What are pintxos & best pintxo bars?
Chances are that you might be familiar with the Spanish word “tapa”. It has been successfully exported internationally and restaurants all over the world are nowadays offering them. If you like them, or the idea of them, you should give pintxos a try. Pintxos are delicatessen cuisine distilled into a bite-sized dish that will only cost you a couple of euros. The name itself is a reference to the toothpick that holds a Pintxo together. The spirit of pintxos is combining traditional & innovative styles of cooking. You will find these creations side by side in bars all across the city especially in the Old Town with a remarkable concentration of bars and restaurants that offer the visitor a great selection of pintxos.
WE RECOMMEND:
KARRIKA (Old Town)
If you're looking for a traditional Basque bar with a cozy atmosphere and delicious pintxos made from local ingredients, then this is the place for you. The bar-tavern is located in the heart of the old town on the famous gastronomic street of 31 de Agosto, so it's easy to find. See more details about Karrika.
LA VIñA (Old Town)
One of the most known gastronomy streets in the Old Town of San Sebastian "31 de Agosto" hosts a family bar&restaurant La Viña with the traditional Basque cuisine. It was opened in 1959 and in 1960 the current owner and chef of the restaurant Santiago Ribera was born. According to him… See more details about La Viña.
NESTOR (Old Town)
Nestor Bar on Pescaderia Street in the old town is a truly unique place. In the menu: unbeatable tortilla, traditional tomato salad with sea salt flakes and olive oil, chuleta, and fried green peppers of Gipuzkoa. There's only one table in the bar - people are ready to eat standing up. More details about Nestor.
LA CEPA (Old Town)
Not many bars in the Old Town of San Sebastián preserved the traditional style. If you want to see an authentic establishment founded in 1948, this is the place for you. After the pandemic, La Cepa obtained a new owner who was very eager to keep the original style and menu of the place. See more details about La Cepa.
KAMAL (Old Town)
Here you can try great seafood variety from the Atlantic coast: from sea urchins and local scallops (zamburinhas) to the mysterious persebes, which look like dragon paws. However, the pearl of the establishment is oysters. Magic shells, brought directly from La Rochelle... More details about Kamal.
HOW TO EAT & CHOOSE PINTXOS?
Pop into a bar for a drink and a couple of pintxos then move to the next one and repeat this gastronomic nirvana. When you first enter a pintxo bar in San Sebastian, you will find a trove of options stacked on the counter for your delight. If you are a newcomer, it might be hard to choose, for which we have a tips: pay attention to what the locals order and you will never go wrong with each bar’s special. In fact, many locals’ favorite routes are built around these specialty Pintxos! Speaking of bar routes, choosing the bars themselves is no easy feat! Bars are a mainstay of the Basque culture and thus they are a common sight in any street. The Old Town, however, spots an incredible amount of them! When you walk among the old buildings you will see and smell appealing pintxos left and right no matter which street you choose to walk on.
WHAT IS PINTXO POTE?
Pintxo Pote - a Basque version of happy hour - is a weekly event in which participating bars offer a free pintxo when you buy a drink. The usual day for pintxo pote is Thursday, but in some bars do it on Wednesday or other days to avoid competition. Pintxo pote started as an anticrisis measure almost a decade ago but quickly became a popular part of the Basque culture. Some bars offer specific pintxos during pintxo pote nights, others include a whole selection or cook some specials. It is an excellent opportunity to eat out for cheap, meet with friends or mingle with strangers… this is if full bars and crowded streets do not scare you.