After years txikiteando by the Old Part of san Sebastian, I can tell you that few dining experiences are compared with the quality of their pintxos. Ir de pintxos by Donosti is a ritual during weekends and holidays. If you come with baggage, and you don’t want to load it with them while you enjoy the best tapas in the world, you can leave your luggage in our left-luggage center of the city.
Why san sebastian is the Capital of the World Pintxos
San Sebastian is the epicenter of a gastronomic revolution that began decades ago in the bars of the bars in the Old Part of town. The pintxos ceased to be simple tapas, and turned into culinary works of art. The competition between the bars of the area is increasing and the quality of the ingredients is noted.
It has more Michelin stars per square meter than any other city in the world. Arzak, Akelarre, Mugaritz, Martín Berasategui are some of the great chefs of the city. Although you can also find pintxos amazing in the bars of a lifetime for most economic prices (around 3 or 4 euros).
Bars Must-Haves: The Final Route
| Bar | Signature Pintxo | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Borda Berri | Foie with caramelized apple | Fermín Calbetón, 12 |
| La Cuchara de San Telmo | Beef tenderloin with foie | 31 de Agosto, 28 |
| Gandarias | Crab-stuffed mushrooms | 31 de Agosto, 23 |
| Bar Txepetxa | Anchovy with crab cream | Pescadería, 5 |
| Bar Martínez | Red pepper stuffed with tuna and tartar sauce | 31 de Agosto, 13 |
| Ganbara | Crab tartlet | San Jerónimo, 21 |
| La Viña | Cheesecake | 31 de Agosto, 3 |
| Bar Zeruko | Low-temperature egg with truffle | Pescadería Kalea, 10 |
| Atari Gastroteka | Ham croquettes | Calle Mayor, 18 |
| A Fuego Negro | Tuna tataki with soy sauce | 31 de Agosto, 31 |
Bar Borda Berri: Basque Innovation in Every Bite
The Borda Berri is one of those places that never fails and is always full. All the pintxos are listed on a blackboard and are prepared at the moment. My recommendation: the foie gras with caramelized apple and the veal cheeks in red wine. The bomba rice with squid is also another one of their classics.
The Spoon of San Telmo: Fusion and Creativity
This bar bet for a kitchen more elaborate and with hints of fusion. Everything is cooked at the moment and is served on your plate, so don’t come looking for a bar pintxos. The beef tenderloin with foie gras, the chinstrap iberian and the duck breast with a reduction of Pedro Ximénez are spectacular. Is one of the few bars where you can sit back quietly to enjoy their pintxos.
Gandarias: Tradition and Quality Product
The Gandarias is a traditional bar that takes decades in the city and is one of my favorites. Their stuffed mushrooms with crab are legendary. Although it is very typical of his omelette. If you come, you will find crews of all the life taking a txikito after work.
Bar Txepetxa: The Temple of the Anchovy
This bar has 14 different combinations of anchovies: with spider crab, with blueberry jam, with piquillo peppers, with foie… Although my favorite without a doubt is the anchovy cream of crab. This place is always full, but if you look at your walls have photos with celebrities that have passed through here.
Bar Martinez: Mushrooms and Crab Legendary
Your red pepper stuffed nice with a tartar sauce is one of those pintxos that makes you return time and time again. You can also try their mushrooms and a tartlet of crab that competes with the best of the city. The bar is always full of pintxos freshly made so that it is often difficult to choose between all of them.
Bar Zeruko: Pintxos High Accessible Kitchen
If you are looking for pintxos more elaborate and presentations cared for, this is your place. The pintxos of the Zeruko are real works of art in miniature. The egg at low temperature with truffle or the tuna tataki with ponzu sauce are delicious. Although the prices are slightly more expensive than the average.
The Vineyard: The cheesecake World's Most Famous
The Vineyard is a mandatory stop in san Sebastian. You can’t leave here without trying their famous cheesecake. This cake has become famous internationally. Although many people try to get the recipe, you will never be the same. Has a creamy texture on the inside and slightly burnt on the outside. Get a piece of the cake without tail is almost impossible.
