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    La Cepa

    4.1 (44 reviews)
    InexpensiveBasque, Spanish, Tapas Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    La Cepa Photos

    LA CEPA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - La Cepa

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    Famous!
    Rich T.

    This was our third (and final) stop on our eating extravaganza in San Sebastián, we had already hit two great places and around the corner from the Cathedral, we found this great place. It's a little more touristy as it is on the main route through the old town, but it is nicely furnished with plenty of space. For lunch, they have the usual bar of different foods including many (by now familiar to us) standards. We lived the Jason iberico and the calamari was terrific. We also had anchovy with peppers which was also great and a classic here. We also had a Sangria here that was good. Overall, this is a good spot if you are on your way to the cathedral and it is centrally located, it's hard to miss this place :-)

    Jambon iberique
    Eddie R.

    QUICKIE REVIEW Finest of Iberian jamon cuts had here. FOOD This is what I tried: Jambon iberique These thinly sliced pieces of jamon almost melted away when you tried to eat it. It went great with the bread and a glass of txakoli. PARKING No. SERVICE Good, order at counter, picked up counter. PRICE Less than $30. You can get a half sized port, which is still plenty as you can see in my picture.

    Jamon iberico y idiazabal
    David H.

    Ended up stopping in here twice during our visit - Cepa was solid. The cheese and jamon iberico here were delicious, and we had the best calamari of our trip here. Long thin slices of squid, lightly battered. The sangria was decent, as was the cheesecake. The anchovies in oil were also delicious.

    Tortilla y anchovy toasts
    Gabrielle M.

    La Cepa was the first of MANY pintxos bars in San Sebastian. I enjoyed the anchovy toasts- both with ham and smoked salmon. The Spanish omelette (tortilla) wasn't my favorite, as this version had green bell peppers in it, which is unusual (only onions are typical). We also had a crabmeat and smoked salmon toast that was delicious. The warm goat cheese with pistachio and honey drizzle was also DIVINE! Cute little spot with both locals and tourists alike - you won't be disappointed.

    Kim N.

    It's funny even though I dated someone Catholic for a long time, I still forgot how said Catholicism affected my ability to get food in Spain on Sunday nights. Well Bar La Cepa to the rescue. Not only that, amazing food to the rescue. Our original choice was obviously closed and I happened to remember this during my research. We arrived and it was crowded even at 1030pm. we took a spot at the bar closest to the kitchen which turned out to be a blessing. This is definitely one of the must do's in the old town central. Things you must know: -Their cured meats are awesome. They are known for their Jabugo and sausages. Take a good gander at what is hanging from the ceiling. -Their seafood on the plancha is also excellent. Hake and squid especially. Watch the chef do his magic if you're at the bar -They have some of the best bread I've ever had period. This includes all the Michelin star places in Spain and all over the world. There's a guy that makes it right behind the bar in this toaster oven-ish area. I could not get over how awesome that stuff was. you could fill up on that alone. Super nice people to boot. Definitely a gem in the area, but the locals all already know this. 4.5 stars

    Light and fluffy cheesecake
    Nikki M.

    Delightful Pintxos at this hip and happening spot. They're famous for their anchovies with red and green peppers + chopped onions as well as the gavilla (ham and cheese). We finished up with a slice of cheesecake. More traditional than that of La Vina but also quite delicious. Bonus points for such friendly staff.

    Mixed salad & octopus.

    We chose this restaurant from a list of "top" sit down restaurants and it was actually a very average, old-fashioned tapas place. They definitely use canned and pre-prepared vegetables and the seafood was NOT the best quality for the price, compared to other meals we enjoyed during our four day stay.

    Jamon Iberico!
    Hugh S.

    Great jamon. Easy stop while walking the streets if San Sebastien. Stop in for a board of Jamon and stay for a glass if txakolina. Right between the two churches.

    Great pintxos.  Self serve.  Good wines & beer.
    Denny B.

    Countless varieties of pinxto are presented for patrons to glide by and put on their plates. Cost between 1-3€ per item, so one can get full on some extraordinary and tasty treats. We were able to get hard cider (sidra) and Txakoli (Basque white wine) here. Both of these traditional drinks are just as important as the pinxtos. Fast waiter service. Friendly bartenders. This is fast food done right.

    Candy glass tables was fun
    Eve K.

    Roomy pinxtos spot with a large menu and a fun take on the ham croquette. Food: 4, Service: 4, Atmosphere: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Return worthiness: maybe Eve award: best use of ham in a croquette Highlights: - Fried Ham and cheese: instead of the standard croquette where little bits of ham is mixed with cheese, this has a large rectangular piece of thick ham on the middle and is served on a stick. They also don't have any pre-made but you ask for them so they are freshly fried for you. 5 stars. - Jamon and emmentaler bocadillo: liked the choice of cheese on this little thin sandwich. They also had a roquefort version it wouldn't been fun to try. 4 stars - Octopus: a version on a slice of bread (3 stars) or a full plate of slices pieces you order special (4 stars) - Open 11am (most wait til noon) - Tables to sit at and roomier than other smaller spots and an extra long and wide bar filled with plates. - Candy table: our table had a bunch of different candies under the glass which I thought was fun. - Staff: more helpful than other places we went to - Has desserts: I haven't seen many with that offering - Free wifi: for the traveller this is helpful Midlights: - Tortilla: eggs cooked the way I like more on the soft side but bit too oniony in this version. 3 stars - Fried milk: loved the concept but the outside was a little soggy. 3 stars - Calamari: big plate but not much flavor and the lemon wasn't ripe yet so we couldn't squeeze much juice out. 3 stars Lowlights - A lot on anchovy items if you're not an anchovy fan Our last stop gave us the fill we needed before heading out of town.

