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Recommended Reviews - La Viña
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I only had three days in the Basque Country, and somehow I found myself at La Viña every single day. I simply could not get enough of their famous Basque cheesecake. There are countless videos claiming it's the original and the best, and after trying it for myself, I completely understand why. It was so good that I came back two more times during my trip, bringing friends along who loved it just as much. They ended up returning with their own families afterward. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. And while the cheesecake gets most of the attention, the rest of the food deserves just as much praise. The steak was honestly one of the best I've ever had. I visited two months ago, and I still find myself craving it today. The grilled prawns were also outstanding. Beyond the food, the atmosphere and overall experience at La Viña are fantastic. It's the kind of place that makes you want to linger and enjoy every moment. I would genuinely fly back to Spain just to eat here again. If you're visiting San Sebastián, this restaurant is an absolute must.
Being a one trick pony doesn't have to be a bad thing. And La Viña is just that: they do one item, a drippy, creamy, absolutely incredible basque cheesecake that they are extremely famous for and deservedly so. This is an obligatory stop to any trip to San Sebastián. Like any popular pinxtos spot in Old Town, you can get expect this to be standing room only, crowded, and a line out the door to get just one thing, but they've clearly been doing this forever and know what to expect. I stopped here at the end of my Saturday afternoon pinxtos crawl, knowing that I was too full from lunch to actually eat it immediately. The menu is pretty simple: you can order by the slice (you get two slices for about 6.50 euros) or a whole cheesecake. They have some pinxtos food items but generally very few people were ordering that. A lot of people stand in the street outside and eat their cheesecake, but I was able to get in/out within 10 minutes for a slice packed to go, which I took to my hotel nearby to enjoy after a good nap. And the cheesecake is genuinely incredible. This is the home / invention of basque cheesecake in the way it's intended to be done: not only browned at the top, but with a drippy, creamy consistency that's almost custard-like. It's genuinely incredible and I've never had anything quite like it in the States. This is a when in Rome situation and absolutely worth the hype. I may or may not have also taken a nap after eating my cheesecake.
I haven't stopped dreaming of having another slice of La Viña cheesecake for 2 years now. There is nothing else like it in the states, not even close. If you are in San Sebastián go get yourself a slice, I promise you won't regret it. Tucked in the back of Old Town, you might walk right past it if you don't know what you're looking for (like we did the first time)! Expect cheesecakes, on cheesecakes, on cheesecakes. They don't stop making them. Can't get busy and loud since the bar is on the smaller side and is majority standing room only. Grab a slice and pair it with a glass of prosecco, cheers!
I came a little earlier so missed the big rush, but it was still busy. Good part is I didn't have to wait in line, only a few minutes at the counter. After trying it I get what the hype is all about. Best description I give is that it was very flavorful, creamy, and the most delectable cheesecake I've had. I would say it was a cheesecake with a consistency and texture of flan. Compared to the amount of business they get it's quite small inside so seating can be difficult. Going early, helped as I was able to secure a place to sit and enjoy my cheesecake.
I'm just reviewing this on the cheesecake because that's the only thing I ordered here. I knew from the start that this was the place to get the famous Basque cheesecake and this place certainly did not disappoint. Flavor and creaminess was AMAZING. I've had many basque cheesecakes, and try this place was the originator and clear winner. It's also a tapas bar, so it gets quite busy, so we bought 4 orders of cheesecakes and took it to go. Had I known he would be gone for 2 weeks on vacation, I probably would have put in a 24hr notice to bring home a whole cake. It was just that good! I came back a few days later to find a sign on the door saying they would be gone until the beginning of July :(. I've had to try other cheesecakes in the area, definitely not the same.
The line was pretty short on a Wednesday afternoon. We ordered their famous Basque cheesecake. It was absolutely delicious. It is lighter and creamier than I've ever had and less sweet. My only regret was getting only one slice per person!
