Looking for the best Pintxos in San Sebastian? You’ve come to the right place!
I spent 2 weeks in Spain’s scenic Basque Country, on the hunt for the best Pintxos in bustling bars from Bilbao to San Sebastian.
After visiting over 20 of the best Pintxos Bars in San Sebastian I feel like an expert on Basque Country bites.
Read our San Sebastian Pintxos Guide and we’ll teach you what Pintxos are, how to order them, and what speciality to order at each of these beloved Donostia bars!
Pintxos History
A pincho, pintxo or pinchu is a small snack, typically eaten in bars, traditional in northern Spain and especially popular in the Basque country.
Legend has it that the original pintxo, a combination of a pickled pepper, cured anchovy, and Manzanilla olive, was invented at a bar in San Sebastian. A regular bar patron and wine salesman wanted to come up with a name for the one-bite trio he claimed made his wine taste even better.
Swooning for the film star Rita Hayworth, who was the star and namesake of the movie Gilda, a popular movie in Spain at the time, he named his creation the Gilda. He said that “like the character, this pintxo is salty, green, and spicy.” You can typically find Gilda’s served at every Pintxos bar in San Sebastian as they’re standard fare.
What Are Pintxos?
Pintxos are usually eaten in bustling bars or cozy taverns as a small snack, in the company of friends, so there’s a strong socializing component. Some of these bars have tables and chairs but for the most popular venues you should expect to huddle around tall tables or wine barrels.
Pintxos are related to tapas, the main difference being that pinchos are usually ‘spiked’ with a skewer or toothpick, often to a slice of bread. They are served in individual portions and typically enjoyed with a glass of local wine, cider, beer or sweet vermouth.
They are called pintxos because many of them have a “pincho” (Spanish for spike), typically a toothpick —or a skewer for the larger varieties— through them to hold all the ingredients together.
Almost any ingredient can be placed on top of the bread, but those most commonly found in San Sebastian include fish such as hake, cod, anchovy; tortilla de patatas; stuffed peppers; and croquettes. A lot of traditional pintxos are topped with a mayo salad, so if you love mayonnaise you’ve come to the right place!
How We Found The Best Pintxos Bars in San Sebastian
As a professional food and travel journalist I take restaurant research seriously.
Weeks before our visit to San Sebastian I researched articles online and videos on Youtube to see what other food and travel experts were recommending.
I visited half of the San Sebastian Pintxos bars in this list on my own, starting with the most famous spots that require plenty of patience and good timing as you have to arrive right when they open to avoid waiting in line.
The remaining Pintxos bars I visited in San Sebastian were introduced to me on two different food tours led by a local food writer and guide. Most stories you find online for “Best Pintxos in San Sebastian” focus on the old town where most of the tourists spend their days and nights eating.
By organizing two food tours I was able to gain local insight into popular Pintxos Bars more frequented by locals in areas outside of the old town like nearby Gros and the downtown commercial area south of La Concha beach.
This San Sebastian Pintxos list is really diverse, featuring the most talked about bars where you’ll meet foodies traveling from Japan and Australia to grab a bite, to the local watering holes where workers gather at the end of the day to catch up with neighbours. Both are fun and tasty experiences and encourage you to try both.
Whenever I was paying for my own pintxos I wrote down the cost and have noted the amounts so you can get an idea of what you should expect to spend in 2024. When I was hosted on private Pintxos tours the guide paid directly to the restaurant so that’s why the pricing is missing for a few establishments.
How To Order Pintxos in San Sebastian
When locals visit a Pintxos Bar in San Sebastian they go right up to the bar, wave at a server to get their attention and then point at the item they’d like to eat. You have to be assertive, if not a bit aggressive, especially at night when the bars can get really packed.
Pintxos are typically displayed artfully on the bar top protected behind glass. Some bars have a menu you can read and review, others write down the name of each pintxos while others have no descriptors and you might have to ask what the dish is made of.