    1/2 ración surtido ibérico, the pâte was amazing!
    Carla D.

    Came to this restaurant specifically to taste their Iberico ham. We got half a board of a mix of hams which included a small piece of pâté. The ham was delicious and the portion was perfect for two of us to get a taste of it and still left us with enough room to continue tasting pintxos at different places.

    Txakolí
    Janice L.

    One of the larger pintxos places in the Parte Vieja. Get one of many "cold" pintxos from the long bar, and order hot pintxos and txakoli at your table. After standing for every meal, it was nice to actually sit. Standouts: Mushrooms and runny egg: a friend recommended this, which a sleeper hit amongst all the jamon and choriso plates. Delicious! Foie gras: buttery, oily goodness Sardine/mackerel/salmon cold tapas: I had several -- all were really good!

    Dennis C.

    Had the tortilla bacalao (omelette with bacalao), and jamon con emmenal here. Both were decent but nothing mindblowing. Bartender was very nice.

    Our selections

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    7 years ago

    The service was bad and both fish dishes were tasteless. It's also the same cost as much better restaurants nearby

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    7 years ago

    Great iberico ham and wonderful peppers.

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    8 years ago

    Five stars. Solomillo is as good as steak gets. Everything else was five stars too. Spend some time here.

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    8 years ago

    Wonderful food here. Ox tail and the wild boar were especially nice surprises, but the pintxos were also delicious.

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    10 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

    La Cepa Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - La Cepa

    We tried lots of pintxos topped with little sardines, as seems to be their thing at La cepa.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Atari Gastroteka - Foie gras with sweet corn and white chocolate

    Atari Gastroteka

    4.5(157 reviews)
    0.1 km
    €€

    Atari was one of our favorite pintxos stops in San Sebastián. We sat outside in the open-air…read moreseating directly across from the beautiful Basilica of Saint Mary of the Chorus, and the setting couldn't have been better. Watching the square come alive in the evening while dining beneath the illuminated basilica made for a memorable experience. We ordered several pintxos to share, and every dish was excellent. The standout was the Carrillera (slow-braised beef cheek with mashed potatoes), which was incredibly tender, rich, and comforting. The Platillo de Bonito with tuna, anchovies, green peppers, and olives was fresh and full of classic Basque flavors. The Panceta (pork belly) was another highlight, perfectly crisp on the outside and meltingly tender inside. We also loved the creamy Croqueta de Jamón Ibérico, and the Bacalao Confitado con Pil Pil de Piquillos was beautifully cooked, with delicate cod and a silky piquillo pepper pil pil sauce. We couldn't resist trying the Pintxo Especial as well, and it was a great addition to the meal. The staff were warm and accommodating, helping us get a table outside and making us feel welcome throughout the evening. Inside, the restaurant has a lively, authentic Basque atmosphere, but the outdoor seating overlooking one of San Sebastián's most iconic churches makes the experience even more special. If you're looking for traditional Basque pintxos in a fantastic location, Atari is an easy recommendation. We'd happily come back on our next visit.

    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.

    Photos
    Atari Gastroteka
    Atari Gastroteka
    Atari Gastroteka

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    Borda Berri - Right- crispy pork ears, Left- duck

    Borda Berri

    4.5(123 reviews)
    0.1 km

    No trip to San Sebastián is complete without a pintxos crawl, and after seeing Borda Berri…read morerecommended over and over again, we knew we had to include it on ours. We actually stopped by the day before, but it was already closed, so we made sure to come back the following evening. It was definitely worth it. Unlike many pintxos bars where the food is already displayed on the counter, everything here is cooked to order. The place is small, lively, and always packed, with people spilling out onto the narrow streets of the Old Town while waiting for their dishes. It has that energetic atmosphere that makes San Sebastián's food scene so much fun. We ordered the dishes the bar is best known for, starting with the Carrillera de Ternera (beef cheek). It was unbelievably tender, rich, and practically melted with every bite. We also tried the famous Idiazabal "risotto," which isn't actually risotto but creamy orzo pasta cooked with smoked Idiazabal cheese. It was comforting, creamy, and completely different from anything we'd had before. One surprise of the evening was the tomato salad. It sounds simple, but the tomatoes were incredibly sweet and juicy, finished with excellent olive oil and flaky sea salt. Sometimes the simplest dishes leave the biggest impression. I noticed almost every table ordering the Pork Rib "Kebab," one of the restaurant's signature dishes, so that's definitely on my list for next time. If you're planning a pintxos crawl through San Sebastián's Old Town, Borda Berri deserves a stop. Come early if you can, expect to stand, order a few of the house specialties, and enjoy the lively atmosphere. It's easy to see why this little bar has become such a favorite among both locals and visitors.

