Service was good and restaurant was nice not too crowded and lots of options to choose from on the…read moremenu. They also had the menu in english which is helpful. We opted for a few pintxos for lunch while we were visiting town. We also had a couple of drinks my husband got whiskey with coke and I asked for a local cocktail since I'm not much of a wine drinker. I was handed a cup of pacharán which was a bit strong but was nice to try something different. The pintxos came out one at a time which was nice we were able to fully enjoy each on their own. The bao was the only one I didn't really like mostly the bun part. It didn't taste like it was cooked all the way and was a bit gummy and there was not a lot of meat filling. Next was the lamb which was really tender and flavorful. The couscous was ok nothing special and not much seasoning to it. Then the beef cheek and mashed potatoes came out which was the star of the pintxos that we had. It was also very tender and the mash was also cooked perfectly. All of this was shared between the two of us and was very filling. The waiter let us know that some of the pinxtos could also be ordered in a full size if we wanted. We enjoyed sampling the pinxtos and would definitely recommend coming here to get a taste of local cuisine.

This was our introduction to the ultra-clean and simple flavors of basque cuisine, served with an…read morealmost impossible degree of finesse and precision with some of the freshest ingredients imaginable. We were pressed for time, but the beef cheek here fell apart in our mouths and was married with a perfect red wine sauce over pillowy smooth mashed potatoes, and the shrimp were unbelievably delicate and cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of gremolata to compliment but not overwhelm. Delicious.

Found Sukalde on Yelp. Reviews were spot on! We ordered a bottle of wine from a nice wine list &…read moreit was very good yet inexpensive. We started by sharing the red pepper stuffed with puréed cod. Amazing. It was presented in a creamy tomato sauce that really was exceptional. I had the duck which was done perfectly with a port reduction that complimented perfectly. The grilled shrimp my wife ordered was very flavorful and a large serving. I took a picture of my dish to show the presentation. We return to Spain every other year & want to make it a priority to return here. Service was very good too - patient with the tourists. Prices are very reasonable as well. This is a little fragmented as I keep adding. Desert: I had chocolate lava cake & my wife had cava with lemon sorbet - both were delicious. By the way, its Monday and they are not closed.

I was there for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. I love the decor outside (makes the place…read morestands out from the neighborhood). The waitress didn't speak English well but was able to communicate fine. I had seared duck breast with potatoes, a cheesecake, and a glass of wine. The entire meal was delicious and well priced. One critique: the restaurant is in the basement and did not have service when I tried to pay with credit card.

From the moment we were greeted at the door, until we sadly had to put our forks down, the whole…read moreexperience was superb. The restaurant was beautiful in every regard, the presentation was such that you only reluctantly spoiled it with the first bite...and without fail the first bite, to the last, was exceptional. The service was exemplary and the owner was so very gracious to spend time with us at the table, sharing her insights into the food scene that is San Sabastian. Sometimes food is more than food, sometimes it is a lasting memory. Ikaitz was that for us. Hope you have the opportunity!

Speechless - When a bite takes you to your most simple and…read morememorable moments in life it is when you know that you are having a real pleasure of cuisine. You realised that behind that beautiful and delicious dish there are a lot of work, dedication, passion, art and plenty of love to give, when all of these are transmitting in a bite it is when you know that you are in a perfect place, you know that they deserve each second of your time and worth your money. It is a place of MUST visit if you are in San Sebastián. I have ever cried over a dish in a positive way, the "Arroz con Leche" in the first bite took me to my childhood and bring millions of memories I knew that this family deserve more than a Michelin star - bravo bravo guys you are doing amazing job and keep working this hard it is all worthy! Love and thank you for the night! Miles de GRACIAS

Mistral Coffee & Bakery has some very good ensaimadas and is definitely worth stopping by…read more I tried a few, but my favorite was the one with the cream filling. Soft, buttery, and perfectly balanced without being overly sweet.

