I'm not letting anyone reading this in on a secret here...while San Sebastián is known for all…read moretheir Michelin Star restaurants, it's the Pintxos that will be the most memorable and really what foodies come here for. It's like a high end food festival out there, and you just bar hop from place to place eating all these wonderful Pintxos and drinking cold glasses of Txakoli - a refreshing lightly carbonated wine. Everything in Basque Country is local and they have it all. Atari Gastroteka was our first stop, and we showed up right when they opened for the first Pintxos of the day. We focused on the cold Pintxos at the counter, just pointed at whatever looked good and ate it. Some of my favorites were... The marinated red Piquillo Pepper stuffed with tuna salad on a baguette. Smoked Mackerel on tomato bread Smoked Salmon with shrimp, egg, tomato, cream cheese on a raisin walnut toast. Topped with pickled veggie relish. Man this hit every flavor profile perfectly. We needed a 2nd one of those when I went back for Round 2. Jamon with Brie, honey, on dark walnut bread. I'm pretty sure they quickly hit this with a blowtorch to get the honey to caramelize on the Brie and also scorching the bread slightly. I could keep going on....but whatever bites you get here will be fantastic. Best to go with people who enjoy sharing bites, so you can try many different things so you don't get full.

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.

Have been going to the pintxos Morunos spot in Casco Viejo, so was wondering if there were others…read morearound the city. Luckily, found this spot and discovered that the family held post at two of the other big pintxos Morunos spots in town. The skewers were spiced to perfection, but the real surprise were the mushrooms. Savory, garlicky, and juicy! Fantastic and friendly service, too!

Amazing lamb skewers and the fried squid was perfect. Definitely would try it again. Had a nice…read morebeer also.

This has to be the most insane Pinxto experience and probably one of the best meals I had during my…read moretime in San Sebastián. Lined up roughly 30 minutes before the doors open. And another 30 minutes after opening, it's not very clear at first once service starts going, but there is a long counter when you enter to the right hand side, where you place your order several people will be taking orders at once and once you pay, you have to find a spot to sit, which can either be indoor or outdoor. as your food is ready they yell your name and you have to be listening carefully. I would recommend ordering all your food upfront and if you need additional drinks during or after your meal, that's easy to order after the fact. We were there beginning of September and it was very hot. If you are someone that gets claustrophobic, this is a very tight hot space with a lot of chaos and people. That being said, this is one of the best meals we had. We ordered the full portion of the crispy sulking pig , octopus, beef cheeks and crema Catalana. Food runs out fast so my recommendation would be to lineup early before opening. If there's a specific item on the menu, you were looking forward to. I would 100% come back here.

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.

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.

Delicious and highly recommend! This spot lives up to the hype. Highly recommend the beef cheek and…read morerisotto. The place does get packed but we got lucky and went right when they open and was able to get a spot at the bar.

Bilbao is full of unassuming Cafe Bars like this. This one is inhabited with friendly staff and…read morelocals. It's located on a pedestrian square without cars. Good Cappuccinos and Pixtnos. We has a Tortilla and some toast. Whole thing was less than 20 euro for two.

We had the most amazing food experience here that we came back for more. Love all the pintxos that…read morewe tried. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Service was very fast and efficient. Nice bar, very fast paced.

One of our worat tapas stops in San Sebastian ... so many glowing reviews make me wonder if we came…read moreon a bad night ... or how many drinks the previous reviewers had. The food here was more expensive thsn your average tapas ... but out of 5 things we ordered, only one was somewhat edible (tacos) ... but nothing we couldn't find at a taco stand in Los Angeles for cheaper. All the others were bland, chewy or just a sloppy mess. The staff were all pretty much aloof and when they did come around, were disintetested and snippy. We noticed that the customers next to us pretty much left most of their food after a few bites and agreed with us their food was dissapointing. We only had 2 nights in San Sebastian, so we really regretted wasting a meal here. Maybe our experience wasn't indicative of normal but it was the worst tapas we had in Spain. The hair we found in one of our dishes after the first bite was gross enough ... but the waiter shrugging and removing the dish without bringing another or removing it from the bill was also not a good move. There are much better spots in San Sebastian ... we feel that we wasted a meal here ... not to mention money.