A lot of social media hype generally makes me weary of the actual establishment; but I came here to try one thing and one thing only - the cheesecake. Even though I arrived at 3:50pm ten minutes before the spot closes for a few hours- it was a mad house. The cheesecake is quite fluffy and goes down nicely with a coffee it was pretty unmemorable. Also tried the apple cake which was basically sliced apple with no crust or spice. I would come here if there was no wait. But I am sure San Sebastián has some other cakes that are less viral that taste better.
Best basque cheesecake!! Literally went here to cap our night after pintxos hopping! Service was fast and very easy going staff!
La Viña is famous for its award-winning cheesecake. It's packed with tourists. One portion of cheesecake comes with 2 slices for 6 euros. You can't get one slice. Maybe it's made of idiazabal cheese? There's plenty of seating inside. Very popular and busy and fast service.
Burnt Basque cheesecake was absolutely delicious. It does not compare to anything you've had. So creamy, not overly sweet and very lite. Asking for one slice is plenty to share for 2. Very generous portions. The service there was great. Very friendly. The line may look long, but it moves quite quickly. Most people I notice they get it to go.
The cheesecake is as good as advertised. Light, fluffy and creamy. I had heard rumors that they are known as the best in the world. It did not disappoint. Be prepared to wait in line to get this delicious cheesecake. I passed by two nights in a row and the line was incredibly long. Decided to try the morning when they opened at 10:30. This was the right call. No line. Ordered with a glass of Albariño wine.
Move over New York cheesecake, Basque cheesecake is unbelievably delicious and probably has a history several hundred years older. I am from NY and love NY cheesecake. I could be very happy eating St Sebastians best dessert for ever. creamy and tasty. thank you my Basque friends!
La Vina is where Basque Burnt Cheesecake was invented, and not that long ago really, created here in 1988. But restaurants all over the world copied the burnt top idea, which gives it an almost caramelized flavor to it. This cheesecake has only 5 ingredients, cream cheese, sugar, heavy cream, eggs, and a tbsp of flour. The line is out the door for this place, everyone wanting their famous cheesecakes. They are constantly being baked and are cooling all over the place. And the smell inside is wonderful. The consistency of the inside of the cheesecake might surprise you. If allowed to sit for a few hours, it's a nice velvety interior. If they slice one that hasn't cooled that long, the inside may be custardy. They don't seem to mind how the center is set. Multiple people are slicing different cheesecakes to order, and one was fairly set, and the other was pretty liquid in the middle. I believe if it's that way, they view it as a flan, or molten interior. I will say, I saw a lot of the runnier slices of cheesecake getting thrown out by customers, so I wasn't the only one that preferred the center a little more set. I wonder if you can request a slice from a cooler one. The flavor was delicious of course, and surprisingly you get two slices per order. We didn't need four slices. But it did allow us to have 2 different textures and compare them side by side. read more
Worth the pilgrimage for the original Basque cheesecake Like many visitors to San Sebastián, we came to La Viña for one reason: to try the cheesecake that inspired countless versions around the world. This is where the famous Basque cheesecake was created, and after finally tasting it, I completely understand why people line up for it. The first thing that surprised me was the texture. If you're expecting a dense New York-style cheesecake, this is completely different. It's incredibly creamy and custard-like in the center, with a beautifully caramelized top that adds just the right amount of depth. It's rich without feeling heavy, and somehow disappears from your plate much faster than you'd expect. I also loved that La Viña still feels like a traditional neighborhood bar rather than a tourist attraction. Locals stop in for pintxos and wine, while visitors from all over the world come for a slice of cheesecake. The mix gives the place a lively, authentic atmosphere that's part of the experience. My advice? Don't overthink it. Order the cheesecake, find a spot if you can, and enjoy it exactly where it was born. Sometimes the originals really are the best, and this is one of those cases. If you're visiting San Sebastián, La Viña is a stop that's absolutely worth making. read more
2 months ago
