Hugging the sandy shores of a sheltered bay in the north-east of Spain, San Sebastian is a haven for foodies. With a culinary reputation that attracts more than two million visitors annually, the city is only second to Kyoto for the most lauded Michelin-starred restaurants per capita.

Beyond the Michelin stars and fine dining is the pillar of Basque cuisine; pintxos. Lesser known than tapas, the concept remains similar. Small bites typically served in bars and taverns, often on a piece of bread or held in place by a toothpick, pintxos are popular in northern Spain.

Served hot and cold, pintxos are a staple of San Sebastian’s dining scene where patrons spill into the streets of the Old Town with a glass of Txakoli (local wine) and bite-sized morsels. Most of the city’s best pintxos bars and restaurants are located in the Old Town, where the grid-like streets are perfect for a day of pintxos bar hopping - just come hungry!

Whether you take a guided tour or self-plan your foodie experience in San Sebastian, pintxos bar hopping is one of the best things you can do here.

After spending a week in this idyllic seaside town, I’ve curated my top recommendations of the best pintxos in San Sebastian.

Ganbara

Before doors opened at 7pm, a line had already formed as diners waited in anticipation for what was served from Gabara’s kitchen. Assigned a bar-top seat, we ordered a few dishes, including the renowned wild mushrooms with egg yolk that Anthony Bourdain praised. Coupled with a glass of crisp Verdejo, grilled peppers, spider crab tarts, and puff pastry-wrapped Basque sausage turned up plate by plate.

Popular long before Bourdain’s ‘Parts Unknown’ series featured this pintxos hotspot, the restaurant’s 30-year history of serving quality produce in a cosy tavern has won the hearts and stomachs of many.

Open hours | 12:30-3:30pm and 7-11pm Tuesday to Saturday

Borda Berri

The Idiazabal risotto, the melt-in-your-mouth beef cheeks, and the pork rib kebabs. Everything we ate at Borda Berri left us wanting more. The meat was perfectly flavoured and tender, while the risotto was one of the best I’ve ever had. Paired with a gently sparkling glass of Txakoli, the local wine poured from a height to aerate it, it’s worth waiting for.

Ordering can feel somewhat chaotic, with patrons shouting orders to the team behind the bar over diners and squeezing to find any available space at the narrow benches that trace the bar's walls. But once you know how things work, it isn’t long before your food tantalises your taste buds.

Open hours | 7:30-10:30pm Tuesday, 12:30-3:15pm and 7:30-10pm Wednesday to Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday

Bar Sport

We initially dismissed stopping in here as it was heaving every time we walked past. That was until a mid-afternoon lull between lunch and dinner left breathing room at the bar. From curried sea urchins to perfectly grilled beef skewers, there’s a reason Bar Sport is popular. And while the name doesn’t sound Basque, the food certainly is.

Don’t let the unassuming exterior or interior mislead you, the food here is delicious and the service super friendly. If you stop by around 5:30pm, it tends to be a little quieter between the lunch and dinner rushes.

Open hours | 9am-midnight Monday to Friday, 10am-midnight Saturday, and 11am-midnight Sunday

Tamboril

Tucked in a corner just off the main square of plaza de la Constitucion, Tamboril is run by the same family that operates Ganbara. And while the bar is smaller than its cousin, the focus on delicious, high-quality produce remains.

Cold pintxos are presented on the counter top, while a selection of hot plates are available to order from the kitchen. With two entrances, the energy of customers popping in for a quick bite and a glass of wine matches the enthusiasm of the staff. Anchovies, mushrooms in olive oil, and prawns are the dishes of note. We loved stopping by Tamboril during our many pintxos crawls through San Sebastian.

Open hours | 12:30-3:30pm and 7-11pm Tuesday to Saturday

Le Cepa de Bernado

Exposed timber beams, aged meat hung above the bar, and an old-world cosiness are what greets you as you enter La Cepa. Opened in 1948, it’s no wonder this is one of the most authentic establishments in San Sebastian.

While the front bar is perfect for the seafood-based pinxtos on the counters or the Iberico ham they’re known for, the restaurant out back is the place to go for making the most of La Cepa’s tasting menu.

Open hours | 10am - 11pm daily

Bar Nestor

There are but four dishes on the menu at Bar Nestor, and the tortilla is near impossible to secure. With just one made at lunch and another at dinner, it’s first-come first-served with every piece ordered before it even leaves the kitchen.

But the remaining three dishes are simple, delicious, and worth queuing for. Tomatoes served in olive oil and sea salt, grilled padron peppers, and the main event - steak served sizzling on the hot plate. Pair with a glass of vino tinto or ice-cold beer and you’re doing everything right at this San Sebastian cornerstone of cuisine.

Word of warning though, arrive early or you will be waiting a long time. We arrived just after 8pm for dinner and scored a space at the bar at 9:45pm. Was it worth it? Yes. It is possible to pre-book, but there are only three tables and you typically need to do so days in advance. Your best bet is to arrive before opening so you’ll be near the front of the line.

Open hours | 1-3:30pm and 8-10:30pm Tuesday to Sunday

La Vina

Best known as the birthplace of Basque cheesecake — the devishly good baked cheesecake the region has become iconic for — La Vina might not cross your mind as a place for pintxos. And while I do recommend you prioritise the cheesecake here, it serves up some great small plates and mains too. But the real reason La Vina draws the crowds is because its cheesecake reputation is known far and wide. Just go, you won’t regret it.

Open hours | 10:30am - 3:45pm and 7-11pm Tuesday to Sunday

Where to Find the Best Pintxos in San Sebastian, Spain