Bar Ganbara: Mushrooms, Fungi and Crab Sublime
The Ganbara it has been nearly 40 years in the city and is one of my favorite sites. My pintxos favorites are the tart crab, puff pastry txistorra and the asparagus is battered. In the fall, and also I recommend you to test your mushrooms.
Atari Gastroteka: Modernity with Roots
The Atari is one of the trendiest bars in the Old Part of san Sebastian. Their croquettes of ham are some of the best I have ever tried (and I tried many). The sirloin steak in red wine sauce with lining is also brutal.
To Fire: Black-Asian-Fusion-Basque
Fire mix Black basque cuisine with asian accents. Try the tuna tataki with soy sauce, the gyoza sea spider or baozi from rabo de toro. If you are looking for something different, it is a very interesting.
The pintxos essential
If I had to make a list of the pintxos are indispensable in the Old Part of san Sebastian would be these: the foie gras with apple Borda Berri, skewers of monkfish Goiz Argi, the tortilla in Bar Nestor, the anchovy with spider crab of Txepetxa, the cake of cheese from The Vine and stuffed peppers bonito Martinez. If you have more recommendations I’m all ears!
Plan your trip gastronomic to San Sebastian
The time that you need depends a lot on what you want to watch. If you are only visiting the Aquarium, booking a minimum between 3 and 4 hours to walk it with peace of mind, especially if you go with children. If you want to combine the Aquarium with the Museu de les Ciències, you’ll need a full day. And if your plan is to make the entire complex including the Hemisfèric, the best thing is that you allow yourself 2 days to enjoy it without hassle. If you only have a day, we recommend a visit to the Aquarium and the Science Museum. If you spare time or you are traveling with children and would like projections in 3D you can include in your visit, The Hemisfèric.
How much does it Cost to go pintxos in San Sebastian?
Going for pintxos in the Old town of san Sebastian is not cheap. The majority of its pintxos cost 2,50€ 4,50€ depending on the bar. The bars more traditional tend to be somewhat cheaper, but around 2,50€-3,50€. And if you go to bars with pintxos more elaborate can reach up to€ 5 per pintxo.
And in each bar, you don’t catch just a pintxo, you always end up choosing a minimum of a couple, more eating appropriate. So it is possible that the budget if you visit several bars is high and of around 40-50 euros as a minimum. Ir de pintxos by the city is not cheap, but the quality justifies the price.
Unwritten rules of Poteo
There are certain rules in Donostia that it is best that you know. The goal in a path of pintxos is to go moving the bars, “poteando” as we call it here. Reach out to a bar, you take 1 round with 1-2 pintxos and go on to the next. And so on.
to Stay around noon on the same bar is also not usual. And once you ask, you pay at the time before you go to eat. If there’s a queue, nor try to colarte, is bad seen among the people of san sebastián. There are many people who do photos to the bars of the pintxos, but try not to leave other people without permission.
What to Drink with your Pintxos?
The drink is the key to a good poteo by the Basque Country.
- Txakoli white wine: white wine slightly sparkling typical here and perfect to accompany any pintxo.
- Red wine: ideal for pintxos of meat. You can find a Rioja or Ribera del Duero.
- Cider: perfect for pintxos strong.
- Beer: a cane cold always works. Ask for a “zurito” (small beer) to go from bar to bar.
- Vermouth: some bars have vermouth handmade very good.
What to See in the Old Part of san Sebastian. In addition to Eating
The best plan is to wander aimlessly through the Old Part of san Sebastian. You can visit the Plaza of the Constitution, the Basilica of Santa María del Coro, the Marina, the ascent of Mount Urgull and see the castle of la Mota, the market and Calle 31 de Agosto.
That is the essence of poteo san sebastian, go without haste and without plans closed. And I can assure you that each time I discover something new. And that is the beauty of san sebastian.