These “cold pintxos” are the ones most commonly associated with this unique Basque Country food culture. Be sure to look for the chalkboard on the wall behind the bar as it lists the hot dish specials of the day. These hot dishes are prepared in the kitchen and arrive a few minutes later. Cold Pintxos can be enjoyed immediately.
Locals joke that they know when someone is a tourist at a bar in San Sebastian when they have ordered several hot dishes and have 4-5 pintxos on their plate.
The traditional way to dine out in San Sebastian is to know what each bars speciality is, order one, maximum two pintxos with a drink and then hop over the street to the next bar. If you eat like a local and order just one pintxos at each bar you can easily visit 5 or 6 restaurants in a night before feeling full.
Ordering Drinks
Pintxos are sold in bars so it goes without saying that those in Basque Country enjoy sipping local drinks while noshing on the bite sized morsels.
A lot of tourists think you have to purchase a drink with each food item you order, which is incorrect. If I had ordered a drink at the over 20 pintxos bars I visited in San Sebastian I would have been drunk as a skunk!
I would typically order a drink at every other bar I visited, pacing myself throughout the evening as my focus was more on sampling the speciality pintxos that each bar was famous for.
Here’s a list of the most popular drinks served at the best Pintxos bars in San Sebastian:
- Caña: a small beer
- Sidra: dry Basque cider, which is poured from high above to help aerate the drink.
- Rioja: local red wine
- Txakoli: pronounced chacoli, this is the most popular drink to order at Pintxos bars. It’s a slightly sparkling dry white wine.
- Vermouth: sweet Spanish vermouth is served over ice with an orange wedge and green olive on a toothpick.
- Sangria: some bars serve Sangria, I think simply because they know tourists love it. It’s typically preapred in a jug with local red wine, Fanta and fresh fruit.
San Sebastian Pintxos Bar Guide
After hours of researching, waiting in line and then eating what feels like hundreds of the best Pintxos in San Sebastian here is a list of over 20 bars that are not to be missed!
Ganbara
C. de San Jerónimo, 34943422575
Located in the heart of San Sebastian’s Parte Vieja (Old Town) Ganbara serves some of the best Pintxos in San Sebastian.
When you arrive it’s no shock that Ganbara is on many “Top 5 San Sebastian Pintxos” lists. There will undoubtably be a line, which is worth waiting for.
Ganbara was the first Pintxos bar I visited in San Sebastian. I arrived 30 minutes after they opened and had to line up and wait for almost an hour to get a seat in the tiny interior. Waiting in line felt like I was at the United Nations, as I chatted with fellow foodies from Japan, Germany, Australia and the US.
I highly recommend arriving at Ganbara 10 minutes before they open as it will guarantee you get a seat once they open their doors.
I ordered a glass of cider, croissant stuffed with jamon and pickle and a slice of bread topped with a hard boiled egg, shrimp and salty sardine. Total cost was 8.70 EUR.
Ganbara’s speciality pintxos is “egg and wild mushrooms” which is worth ordering if you’re bar hopping with 2-3 people.
Casa Urola
Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 34943441371
Casa Urola has been serving pintxos in San Sebastian since it first opened its doors in 1956.
Located in one of the old quarter’s bustling streets, Casa Urola features a lively pintxos bar on the main floor and dining room above.
I ordered the chef’s two most popular pintxos: Mushroom Idiazabal Tart and Beef Steak with Red Peppers and Potato Foam for 8 EUR.
The restaurant is also well known for its grilled seafood and asparagus with hollandaise when in season.
Borda Berri
Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 34943430342
Looking for the best Pintxos bar in San Sebastian for an over-the-top lively vibe?
Borda Berri can seem overwhelming when you first arrive as the servers shout each order to the back kitchen. It’s always packed, a great sign, so get your elbows out and push yourself to the counter.
Borda Berri’s two specialties were actually some of my favourite pintxos in San Sebastian so make sure you leave room to eat both as the acid in the tomato sauce from the beef pairs nicely with the creaminess of the pasta sauce.
I ordered the specialities of the house, Beef Cheek and Orzo Risotto for just 9.50 EUR.
