Pintxo Tour San Sebastian follows local Basque author Josema Azpeitia on a route that takes in 12 of the best pinxto bars, starting in the Centre of San Sebastian, continuing through El Parte Vieja and ending up in Gros.
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Pintxo Tour in San Sebastian
Pintxo tours are a highlight of any gourmand’s visit to the San Sebastian. Walk from bar to bar, eating a delicious pintxo (tapa) and drinking a zurrito (small beer) or txacoli (local wine). What could be better?
But with hundreds of bars to choose from, how do you find the hidden gems? The bars that offer a real, authentic Basque experience, rather than fall prey to the tourist traps.
How to plan the perfect Pintxo Tour?
How to plan the perfect pintxo tour? This is the question, I asked Josema Azpeitia, author of the The Pintxo Trail, Famous Pintxos of Donostia and numerous other pintxo recipe books and books on Basque gastronomy.
What are the best pintxo bars in San Sebastian?
At first, Josema recommended this list of bars (see the end of this post). Bars that offer the authentic experience, run by families for generations, and offer quality, local Basque ingredients.
“I think it would be essential to visit these places (scroll down for the list) but there are more, it impossible to mention all, Donostia has many bars and restaurants.”
” But all this information is in the book. With a copy of The Pintxo Trail in their hand, anyone can set their own route and discover interesting places,” says Josema.
Discovering Donostia on your own
Discovering Donotia-San Sebastian on your own is a delight – and one I have indulged in often, strolling down the old streets of El Parte Vieja, crossing over the bridge into laid back surfing neighbourhood of Gros, venturing into Amara and lesser known parts of the city is always a joy.
The best pintxo route
But, I have always found the best pintxo crawls have been when I have gone with my Basque friends, locals who have lived in the city their entire life.
Because a good pintxo route, is not just about getting to the best bars. Of course that is essential, but so too is the organisation:
Where’s the best place to start? What time do we need to get to the bars to avoid the crowds? And which are the signature pintxos to order in which bars?
Follow the locals
The golden rule of any savvy traveller is to follow the locals. And so I asked Josema the all-important question: where does he go? Which bars would he visit if he was to ir de pintxos with his friends?
Josema replied with the detail I have come to expect from all Basques, who have a bottomless passion for gastronomy; not only supplying his favourite pintxo route, but also with strict timings and suggestions about which pintxos to try in each bar.
Go hungry and stick to the schedule
Go hungry! This route takes in 12 different bars. It begins in the Centre, in Casa Vallés, where Gilda was invented, continues through the Old Town and ends in Gros.
The route starts at 10am and finishes around 3pm.
Get to the bars early, before the pintxos run out – and stick to the schedule!
“If you manage to make this route respecting the proposed schedule, you will enjoy it a lot,” says Josema.
“The secret is to start at the scheduled time, consume quickly and move from one place to another without standing in shop windows or visiting extra bars outside the plan … and if a bar is closed, move on to the next on the list instead of losing time by picking a random bar.”
This is Josema’s perfect pintxo tour:
Pintxo Tour San Sebastian
By Josema Azpeitia author of the best selling The Pinxto Trail.
10:00 h: CASA VALLÉS (Reyes Catolicos Street)
Pintxo Suggestion: here you have to eat the Gilda, as it was the bar where it was invented in 1952, beginning the legend of the San Sebastian pintxos. The Pintxo de Tortilla de Bacalao (Cod Omelette) and Jamón (ham) is also very good. See the Gilda recipe.
10:30 AM: ZAZPI (San Marcial Street, Ría area)
Pintxo Suggestion: Any pintxo on the board is good, so let yourself be carried away by your tastes. My favorites: La Oreja Guisada (Stewed Ear) y El Rabo con Foie (Oxtail with Foie gras)
11: 00h: ANTONIO (Bergara Street)
Pintxo Suggestion: Tortilla de patatas (omelette)
11: 30h: LA ESPIGA (San Marcial Street, Hotel London area)::
This is a classic bar, that has been here for a lifetime. Pintxo Suggestion: The pintxo of Veal Morritos is spectacular. Good wines too.
12: 00h: PACO BUENO (Old part, Main Street)
Another classic that has existed for a lifetime. Pintxo Suggestion: The best, La Gamba a la Gabardina (the Gabardine Shrimp.)
12: 30h: CASA UROLA (Old part, Fermín Calbetón street)
Pintxo Suggestion: Any pintxo on the board, especially those at the bottom (these are the seasonal pintxos.)
13: 00h: GORRITI (Old Town, next to La Bretxa)
Pintxo Suggestion: Pintxos bar with a great atmosphere. They are artists at serving Txakolí.
13: 30h: BODEGA DONOSTIARRA (Gros, Ramón María Lili Street)
Pintxo Suggestion: Montadito Donostiarra, Tortilla de Patata individual, (individual potato omelette), Ensaladilla Rusa (Russian salad.)
2:00 p.m: HIDALGO 56 (Gros, Paseo de Colón)
Pintxo Suggestion: Any pintxo is good, but the Volcán de Morcilla (Blood Sausage) is especially rich, and the Callos (tripe) is monumental.
2:30 p.m.: BERGARA (Gros, Bermingham Street)
This is a classic bar in Gros. Pintxo Suggestion: The most emblematic pintxo is the Txalupa, although everything is good. To drink, Cava is best.
3:00 p.m.: EZKURRA (Miracruz Street)
Pintxo Suggestion: La Ensaladilla Rusa (Russian Salad) it is the best known and oldest of Donosti.
More Pintxo Bars
Alma and Authenticity
To plan your own pintxo tour San Sebastian style pick from this extensive list of bars that offer alma and authenticity and can be found in San Sebastian’s five main districts: El Parte Vieja, Centro, Gros-Egia, Amara, Antiguo-Igara.
To find out more about each bar, its history and get the recipes of the star pintxos buy a copy of The Pinxto Trail.
Where to go in San Sebastian-Donostia
PARTE VIEJA
Paco Bueno, Ganbara, Casa Urola, Borda Berri, A Fuego Negro, Ormazabal, Etxebe, Etxeberria, Piñudi, Txepetxa, Haizea, Gorriti, Txistu, Martínez, Irrintz, Tamboril, Sport, La Cepa, Intza, Ordizia.
CENTRO
Casa Vallés, Akari, Zazpi, Antonio, Iturrioz, La Espiga, Mesón Martín, Taberna, Narru, Okendo.
GROS-EGIA
Café Kursaal, Bodega Donostiarra, Desy, Hidalgo 56, Matalauva, Elosta, Ricardo, Bergara, Eguzki Gastro Bar, Ama Lur, Gaztelu Txiki, Ezkurra, Rita, Kaioak.
AMARA
Pasaleku, Casa Maruxa, Egoki, Café S7ete, Divinum, Esparru.
ANTIGUO-IGARA
La cervecería de Antiguo, Oliyos, La Mera Mera, Drinka, El pescaíto de la bahía de Cádiz, Gasteiz, Mesón Lugaritz, Teresatxo, Aratz, Arrikitaun.
The Pintxo Trail