La Viña is one of those rare places that completely lives up to the hype. I have heard about this cheesecake for years, and somehow it still exceeded expectations. It is hands down the best cheesecake I have ever had. The texture is unbelievably creamy, rich without being too heavy, and perfectly balanced. Simple, iconic, and unforgettable. If you are in San Sebastián, this is an absolute must. Some places become famous for a reason, and La Viña is definitely one of them. read more
I only had three days in the Basque Country, and somehow I found myself at La Viña every single day. I simply could not get enough of their famous Basque cheesecake. There are countless videos claiming it's the original and the best, and after trying it for myself, I completely understand why. It was so good that I came back two more times during my trip, bringing friends along who loved it just as much. They ended up returning with their own families afterward. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. And while the cheesecake gets most of the attention, the rest of the food deserves just as much praise. The steak was honestly one of the best I've ever had. I visited two months ago, and I still find myself craving it today. The grilled prawns were also outstanding. Beyond the food, the atmosphere and overall experience at La Viña are fantastic. It's the kind of place that makes you want to linger and enjoy every moment. I would genuinely fly back to Spain just to eat here again. If you're visiting San Sebastián, this restaurant is an absolute must. read more
Being a one trick pony doesn't have to be a bad thing. And La Viña is just that: they do one item, a drippy, creamy, absolutely incredible basque cheesecake that they are extremely famous for and deservedly so. This is an obligatory stop to any trip to San Sebastián. Like any popular pinxtos spot in Old Town, you can get expect this to be standing room only, crowded, and a line out the door to get just one thing, but they've clearly been doing this forever and know what to expect. I stopped here at the end of my Saturday afternoon pinxtos crawl, knowing that I was too full from lunch to actually eat it immediately. The menu is pretty simple: you can order by the slice (you get two slices for about 6.50 euros) or a whole cheesecake. They have some pinxtos food items but generally very few people were ordering that. A lot of people stand in the street outside and eat their cheesecake, but I was able to get in/out within 10 minutes for a slice packed to go, which I took to my hotel nearby to enjoy after a good nap. And the cheesecake is genuinely incredible. This is the home / invention of basque cheesecake in the way it's intended to be done: not only browned at the top, but with a drippy, creamy consistency that's almost custard-like. It's genuinely incredible and I've never had anything quite like it in the States. This is a when in Rome situation and absolutely worth the hype. I may or may not have also taken a nap after eating my cheesecake. read more
I haven't stopped dreaming of having another slice of La Viña cheesecake for 2 years now. There is nothing else like it in the states, not even close. If you are in San Sebastián go get yourself a slice, I promise you won't regret it. Tucked in the back of Old Town, you might walk right past it if you don't know what you're looking for (like we did the first time)! Expect cheesecakes, on cheesecakes, on cheesecakes. They don't stop making them. Can't get busy and loud since the bar is on the smaller side and is majority standing room only. Grab a slice and pair it with a glass of prosecco, cheers! read more
I came a little earlier so missed the big rush, but it was still busy. Good part is I didn't have to wait in line, only a few minutes at the counter. After trying it I get what the hype is all about. Best description I give is that it was very flavorful, creamy, and the most delectable cheesecake I've had. I would say it was a cheesecake with a consistency and texture of flan. Compared to the amount of business they get it's quite small inside so seating can be difficult. Going early, helped as I was able to secure a place to sit and enjoy my cheesecake. read more
1 year ago
I'm just reviewing this on the cheesecake because that's the only thing I ordered here. I knew from the start that this was the place to get the famous Basque cheesecake and this place certainly did not disappoint. Flavor and creaminess was AMAZING. I've had many basque cheesecakes, and try this place was the originator and clear winner. It's also a tapas bar, so it gets quite busy, so we bought 4 orders of cheesecakes and took it to go. Had I known he would be gone for 2 weeks on vacation, I probably would have put in a 24hr notice to bring home a whole cake. It was just that good! I came back a few days later to find a sign on the door saying they would be gone until the beginning of July :(. I've had to try other cheesecakes in the area, definitely not the same. read more