Bar Sport
Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 34943426888
Bar Sport is a local culinary institution, and for good reason makes its way on every “Best Pintxos in San Sebastian,” list.
While there’s a TV to watch football at the bar, sports isn’t why you come here – rather it’s the wide variety of cold and hot pintxos.
Bar Sport is typically standing room only, day and night, but there are some high top tables to huddle around both inside and on the street so you can meet some new friends as they stuff their face too!
Bar Sport has several specialities, including sea urchin soup, Basque fried sausage on toast, and foie gras.
I ordered the popular Mini Burger with a glass of sangria for 7.90 EUR.
La Viña
31 de Agosto Kalea, 943427495
La Viña is the best Pintxos bar in San Sebastian for dessert lovers.
While this classic eatery serves plenty of traditional savoury pintxos it became world famous after the owner invented the now famous Burnt Basque Cheesecake.
The walls of the bar feature shelves that house what seems like hundreds of springform pans filled with the distinct cheesecake that boasts a creamy interior and caramelized burnt exterior.
99% of people who visit La Vina order the cheesecake with a coffee. I don’t recommend ordering a coffee as it’s not proper espresso (they just press a button and the milk froths with a whimper) like the coffee machines you find in the breakfast room at 3 star hotels.
TIP: If you’re eating alone ask for a half portion of cheesecake, which is essentially one full slice. In a typical order they top two slices on a plate which is way too much to eat on your own, but perfect if you’re traveling with friends and can share.
I ordered a half portion of cheesecake and a cappuccino for 4.60 EUR.
Gandarias
31 de Agosto Kalea, 943426362
A parade of jamon legs dangle over the lively bar at Gandarias while the bar top heaves under the weight of many eye-popping pintxos that look like works of art.
Gandarias serves plenty of classic Basque-style pintxos, many of which features slices of crusty bread topped with mayonnaise based salads.
I ordered the speciality, Warm Mushrooms with Jamon on Toast covered in a creamy sauce with a glass of local white wine for just 5 EUR.
La Cepa De Bernardo
31 de Agosto Kalea, 34943426394
La Cepa De Bernardo is a famous fish and seafood restaurant that features ample indoor seating and a few tables on the front patio. It’s the perfect pintxo bar to have dinner if you’d like to take a load off and don’t want to have to stand while you eat.
First opened in 1948, La Cepa De Bernardo is the place to enjoy melt-on-your-tongue thinly sliced jamon or classic Gilda skewers.
I ordered decadent Iberian Ham Salad Toast with a glass of Vermouth, which cost 7.50 EUR.
Bar Martinez
31 de Agosto Kalea, 34943424965
Enjoy traditional pintxos snacks, sandwiches and a long wine list at this lively bar in San Sebastian’s old town originally established in 1942.
While the bar is just 9 metres long, it’s the hot made-to-order pintxos and parade of artistically crafted tapas that make Bar Martinez stand out.
I ordered the speciality, Red Pepper Stuffed with Tuna Salad alongside a glass of white wine for 5.50 EUR.
Txepetxa Taberna
Arrandegi Kalea, 34943422227
Ranked as one of the best Pintxos in San Sebastian for fish lovers, Txepetxa Taberna is a celebration of the simple anchovy.
The always bustling bar has a menu that lists all of the various anchovy topped pintxos you can sample, which we suggest ordering with a classic Gilda skewer so you can compare the taste of sardines to anchovy.
The owner clearly has a penchant for celebrities as the walls of the restaurant are covered in photos and posters of visiting A-listers who dined here like Glenn Close and Ian McKellen.
I ordered a Gilda with the speciality Anchovy on toast with onions and peppers alongside a glass of dry local cider, which cost 6.50 EUR.
Bar Nestor
Arrandegi Kalea, 34943424873
Bar Nestor is most certainly one of the best Pintxos bars in San Sebastian, which is indicative of the always present line that snakes down the street.
The tiny bar located in the city’s old town is famous for its Spanish tortilla, which has to be ordered in a very particular way and is regularly ranked as the best in Spain!
