San Sebastian, a culinary gem in Spain’s Basque Country, is celebrated for its vibrant pintxo culture, where bars and eateries compete to serve the most delicious bite-sized creations.
In this article, we’ve highlighted the 10 best pintxos bars in San Sebastian where you must try pintxos.
What are pintxos or tapas?
Before exploring San Sebastian’s pintxos bars, it’s key to understand the difference between pintxos and tapas.
Tapas, common across Spain, are small portions of larger meals, offering a taste of the main dish.
In contrast, pintxos, unique to the Basque Region, are bite-sized snacks creatively assembled with various ingredients, often pierced with a toothpick and served on bread—a practice hinted at by the Basque word “pintxo,” meaning “spike.”
In San Sebastian, the finest pintxos frequently highlight seafood, leveraging the city’s access to fresh catches. Yet, the culinary adventure continues as San Sebastian’s pintxos bars also showcase their inventive offerings, including dishes that feature the distinctive, smoky Idiazabal cheese, highlighting the depth and variety of Basque gastronomy.
Where to find the Best Tapas in San Sebastian
You can discover the best tapas in San Sebastian offers throughout the city, including the city center, the old town, and along the beaches. Below is a list of San Sebastian tapas bars that you must check out on your visit to this wonderful travel destination.
Borda Berri
This tiny bar is located in the Old Town and is the spot to go for a real authentic experience. It is ideal for the adventurous foodie because they do not have a set menu. Rather they change it up throughout the year and write the menu on a blackboard. This way all the options are new and creative.
La Espiga
Is a family-owned bar located right in the center of the city. Now on its fourth generation of owners! The style is very much still intact from when it was created in 1928 but with a dash of modernity and creativity in the dishes.
Here, the original owners not only present traditional staples they imagined but also continually strive to invent and reinvent recipes and food pairings, offering customers a gastronomical delight.
Goiz-argi
Is a small, non-touristy bar located in the Old Town. The fan favorite pintxo here is the griddled prawns. Smothered in a vinegary pepper dressing served on a slice of bread. It truly is a delicious treat especially after exploring the city all day.
Gorriti Taberna
Is a traditional little pintxo bar located in the Old Town. The staff are friendly, providing a very welcoming environment. This very unassuming place serves traditional pintxos and tapas hot or fried. It specializes in bocadillos, traditional Spanish sandwiches, and tortilla de bacalao, a cod omelet that is unique in incorporating seafood into an otherwise non-seafood dish.
Here we know you’ll be able to sample some delicious food while sipping on your beverage of choice while soaking up the sights and sounds of the city.
Cervecerías La Mejillonera
The bar famous for their mejillones or mussels in English. If you don’t enjoy mussels then you’re in luck because this bar also boasts that they have the best patatas bravas that are crunchy on the outside and creamy with the sauce that has a slight kick to it.
The bar is also economically friendly so you can sample a lot of tapas and pintxos without spending a fortune.
Txepetxa Taberna
This is another bar that has been around for a very long time which has allowed it to become a neighborhood staple where the locals go to grab a drink with friends and enjoy amazing food.
In fact, their anchovy pintxo won an award for being part of Donostia’s cultural heritage! The anchovies are marinated in a special sauce that provides the best flavors. Making even the anchovy skeptic love these anchovy pintxos. This place might just have the best tapas in San Sebastian.
Bar Bergara
Is located in the Gros neighborhood. This modern bar offers an exquisite selection of pintxos that are innovative. The bar puts a refined twist on Basque staples by making these pintxos feel high scale. Here you can find an array of seafoods, meats, and vegetables reimagined in unique structures and pairings.
Bar Nestor
Is a legendary family-owned restaurant located in the Old Town for the sole purpose that it only makes two tortilla de patatas a day. This is unheard of in any Spanish locale. Especially because tortilla is a people pleaser.
People will literally arrive early just to secure their slice of the heavenly tortilla. But don’t worry if you don’t feel like competing for a piece of tortilla, the bar offers plenty of other pintxo options! Another iconic dish consists of tomatoes, padron peppers, and steak.
Bar Sport
This bar is both for sport lovers and the foodies. It is an authentic Basque bar with a vibrant atmosphere that serves outstanding food. It offers a varied selection of classic pintxos and tapas. The most popular selection being grilled foie gras, foie a la plancha, and mini ribeye burgers.
Rojo y Negro
Is a short stroll from the beach which allows you to either stop by for a quick bit to eat or enjoy a sit-down meal. Here you can find elevated pintxos like foie gras and pork cheek.
What drink you should order in a San Sebastian pintxos bar
After securing a spot in one of the above bars, now the question is what to drink with your pintxo San Sebastian.
Of course, you can order the typical red or white wines or a beer as they are always so refreshing. But if you want to immerse yourself in the Basque cuisine I would recommend ordering txakoli wine or sidra. Both are specialties of the region and you won’t be disappointed by their flavors or pairings with the food profiles.
Txakoli wine is local to the Basque region made with hondarrabi zuri grapes found along the Basque Coast. Txakoli wine is considered light and slightly sparkling. It is a very dry white wine that has a high acidity. It embodies the Basque heritage and culture as it was typically a humble peasant’s drink that has become popular and even sought after for its unique taste.
Sidra on the other hand is a cider. A fun warning label should come with the activity of enjoying sidra. It has a unique pour that requires the bartender to pour it from a high distance into a glass, making this a fun spectacle to watch. Once you receive the recently poured sidra you must drink it right away! But don’t worry, they only pour little mouthfuls so you don’t have to chug a full glass. The reason behind this is due to the aeration process and once you let the drink settle it will not be as fresh as possible.
Conclusion
Now it’s your time to embark on your own pintxos adventure! Hopefully these recommendations help guide you to the best pintxos in San Sebastian. May you savor each bite, relishing not just the food but the atmosphere and warm hospitality that make San Sebastian’s pintxo bars truly unforgettable.
Cheers to good food, good company, and the endless discoveries awaiting us in this gastronomic paradise.
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