2 months ago
The line was pretty short on a Wednesday afternoon. We ordered their famous Basque cheesecake. It was absolutely delicious. It is lighter and creamier than I've ever had and less sweet. My only regret was getting only one slice per person! read more
1 month ago
3 months ago
1 year ago
A lot of social media hype generally makes me weary of the actual establishment; but I came here to try one thing and one thing only - the cheesecake. Even though I arrived at 3:50pm ten minutes before the spot closes for a few hours- it was a mad house. The cheesecake is quite fluffy and goes down nicely with a coffee it was pretty unmemorable. Also tried the apple cake which was basically sliced apple with no crust or spice. I would come here if there was no wait. But I am sure San Sebastián has some other cakes that are less viral that taste better. read more
5 months ago
Best basque cheesecake!! Literally went here to cap our night after pintxos hopping! Service was fast and very easy going staff! read more
La Viña is famous for its award-winning cheesecake. It's packed with tourists. One portion of cheesecake comes with 2 slices for 6 euros. You can't get one slice. Maybe it's made of idiazabal cheese? There's plenty of seating inside. Very popular and busy and fast service. read more
1 year ago
Burnt Basque cheesecake was absolutely delicious. It does not compare to anything you've had. So creamy, not overly sweet and very lite. Asking for one slice is plenty to share for 2. Very generous portions. The service there was great. Very friendly. The line may look long, but it moves quite quickly. Most people I notice they get it to go. read more
3 months ago
Best Basque cheesecake per the hotel owner where we stayed. She gave us her "Best of..." link and off we went. In Jen we trusted. Stuffed our faces and ended our afternoon of SS pintxos tasting at La Vina. She did not disappoint. read more
4 months ago
The cheesecake is as good as advertised. Light, fluffy and creamy. I had heard rumors that they are known as the best in the world. It did not disappoint. Be prepared to wait in line to get this delicious cheesecake. I passed by two nights in a row and the line was incredibly long. Decided to try the morning when they opened at 10:30. This was the right call. No line. Ordered with a glass of Albariño wine. read more
1 year ago
Move over New York cheesecake, Basque cheesecake is unbelievably delicious and probably has a history several hundred years older. I am from NY and love NY cheesecake. I could be very happy eating St Sebastians best dessert for ever. creamy and tasty. thank you my Basque friends! read more
Hands down some of the best cheesecake in the world! Goes great with a cold glass of txakoli. The bar gets packed, but service is quick. Also, don't sleep on their marinated octopus - that was another highlight of my pinxtos party. read more
Attention all foodies: A must on your bucket list to go to when in San Sebastian, Spain. If you would like to try the original Burnt Basque Cheesecake, La Vina is the place to go! We went late around 9pm and the restaurant was still packed! It was worth the line and chaos of trying to buy the cheesecake. They sell them in slices (one order comes with two slices of cheescake) or a whole cheesecake. The priice was reasonable. The texture is a bit different from the traditional cheesecake and it tastes amaaazing! I really enjoyed it and brought out happiness and joy eating this type of cheesecake. read more
Stopped at La Viña for their burnt Basque Cheesecake and it did not disappoint. This tiny restaurant gets so packed that you will see people on the street eating their cheesecake. I was able to get a small spot at the bar and enjoyed a glass of wine with my cheesecake, which is actually more like two slices of cheesecake. It has a really unique texture that is more like flan but the flavors are amazing! We had a lovely server who dealt with the crazy crowds so well. Can't wait to go back, next time I'm trying the pintxos read more
2 years ago
The hype is real the basque cheesecake is really that good. Very busy and decent service. Nice ambiance and worth the visit. We plan to be back to try other items besides the cheesecake. read more
2 years ago
Tarta de queso: 10/10 Canitillo de queso y anchoa: 4/10 Probamos la famosa tarta de queso después de hacer una larga fila antes de que abriera el lugar. Valió la pena la espera. Pedimos además los canutillos de queso y anchoa ya que son famosos por haber sido premiados. La verdad no nos gustaron. Esperábamos una crema ligera con sabor a queso, y en cambio era queso crema con una consistencia muy densa con una anchoa y el canutillo estaba frito obviamente, pero muy grasoso y no con un buen sabor. La tarta de queso fue sin duda la estrella y sin duda regresaríamos por ella. read more