The family-run restaurant only makes two tortillas a day, one for lunch and one for dinner. Each tortilla is carefully crafted into a mouth-watering pie and cut into 12 slices. While luring in many hopeful patrons, only a special few get to revel in the flavours, and they’re in-the-know foodies who plan in advance!
Bar Nestor opens each night at 8pm but you need to arrive an hour beforehand (ideally before 7pm) to get in line just to get a ticket with your name on it to enjoy the tortilla an hour later as the quantity they sell is so limited.
The Bar Nestor Tortilla appears like a deep dish pizza, which arrives at the bar on a large white plate and is served using a small butter knife. The tortilla is distinct because it has a custardy texture, perfectly cooked ooey gooey, with sublime flavour of tender potatoes and onions.
Other specialities worth ordering at Bar Nestor include the T-Bone Steak and Tomato Peppers.
Narru Bar
San Martin Kalea, 34843931405
Skip into the design-forward Hotel Arbaso and on the main floor you’ll find one of San Sebastian’s most celebrated fine dining restaurants, Narru.
Cozy up to the bar and you’ll find a selection of freshly prepared pintxos. Specialities include sardine and pepper topped bread and ox tail ravioli with wild mushrooms.
You can sip wine and nosh on pintxos by the bar, or if you’re lucky and there’s a table free on the outdoor patio take advantage of the great people watching opportunity.
Narru Bar is located in downtown San Sebastian beside the Cathedral.
Sirimiri Gastroleku
C Mayor, 943440314
Sirimiri Gastroleku is located in the heart of the Old Town, offering classic cold pintxos and hot tapas menu.
The restaurant is larger than several of its neighbours and has ample seating so it’s a great spot to nosh if you need to rest your feet after a long day of sightseeing.
You’ll find plenty of beautifully presented bread slices topped with mounds of blue cheese, stuffed peppers, jamon and sardines. The menu also includes a few Mexican-inspired tapas like loaded nachos, which are perfect for sharing.
I had been traveling in Spain for a month and had not yet ordered patatas bravas so decided to treat myself with a glass of vermouth, which cost 13 EUR.
Bartolo House
Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 34943420279
We arrived at Bartolo House moments before they opened at 7pm and were treated to a jaw-dropping display of pintxos.
Each platter had just been meticulously crafted and placed under protective glass. It really does have one of the largest displays of pintxos in San Sebastian. The mouth-watering presentation makes for a great picture before the hoards arrive after 8pm.
You can find every variety of Basque-style pintxos at Bartolo House but I was looking to try something I’d never tasted. I spotted a plate of bread slices topped with what looked like a cheesy gratin (top shelf and middle in the photo above). I asked what it was (curious to know if it was a whipped crab dip) and was informed it was “cheese fondue on toast,” which I immediately ordered and asked them to reheat so it was slightly warm.
This particular San Sebastian pintxos was one of my top 3 tastes, and you’ll agree if you’re an avid cheese lover like myself. The top was browned, perfectly crunchy from resting under a broiler for a hot minute. The texture of the cheese was that of a creamy fondue, with flavours of caramelized onion, nutmeg and Worcestershire.
One of those blissful Cheese Gratin Toasts and a glass of white wine cost 5 EUR.
Parrilla Txuleta
Pl. de la Trinidad, 34943441007
Are you a carnivore looking for the best pintxos in San Sebastian? Head straight to Parrilla Txuleta!
This popular steakhouse features a casual pintxos bar, next door dining room and a few wine barrels outside that people crowd around on a hot sunny day.
Since Txuleta is a steakhouse it’s no shock their speciality is beefy. Two steak skewers served on frites with a sangria costs 8.40 EUR.
Bodega Donostiarra
Peña y Goñi Kalea, 943011380
Looking for the best pintxos bar in San Sebastian’s Gros neighbourhood?
Bodega Donostiarra is a chic pitxos bar featuring ample indoor seating, a spacious patio (with tables and chairs, what bliss!)