With so much amazing food in San Sebastian, not every place can come out as a top contender, and…read moresadly Mendaur fell short for us. Can't remember if this one was recommended to us or if we just happened to come in, either way we went in with an open mind and no menu items in mind. We sat at the bar here, and nice break from standing in so many of the other pintxo bars. They had a fairly big menu so we asked the bartender what was the best and ordered that. Went with the truffle mushroom risotto, calamari that was served taco style on a tortilla and with some sauce and red onions, and the pork belly. Everything tasted pretty standard, it wasn't bad at all, but it wasn't at the same level as some of the other bites we had been eating. It seems like a lot of the pintxos here were a little more unique and artistic than some of the other bars. Based on the other reviews, I think it definitely has potential to be a great meal if you order the right thing.

Outstanding food and very efficient service from staff who are sometimes overwhelmed by the hungry…read morecrowds. We ate there twice on our brief stay in town!

We came by Gaucho on a previous night around 7pm it was swamped with people. If you want to try…read moreGaucho, come early and be brave and just dive in. We came for lunch the next day and it was more manageable. We bucked up and dove in. We learned that the drill is to find a table or bar space and order drinks, then peruse the tapa offerings along the bar. You pay when you've ordered the items you want. When you want more, you return to the bar, get more and pay. Tables are precious, but they do turn over so just be patient. The folks behind the bar get busy. If you speak Spanish, you can get their attention more easily. If not, don't be shy, signal you are ready to order. The staff is there to move customers, so be quick about decisions. They do understand and speak some English though there's not much chatting going on. This was some of the best tapas we've had on the the trip and we went to Madrid and San Sebastian. We just picked things that looked interesting not knowing what they were. Everything was delicious. Several items were creamy and rich like the crispy duck, crispy spinach and shrimp, and the sea urchin. The foie gras was cooked just enough to brown but still had plenty of melty richness. We had everything plus 4 beers for about $57. It's a great place and definitely worth a visit if you're in Pamplona.

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.

This was our first dinner in San Sebastián, made reservations ahead of time, because I heard so…read moremuch about their Txuleta steak. It lived up to expectations in every way. This steak is a much older cow (8 to 18 years old) than your normal US cow (1-2 years old). It's literally aged beef all those years while grazing, working, and milking. Such an amazing flavor. This is what we came here for. 40 oz of bone in ribeye for the table. Tabla de Iberico (half portion). This was the best charcuterie we had while in Spain. 4 amazing meats, definitely start your meal with this. Jamon Iberico de Bellota - stole the show, due to eating nothing but acorns, has such a nutty taste to it. But loved the other 3 as well. Chilled Spider Crab - this is another don't miss dish, although you can get it on Pintxos here and other places, this presentation in the crab shell is great. And it was the best crab salad we had anywhere. Txuleta 44 oz Bone-in Ribeye. They don't ask how you want it, it comes beautifully rare, nice crust on the outside, only topped with some course salt. It's not the most tender steak you've eaten, but the flavor makes up for it. You actually want each bite to last a bit. The fat has truly rendered into the meat here, delicious. Had to try both cheese cakes side by side Cheesecake #1 - House made Basque cheesecake with hazelnut ice cream. This was the winner of the two for me. Maybe not as fancy as the 2nd one. Cheesecake #2 - Rafa Gorrotxategi "Gandarias" Cheesecake with butter ice cream. This had an interesting top that was an apricot caramel glaze and an almond crust. It wasn't as sweet as the first one. Pretty though. We did return a few days later for their Pintxos and everything was delicious at the bar side as well. Can't see myself coming back to San Sebastián without eating here.

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.

If you're tired of eating pintxos in San Sebastian, or you need something to go (like we did,…read morebecause I'm not sure I could get tired of eating pintxos!), this is a great place to come. This place sells 3-4 different types of ham sandwiches, all made with fresh baguettes, fresh meat, and cheese. There's no sauces or anything super fancy with these sandwiches, because you don't really need anything to cover up the taste of fresh ingredients. These sandwiches are reasonably priced at around ~4 euros, which is way better than most of the other food/sandwiches that you'll find at the train station. If you pay 1 euro more (or something nominal), you can get a drink with your sandwich, which includes bottled water, soda, or beer. Definitely worth checking this place out if you need something quick to eat, or something to save for later. There's no seating at this place, so plan accordingly - you'll have to take your food elsewhere.