    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.

    Photos
    Borda Berri
    Borda Berri
    Borda Berri

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    Astelena - Sea bass special, scallops, and beef tenderloin were all good choices on our table

    Astelena

    4.5(14 reviews)
    0.1 km
    €€

    I wandered around old town for HOURS wth my pintxo guide in hand. Many places were either way too…read morecrowded to get to the bar, the food looked not great, or had a terrible atmosphere. Finally, exhausted and delirious I stumbled into this rezi. Thankfully so! The server was so friendly even though my Spanish sucks. I immediately ordered a red sangria (Delish!) to calm my pintxo nerves. I settled into the bar and finally ordered the classic jamón ibérico. I used to think the ibérico was the region of the country but as I learned at the market, it's the cut of ham. Ibérico is very popular but I find there are better less fatty cuts but many bars only carry this. I digress! It was good and came with fluffy fresh bread, plentiful at that! (See pic). Then on a recommendation I ordered the beef carpaccio off the regular non pintxo menu. It was the best dish of my trip so far. It had chopped beef, onion, pickles!, and I think some horseradish sauce. I would fly back to Spain just to have this again. Go here, and order this.

    Bar Astelena was the first stop on our pintxos crawl and I would've been happy to spend the whole…read morenight here. The pintxos were delicious and aesthetically pleasing, and the portions were generous compared to some of the other traditional bars. The space was modern, colorful, and inviting. The large platter of Jamon Iberico was pork perfection (16€). We could see them slicing the meat from the large pork leg. The foie a la plancha had a nice presentation with coarse sea salt and fruit reductions, such a great value at 4€. The house wines were 2€. This was one of the culinary highlights of my European trip... I'd definitely go back on my next trip.

    Photos
    Astelena - Plaza de la Constitution

    Plaza de la Constitution

    Astelena
    Astelena

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    Txepetxa

    Txepetxa

    4.7(34 reviews)
    0.1 km

    If you're an anchovy lover, Bar Txepetxa is an absolute must in San Sebastián…read more Our tour guide, Javier, highly recommended it, calling it one of the city's best pintxos bars, especially for anchovies. He was spot on. There was a line outside when we arrived, but it moved quickly, and soon we were standing at the lively bar, just like the locals. Don't expect to sit. This is the authentic pintxos experience where you stand, eat, enjoy a drink, and soak in the buzzing atmosphere. Txepetxa specializes in boquerones, vinegar-cured white anchovies that are incredibly fresh, silky, and not fishy at all. They're marinated using a secret family recipe that's made this tiny bar famous for decades. We ordered almost every anchovy pintxo we could, and every single one was delicious. My favorites were the anchovy with jardinera sauce, topped with peppers and onions for a fresh, tangy bite, and the anchovy with trout roe, where the rich anchovy paired perfectly with the delicate pop of the roe. We also loved the anchovy with spider crab cream, which was incredibly creamy and flavorful. The walls are covered with photos of famous visitors, from celebrities to Spanish royalty, adding to the charm of this iconic little bar. Whether you're already an anchovy fan or think you don't like them, this is the place that might change your mind. The quality is outstanding, the service is fast despite the crowds, and the atmosphere is exactly what makes San Sebastián's pintxos culture so special. A definite 5-star must-visit and one of the highlights of our food tour in San Sebastián. I'll be dreaming about those anchovy pintxos long after this trip.

    Got here right as they opened. There was no one there. Within minutes, seriously, minutes, there…read morewas no standing room available!! Crazy!! Tried a couple of anchovy pinchos and loved it all. I don't think we actually got the foie one, we got manzana instead but it was all good. Will be back, right when they open again. We could barely leave when we were done! Jaja! The anchovy only one was salty but went well with beer.

    Photos
    Txepetxa
    Txepetxa
    Txepetxa - Exterior

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    Exterior

    La Cuchara de San Telmo - My favorite

    La Cuchara de San Telmo

    4.4(137 reviews)
    0.0 km
    €€

    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.

    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.

    Photos
    La Cuchara de San Telmo
    La Cuchara de San Telmo
    La Cuchara de San Telmo - Razor clams

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    Razor clams

    Gorriti - Pintxos

    Gorriti

    4.6(17 reviews)
    0.2 km

    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.

    Photos
    Gorriti
    Gorriti
    Gorriti - Selection of pintxos.

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    Selection of pintxos.

    Bar Néstor - Spanish Tortilla de Patata

    Bar Néstor

    4.7(159 reviews)
    0.1 km
    €€

    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.

    Photos
    Bar Néstor
    Bar Néstor - Fresh tomatoes with olive oil and salt

    Fresh tomatoes with olive oil and salt

    Bar Néstor - Outside Façade

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    Outside Façade

    La Cepa - basque - Updated July 2026

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