1 year ago
We got a late night cheesecake. Definitely different than good ol NYC cheesecake. Creamy, ricotta based and family didn't love that it was room temp. This spot is. Must stop to say you did it, but didn't entirely win us over. One cheesecake is enough for a good tasting for the family because it's actually two slices! read more
3 years ago
Had to try the famed original cheesecake. Came by a half hour before opening and there was no line and by the time I returned 20 minutes later I think 3 people were ahead with large orders that took a while. Being from the US, the consistency of the cheesecake is much softer like flan than I was used to and I have to admit I preferred my leftovers that I left in the hotel fridge and ate the next morning after it set to a firmer consistency. I had similar cheesecakes at other restaurants during my stay and didn't really think there was a huge difference. read more
QUICKIE REVIEW You may not realize it by the way they move cheesecake but they do sell other food here. That being said, make sure to get you a slice of cheesecake while here. FOOD This is what I tried: Cheesecake Anchovy original There original take on anchovy pintxos has quite the kick. It will not be for everyone but it is something to try. Cheesecake, one order of cheesecake comes with two generous slices. This is the star of the show and why you come to this restaurant. If you are big on having a firm texture cheesecake, this is not for you. Jell-O is more solid than this. PARKING NA SERVICE Order at counter, pick up at counter. PRICE Less than $20 TIP/OTHER THOUGHTS Had to come here twice as well as the place was so busy the first time. What was interesting to see was the amount of people eating cheesecake in the streets from here when it was busy. read more
2 years ago
This is a highly overrated place. The cheesecake is very heavy with lots of ingredients that are not necessarily are in good balance. I heard costco makes better cheesecakes but who knows as I'm not a desert type of guy other than ice cream. There are other pintxos that are worth trying as well as all of the other bars. The service can be disappointing as others mentioned. This place gets crowded, so be prepared to wait for long periods. read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
Ah, the Basque Cheesecake that took the pandemic home baking by storm! So often imitated, but never duplicated? ...except you can! The recipe is on YouTube ;) With that said, I've made the Pasjoli version, the Taste version, plus numerous versions of my own with tweaks here and there. Now that I've tried the OG version, I must say...the Pasjoli and Taste versions are even better! (don't come at me lolol) But if I were in San Sebastian, would I go to La Viña again and fork out a humble €5 for a fat slice of tasty Tarta de Queso? You bet your ass I would! read more
I normally dislike cheesecakes but I will make an exception for La Vina. What I usually dislike about cheesecakes is they're too sweet, rich and dense for me. But La Vina cut down these elements to the right proportions! I was able to gulf down the cheesecake and was left feeling of wanting to buy another slice. This place is busy. All the waiters are moving at unbelievable speeds to make their way through the crowds. But despite the busy workload, many work with a smile on their face and they're friendly with customers. read more
4 years ago
Delighted to make a stop in San Sebastian, home of the "Basque Cheesecake". I read about this cheesecake in the NYTimes and the restaurant to try it at was "La Viña" We stood at the counter and waited & waited for our turn to be noticed and to place our order. We ordered the Torta de Queso (cheesecake) croquettas, tortilla de patata & kalimotxo. The cheesecake was creamy and smooth like a flan. Definitely a must try if you get the chance! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
We came for one thing; we waited in the rain for one thing: the cheesecake! It's absolutely delicious, very different than what Americans think of as cheesecake. It is not nearly as rich as what we are used to back home, doesn't leave you feeling gross and your stomach so heavy after eating a slice. One order comes with 2 slices, perfect for my husband and I to share! We also each got a glass of sherry, which was the perfect accompaniment to the cheesecake. We will definitely be back for dessert before we leave San Sebastián this trip! read more
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