Agatha made the experience special. The food was decent, but watching her working that entire…read moreinside with perfection was amazing. She's definitely a pro. But, not all my experience was great. Fish soup was tasty after I added salt. I enjoyed the salad, but overpriced for what I got, I think cause of location. I'm soloing Spain so sometimes it can be challenging asking for a table. In this case the dude that great me said he can only seat me inside despite several open outdoor tables. I agreed as I was cold. Soon, the inside filled up, but that was a rude move. Thankfully Agatha made up for his lack of service.

Food was good but waiter lets you order way too much. Eat…read morefirst and then add later. Fresh fish cost 100 euro. Be careful

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.

The food was good, the ambiance was sparse, clean and service was prompt. It's like a family…read morerestaurant, friendly and welcoming. We had the fish soup which contained clams and fish and was tasty, the seafood salad had nice greens and lobster pieces with a oil and vinegar dressing. The shrimp were OK but were not grilled, maybe boiled, not cleaned and had to be prepared by me at the table which made for messy hands. The Txomin Etxaniz white wine was excellent; served chilled. We had a cappuccino with ice cream and flan which was a nice finish.

I visited under recommendation from a friend whilst on holiday to the the region…read more Although the place looks quite modest for the prices compared to other restaurants in this area (pinxos and the like) rest assured the food is excellent and very generously portioned, you will not be disappointed. If you're after simple and incredibly fresh seafood it doesn't get much better. Between 3 of us we ordered the seafood platter for 2 which was €88 Euros, a plate of octopus €17 approx and croquettes for €20 approx everything was incredible. The crab octopus and prawns were especially good. We

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.

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

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.

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.

Reservations are a must for Casa Camara. I suspect that the increasing number of tourists wanting…read moreto dine there has lead them to institute a policy that they will charge a fee of 30 Euros per person for missed reservations. I received a confirmation email and a phone call the evening before the reservation to confirm. Pasaia is a lovely village and well worth a visit while staying in San Sebastian and is just a 15 minute bus ride away plus the 1 minute ferry ride. The staff at Casa Camara are amazing. They are the picture of efficiency. Everyone knows their roles and they all get the job done well. Service was really good and they have no problem answering questions in English. From the long specials list, we chose the grilled cigala. It's like a langostine. It was perfectly grilled and salted. They were so delicious. The monk fish was firm, flaky, and sweet. Our table was next to the lobster tank below the restaurant floor. As lobsters were ordered, staff would hoist the cages up to choose lobsters for the clients to confirm that it's what they want. For dessert, we shared a cheesecake. It was fluffy and light with berries inside. It was a wonderful lunch at a lovely place. Make a reservation so you don't miss out on the experience.

I had the best experience at Casa Camara. The service was excellent & the seafood was to die for…read more The restaurant is right on the water & wherever you sat you could see the water. They have a hole in the middle of the restaurant that goes straight down to the water and they keep their fresh lobster in cages. Whenever you order a lobster they wheel the cage up and you get to select which one you want. We stayed in San Sebastián & drove to the small town to eat. You do need to walk a little ways to find the restaurant but not very far. They also have an amazing view of the water in this town. I highly recommend going for a little walk/hike afterwards.

A must-visit for made-to-order, highly seasonal pintxos while in San Sebastián. Casa Urola features…read morea downstairs primarily for pintxos enthusiasts (made-to-order and pre-made pintxos paired with txakoli) and an upstairs sit-down restaurant for a more elevated experience. Both were highly recommended to me, but given my very ambitious food itinerary for San Sebastián, I opted for just the made-to-order pintxos downstairs. I found Casa Urola lively and busy, but not claustrophobic the way some of the other famous spots in Old Town can be, which was a HUGE plus. Coming on the earlier side of the evening crawl, I was actually able to snag a seat after ordering based on staff recommendations: the mushroom tart, the pumpkin and artichoke, and of course txakoli. The made-to-order menu is offered in both English and Spanish, which was a huge plus for an English-speaking tourist like me. Both pintxos were fabulous, highly seasonal, and ended up being favorites of the entire evening's crawl. I ended up sharing a table with another solo traveler and it was so fun to compare orders and see what we each thought was best. My biggest regret is that I was honestly still too full from my lunch crawl to try more. I wish I had been able to squeeze in another visit before I left San Sebastián, but alas, I'll have to save it for next time!

A highlight of downtown Donostia. Casa Urola is a classic on Fermín Calbetón with a lively pintxo…read morebar at street level and a calm dining room upstairs. The kitchen (long led by chef Pablo Loureiro) leans into market-fresh Basque cooking: seafood and vegetables cooked simply and precisely, often kissed by the grill. Service is warm and polished and a cold glass of Txakolina feels made for this room, or standing just outside at a high top, as we did. Dish-wise, my runaway favorite was the artichoke hearts, charred and buttery, sitting in a golden, silky sauce with little shards of jamón and nutty crumbs. I could have eaten twenty. A seared scallop arrived in a light, foamy sauce, topped with a tangle of crisp seaweed and a few toasted seeds. Sweet, briny, and rich without being heavy. Don't miss the cheese-and-pine-nut tartlets: flaky pastry, caramelized onions, and molten Basque cheese (think Idiazabal vibes) scattered with pine nuts. Everything landed perfectly seasoned and balanced. We paired it all with Txakolina and left plotting a return just for those artichokes. Classic Basque cooking here with a faint French twist that left us wanting more - but of course, it was time to continue eating our way down the street.

Food tasted great! Young lady was great but the young man was not. All 3 of us got sick later with…read morevomitting all night. We had the fish special (Rodaballo)

I had dinner there last night with some very good friends while visiting San Sebastián…read more The ambience was lovely, the menu was good but the dinner that I ordered was just okay. I had the rice with lobster. The lobster was NOT cracked properly and the shells were so hard that you couldn't crack the shells with the devices provided. The lobster tails were inedible and difficult to remove from the shells. The young lady that served us was wonderful. The young man that originally waited on us was nice but somewhat curt. Our friends loved their meals, so perhaps this was just a "one off" bad meal? While my friends would return, I would not.

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.