The Gros neighbourhood is a short 10 minute walk east of the Old Town. Simple skip over the bridge past the conference centre and surf beach and you’ve found yourself smack dab in the area of town where locals are more likely to eat out.
Bodega Donostiarra is noted for inventing it’s own pintxos in honour of award winning Spanish cyclist Indurian. The similarly titled pintxo is essentially a classic Gilda skewered into a marinated tuna steak.
I ordered the Pork Snout Salad, Indurian and a local craft beer for 9.40 EUR
HOT TIP: On Thursday nights all the pintxos bars in the Gros neighbourhood offer a special deal called “pintxopote” where you get a drink and pintxos for just 2.5 EUR!
Bergara Bar
General Artetxe Kalea, 943275026
Another top contender for best Pintxos bar in San Sebastian’s Gros neighbourhood is chic Bergara Bar.
They have a display of classic cold pintxos at the bar but we suggest ordering some of their gourmet hot items as they’re modernist and unique.
We ordered the Txalupa with mushrooms, prawns, cream, cava, and cheese as well as the signature Foie Gras Pastry topped with grapes and a glass of white wine, which cost 10.50 EUR.
Bar Antonio
Bergara Kalea, 943187439
Ask a local foodie about where to find the best tortilla in San Sebastian and they’ll likely go head to head based on preferences: Bar Nestor vs Bar Antonio.
Both bars similarly only make 2 tortillas a day, one at lunch and one at dinner. Bar Nestor’s tortilla is the classic recipe perfected, while Bar Antonio’s tortilla is prepared with sweet caramelized onions that are slowly cooked on the stove for hours before being tossed in the tortilla batter before baking.
Bar Antonio’s pintxos are really some of the best in San Sebastian, as the presentation and flavour profiles really scream fine dining but in a casual atmosphere.
I ordered Bar Antonio’s two signature pintxos the iconic Caramelized Onion Tortilla, creamy Prawn Ravioli and a glass of vermouth, which cost 11.90 EUR.
Bare Bare
Portu Kalea, 943420703
Bare Bare is a pintxos bar in San Sebastian that is well known for its seafood offerings like squid, spider crab, clams, and prawns.
Located in the heart of the old town, Bare Bare’s white marble topped bar features an eye-catching parade of bite-sized morsels.
I ordered the specialties of the day: tempura prawns + crunchy and sticky chicken skewers with a glass of sweet vermouth.
JOSE Mari Taberna
Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 943299006
Jose Mari Taberna is a Pintxos Bar in San Sebastian’s old town known best for it’s modern interpretations of the Basque snacking tradition.
If you’re looking to taste a contemporary take on pintxos Jose Mari Taberna serves playful dishes like Basque sausages stuffed in sesame buns topped with fresh mint and a flavour packed toast topped with anchovy, sweet pepper, crispy potato and a slice of jamon.
Beharri
Narrika Kalea, 943431631
One of the Basque Country’s most unique contributions to local gastronomy is the dry cider produced throughout Spain’s northern coast.
Beharri is a cider house located in the heart of San Sebastian’s old town where guests skip down to the basement to learn how to pour cider straight from a tank into a glass.
On the main floor you’ll find plenty of bar stool seating to nosh on pretty pintxos. Of course you need to pair the bar bites with a glass of freshly tapped cider. We sampled Beharri’s signature pintxos, a massive deep fried cheese ball.
La Espiga
San Martzial Kalea, 34943421423
Our final Pintxos bar visit, the 21st in this long list, was enjoyed on a Saturday night at 11pm at La Espiga in the downtown area of San Sebastian.
I was amazed at how busy La Espiga was so late at night, especially since the majority of the diners were seniors, sipping wine and nibbling on sardine toast into the wee hours of the night.
My search for the best Pintxos in San Sebastian was an absolute blast and one of the most fun work projects I’ve ever been tasked at researching. For my final stop at La Espiga I ordered a trilogy of pintxos: a classic jamon croquette, Milanesa breaded cheese cutlet, and saucy meatball on toast.
