of pintxos centre around the culture of drinking outside of the home in northern Spain (still very much the case today). Small plates of food were made available by the bars for those out for most of the evening.
Since the 1940s, pintxos have evolved quite a bit. Our food tour took us through the various stages of pintxos in San Sebastian.
First came the Gilda, then came the toppings on toasted bread and now, you’ll find that many pintxos are much like a ‘mini meal’ (the wonderful beef cheek and mashed potato is one such example).
If you visit San Sebastian, you’ll be able to experience a huge range of pintxos – from seafood and red meat to vegetarian and from savoury to sweet. There are some amazing and unusual combinations of flavours – the pintxos really knows no bounds.
San Sebastian Pintxos Map
The Best Pintxos in San Sebastian
So now you know you have to experience some pintxos, you need to know which pintxos bars to go to and what to try. See where our recommendations are located in the San Sebastian Pintxos map above.
With our guide, you can complete a self guided pintxos tour in San Sebastian. However, we recommend also booking a guided food tour for one evening of your stay. You’ll learn a lot about San Sebastian, its history, food and people – plus your guide will sort out all your food and drink for you – and you can just relax.
You’re unlikely, sadly, to be able to fit every single pintxos dish in during your stay… but you can certainly try to work your way around the best pintxo bars in San Sebastian.
Some pintxos bars are known specifically for one or two pintxos dishes and it’s definitely worth trying these. We’ve listed each of our recommended pintxos bars’ specialities below.
La Vina Restaurant
What To Try: The Basque Cheesecake
Address: 31 de Agosto Kalea, 3, 20003 Donostia
You’ll witness a queue of four people deep at the counter for La Vina’s legendary cheesecake. It’s that good.
There’s a continuous flow of San Sebastian’s famous Basque cheesecake coming out of their kitchen- they make dozens and dozens a day. It’s creamy and light in the middle, and firmer with a lovely caramelised taste on the outside – just as it should be.
Locals order it with a glass of sherry which you can pour on top of the cake.
A Tip – take your cheesecake outside and eat it on the street in the summer. Or, if you want to sit down, wait for one of the tables at the back. You’ll be expected to order a main, but you’ll be able to order a slice of cheesecake for dessert and eat it in comfort.
Borda Berri
What To Try: The Beef Cheek and the Basque Cheese Risotto
Address: Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 12, 200003 Donostia
The beef cheek and the cheese risotto at Borda Berri are simple but exquisite. The Beef Cheek is seriously soft, served with a tasty thin gravy and bread – and the cheese risotto packs a punch with its flavour.
You’ll want to go back again and again for the pintxos in this small and unpretentious bar.
Antxoas Txepetxa
What To Try: Anchovy and Crab on toast
Address: Arrandegi Kalea, 5, 20003 Donostia
This Basque institution (you pronounce Txepetxa: ‘Che-pe-cha’) is famed for its anchovies. While you might be wary, you have to head here to try at least one of their anchovy toasts.
Fresh anchovies are combined with a range of other toppings and placed on top of a crispy piece of baguette. Our favourite was the anchovy and spider crab cream.
Look out for all the photos of celebrities on the walls (Meryl Streep, no less).
Bar Sport
What To Try: The Prawn Skewer
Address: Fermin Calbeton Kelea, 10, 20003 Donostia
I agree, the name of this pintxos bar doesn’t sound particularly appealing or authentic in terms of Spanish food. Don’t let appearances fool you though.
My husband’s favourite pintxos was to be found here – an amazingly fresh and tasty prawn and mixed pepper skewer (and he doesn’t even like prawns).
They also serve good (wine) and cider here to pair with your pintxos.
Itxaro Pena
What To Try: The Porcini Mushroom Muffin
Address: Enbeltran Kalea, 16, 20003 Donostia
Pintxos at this bar are seasonal and so change according to what’s available.
