One of many surprises on the General Artetxe Kalea. A little Taberna with great prepared Pintxos,…read moreand a great selection on the blackboard. We came early on a Saturday afternoon for the famed Bergara (justifiably so) on the northern end of the alley, but discovered (and enchanted by) an huge congregation anchored around a triangle of spots on the southern end: Pagadi, Bar Roberto and Bar Ricardo. Bergara was crowded, but these latter 3 seem to exert the strongest gravitational pull among the revelers.....

Great little tavern in the Gros neighborhood of San Sebastián. They have a nice menu as well as…read moresome really good traditional Tapas. It is very popular with the locals. The owner is kind and friendly and the food is excellent. Don't expect to be served quickly however. And they do not take credit cards. Very family-friendly as well.

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.

Vermuteka was awesome! Yeah, a bit pricey compared to other places in the city, but it was right in…read morethe mercado and provided a great place to relax and enjoy the vermut. They offered a wide array of vermut cocktails, straight up vermut, and eats. What more could you ask for? While you're at it, step outside and take in the view of the Nervion.

We really enjoyed A Fuego Negro. We ended up going twice…read more Their menu is very interesting. Definitely try the vermouth. The fried chicken was very good! The chicken lollipop with chicken foot was delicious. I really enjoyed the olives filled with vermouth gel but my wife did not. The meat brownie was also incredible! The Kobe slider is fantastic. The squid ink donuts were delicious as well. Very earthy and brined. I can't wait to go back to SS to give AFN another try!

A Fuego Negro did not disappoint! Their Michelin Star is well deserved. It's located deep in the…read morebustling Old Town. Not very easy to find, but well worth the search. Inside the restaurant there is a bar counter with prepared pintxos layed out. We were there for the famous Kobe beef sliders and the potato chip fried chicken. Wow, they were amazing! Both selections were seasoned to perfection and the chicken was finger licking good too! I hope to return one day and definitely go for the Kobe beef slider. It was that good. The staff is accommodating and the service is excellent. Don't miss this place if you're in San Sebastian. It's well worth the search to find it to sample their delicious food. Yummy!

Munto was the high point of an evening of mad drinking and pinxto bar hopping…read more We hit a lot of places and had a lot of so-so pinxtos. The prepared pinxtos on the bar at Munto were the clear class of the lot. No other cold pinxtos came close. The exact details of what was on each pinxto are now lost in a sea of vermouth. One had a very dark very rich Iberian ham, with an underlaying of a rich fish - maybe some mackerel? One was a solid block of white tuna with anchovy, scallions, red pepper and vinaigrette. There was other good stuff, but the pleasure center of my brain got overloaded. But you don't have to believe this inebriated sot. Munto was by far the most crowded of the pinxto bars we went to. The Donostians seem to think it is a great place too.

The best Foie a la plancha I have ever had. It's the Foie by which all others will be judged. The…read moreFoie has the perfect amount of sear to it giving it just the right amount of saltiness. The sweetness of the grape puree and the bread tying everything together...the most perfect food in creation. Seared Foie. If it were a man, we would never leave the bedroom. I don't understand why Munto isn't on any of the best pintxos list. We came here every chance we got. And I can't wait to go back. Besides the awesome Foie (I love you). We had: Brocheta de langostino and gula. Simple, good. Chipirón relleno: Mmm Brocheta de boquerón: I love boquerónes and couldn't get enough of them Pulpo a la gallega: new fan Gilda: I love little fish Had a few others that I can't recall the names of. We came here the most. It's extremely crowded at night. You do most of your eating while standing and fighting for elbow room. The servers were quick and attentive while taking the hot dish orders. I miss this place.

Bar Sport is an amazing spot for pintxos and one of my favorites in San Sebastián…read more The standout here is definitely the crab based pintxos. If you like crab pâté, this is absolutely the place to go. Rich, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. The whole place has that classic lively pintxos bar energy that makes San Sebastián so special. A must stop if you are exploring the food scene here.

It was nice and I enjoyed my experience. A typical pintxo bar - very crowded and lively. A glass of…read morewine and a pitxos or two and onto the next place (usually next door) Too bad there is no experience like this in the US. It means you would have to put your phone down and actually have a conversation. Perish that thought!

Excellent food, incredible service. No visit to Casco Viejo would be complete without several stops…read moreat this lovely place. Frequent enough and the staff will remember your favorite drink!

Baster ended up being my last meal in Bilbao. It's a neat spot but on a Saturday night, the inside…read morewas packed and all the outside seating was packed. I sort of lucked out as I placed my beer and pinxtos order at the outside counter just as a nearby standup table opened up. The Estrella was cold and satisfying. My sandwich took a little while to be headed up in the panini press but worth the wait. Tasty, filling and delicious. It's a neat spot right next to the big church wall. Neat space. Totally would return.

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.