We decided to try and make reservations as getting a bar table is sometimes near impossible unless…read moreyou happen to go at the right time. But I have to warn you, the menu is not the same. We actually wanted the pixtos, but you need to order at the bar for those (sad face). Interior looks really nice and looks like fine dining-ish inside. Food was still good, but quite pricey. I honestly would just stick to the pixtos because that's what we came here for and that's what they are noted for.

If you come to San Sebastián and don't stop at Bar Néstor, you've skipped one of the city's great…read moreculinary rituals. This tiny, high‑energy bar in the Parte Vieja is famous for doing just a few things -- and doing them with absolute conviction. The lineup is legendary: the txuleta steak, the tomato salad, the Padrón peppers, and of course, the tortilla that sells out instantly. They make only two tortillas a day, and getting your name on the list feels like joining a local rite of passage. Here's the twist: although the tortilla is the most famous item, it actually wasn't our favorite version in the city. It's still fun to chase, still a cool story to tell, but the real stars of the meal were the steak -- charred, juicy, perfectly salted -- and the tomatoes, which taste like they've been engineered for maximum summer. They only make 2 tortillas a day, so you have to stand in line before they open to get a reservation for a slice. Inside, it's tiny, loud, and joyful. The staff runs the place with precision and a wink, and even when it's packed shoulder‑to‑shoulder, it feels like you're exactly where you're supposed to be. Come early, come hungry, and come ready for a meal that feels like a Basque rite of passage -- tortilla hype and all.

Bar Nestor is one of those Old Town legends that actually earns the legend. It's tiny, slammed, and…read morelaser-focused on a few things they do better than almost anyone: the once-or-twice-a-day tortilla (you put your name down before service and pray), the txuleta that comes out perfectly salted, tomatoes and padrón peppers in season, and a handful of small plates that remind you why Basque cooking is among the greatest in the world. Our favorite bite here wasn't even the gorgeous stuffed ravioli, it was a "noodle" dish where the noodles are actually spiralized squid. Silky ribbons of txipiron, barely kissed by heat so they stay tender, tossed with good olive oil, a little oniony sweetness, herbs, and a snowfall of grated cheese (Idiazabal-like in flavor). Simple, clean, and surprisingly creative at the same time. Exactly what Donostia gets right at its best. The room is a crush (in the best way), the team is friendly but no-nonsense, and the whole operation runs very predictably: show up early if you want tortilla; be ready to stand; order the classics and whatever seafood they're excited about that day.

It was around 11 am and I was surprised this place was open and serving pintxos and coffee. Seems…read morelike my clock is just in line with Spain and this was my first name of the day. The coffee wasn't as good as I've had another places, and I asked for a Caliente pitxo, which is supposed to be made fresh. He however, folded from under the bar and it was barely lukewarm. Only good part was it had nice flavoring. It's a small space with standing room only, but has a WC.

Simple, old-school, and delicious. This place excels at old-school pintxod. No elaborate…read moreMichelin-star touches. No 21st-century twists. Just beautiful peppers, amazing fresh bread, blood sausage, and other sausages. Made fresh in-house and served by a couple of older gentlemen who could not possibly have been sweeter to me and my wife. It's the sort of spot where, when you're finished with your pinchos, you toss the wrappers and napkins on the floor and head out. I absolutely loved the vibe in here. As low-key as it could possibly get. The pace is unhurried, but the food reaches you quickly, and you will be blown away by the quality of the sausages, the peppers, the olives, the cheeses, the anchovies and sardines, and all the other basics done so flawlessly that you'll want to come back again and again. A special request for blood sausage was happily honored despite it needing to be stuffed and cut fresh. A perfect place to begin your Donostia journey, because you'll get Basque food as it is, not a fusion or an elevated reinterpretation. Plenty of places in the Old Town do modern takes very well, but this is the fundamentals, executed with perfection.