We were recommended the porcini mushroom muffin (served with a lightly cooked egg yolk which you spread on top of each half). Warm and fluffy, this was one of my favourite pintxos.
We also tried the borrage and scallop pintxos which was pretty good.
There’s a great variety of red wine at Ixtaro Pena too.
Paco Bueno
What To Try: Tempura Prawns
Address: C. Mayor, 6, 200003 San Sebastian
The dish to try at Paco Bueno is their delicious fried shrimp in batter (gambas a la gabardina). Check the walls out to see the awards they’ve won for this particular dish!
Popular with locals as well as tourists, you’ll be tempted to order another of these famed pintxos.
Atari Gastroleku
What To Try: Beef Cheek with mashed potato and Foie Gras with white chocolate
Address: C. Mayor, 18, 20003 San Sebastian
We couldn’t decide whether the beef cheek here or at Borda Berri was better. They’re both so amazingly delicious that we’ve decided you need to try both!
At Atari Gastroteka, it’s served with mashed potato – so it’s a little more substantial. If you’re ordering other pintxos (which I expect you are), this is a good one to share.
Another pintxos dish Atari is famed for is its grilled Foie Gras – served with sweet additions of white chocolate and sweetcorn cream. It’s definitely rich but it’s one of the best pintxos in San Sebastian if you want to treat yourself.
Bar Nestor
What To Try: Tomato Salad and Padron Peppers
Address: Arrandegi Kalea, 11, 20003 Donostia
Are you looking for vegetarian pintxos in San Sebastian?
Whether you’re vegetarian or not, Nestor is worth visiting for its two famous veggie dishes – the tomato salad and the Padron peppers.
If you’re starting to feel full (or like you haven’t eaten enough veggies, which is quite possible when eating pintxos in San Sebastian), these dishes are a good choice for something a bit lighter.
Ramuntxo Berri
What To Try: The Codfish Omelette
Address: Pena y Goni Kalea, 10, 20002 Donostia
This pintxos bar is a little way away from the other pintxos bars in the Old Town. We popped in one rainy lunchtime (it was really quiet) and were pleasantly surprised by a couple of the pintxos we had there.
Top of the list was the codfish omelette. Light and cooked well, it was just as we hoped it might be.
Ramuntxo Berri is a good choice if you want to avoid the crowds at the pintxos bars clustered around the Old Town.
How To Bar Hop in San Sebastian
Pintxos Crawl in San Sebastian: The idea is to pop into one pintxos bar for a couple of small plates, then move on to another place. You don’t have to, of course – if you really like one particular bar, stay – or go back the following night (we did this with Atari and just had to order the beef cheek again).
Plan to visit two or three pintxos bars an evening (or for lunch) and then leave some room for cheesecake at La Vina afterwards!
Note that not every pintxos bar is open every day. Many are closed on Mondays. We found a couple were closed on Wednesdays or Thursdays – and it seemed it wasn’t always regular or predictable either.
Where to Stay in San Sebastian
We stayed at the Aldamar in the Old Town. The location couldn’t have been better – it was just a two or three-minute walk from all of the Pintxos Bars mentioned above.
✅ Book the Aldamar through Booking.com
✅ Book other options for Accommodation in San Sebastian via Booking.com HERE
Should I Book a San Sebastian Pintxos Tour?
Yes! We definitely recommend allocating one of your evenings (or lunchtimes) to a guided pintxos tour.
Devour are experts when it comes to food experiences in the culinary capitals of the world (read our review of their food tour in London here). They run a San Sebastian Pintxos Tour (plus tours in a number of other visit-worthy cities too). You’re bound to discover even more San Sebastian hidden gems if you book a tour with them.
✅ Book a Food Tour with Devour HERE
✅ Get Your Guide offers a number of options when it comes to food tours in San Sebastion – BOOK HERE
✅ Viator also offers food tours in San Sebastian – BOOK HERE
Looking for advice on other destinations in Spain? Check out Barcelona in 24 Hours