The best meal so far in Spain! The hot pintxos are delicious! My favorite was the pulled beef with…read moretomato sauce. It was so flavorful and warm. Second favorite item was the Iberian Fan Skewer. The meat had the perfect about of lean and fat. It was flavorful and each bite was perfect with the meat and vegetables. Another favorite was the potato omelet. This was great value and so good! The mixed salad dressing was great. The mushroom and prawn skewers were such a perfect combination. Service was awesome! There were indoor and outdoor seating available. Bar area for people to grab quick drinks and pintxos.

One of many bodegas in the Gros Area. Clean, kinda hip and a good value. I had a grilled asparagus…read moreand egg special. It was delicious. Service was good but they were pretty busy

Believe all the 5-stars! Worth the 40min wait. We arrived early and they opened 15min late, all…read moreworthwhile. Staff, both front & back, were exceptional. No bad attitudes displayed considering the sheer volume of people & chaos. The four cooks churned out food like soldiers...major kudos to the young team. My only suggestion would be to redirect the line to the second door that leads to the outdoor dining. People didn't know to move forward b/c all the people waiting blocked the flow. I'd also get rid of the round tables outside and build a long skinny standing table. Favorite was the hake. I usually avoid seafood due to sensitivities but what the hey, a bite here & there on holiday won't kill, plus, if you're gonna risk it, this region is as good as it'll get for clean seafood. The scallop was my 2nd favorite. We didn't get the beef cheeks b/c we were going to have steaks later...wished we had, looked divine. If there's just 2of you, opt for the smallest so you can chomp on different pintxos.

As a warning, you should get here before they open and wait in line because if not, it's a mad…read morehouse. You can get in where you fit in. And just like all the pixtos bars here, seats are for larger portions or set menus and not pixtos. They are known for their suckling pig. Their skin is so crispy and their meat is nice and juicy. Beef cheek is also a must try! We also got the foie gras which was really good. Razor clams was also delicious. Octopus was also a hit, crispy with soft interior. Kids loved the entrecôte. Risotto was good, but wasn't my favorite. Octopus was nice and tender. We ended up going twice here, food is delicious! Service was excellent too, Alejandro always asked if we needed anything and super friendly with our kids too.

We had the duck and the fried pork ears and they were so good!!!! the place is packed but don't let…read morethat stop you from trying this place, they have one of the best pinxtos at San Sebastian! Price is amazing with what you're gonna get!

I gave this place one star because the woman working at the front was extremely rude. She seemed…read moreannoyed that customers were ordering food and treated people with little patience or courtesy. I understand that it can get busy, but customer service is a big part of the job, and her attitude made the experience unpleasant. What stood out most was that she was so dismissive and unfriendly toward several customers. Her behavior was so off-putting that it took away from my ability to enjoy the food, which was actually good. If dealing with customers is that frustrating for her, a position with less public interaction might be a better fit.

We had been visiting the coast with a guide and salivating over the idea of fresh grilled fish but…read morewere too early for lunch. So he recommended this hidden gem located near the university area-one of the few spots in San Sebastián with the same outdoor charcoal grill preparation. We booked a 1:45 reservation and we're a bit ahead of the Sunday lunch crowd. Fresh fish is priced by the kilo (85€) and we had been recommended to try the Turbot or the Breem (aka red snapper). Since we were a group of 4 we got one of each which turned out to be perfectly sized as the server tries to fit the varying fish sizes to your table size. The two delicate fish were finished with light sauces so as not to overwhelm the delicate grilled taste. We also enjoyed hard to find mixed salad with garden fresh tomatoes, onions, olives and tuna with a light olive oil dressing. An affordable Txakoli white wine from the area was a great accompaniment and The dessert sampler with 4 different little desserts was plenty for the four of us. At 250€ this was easily our most expensive meal on our journey so far but a deli change of pace and a memorable experience.

Excellent food , service and ambiance!!! We were warmly welcomed and the experience continued to…read moreexceed our expectations throughout the night!