Bergara

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.

This was our introduction to the ultra-clean and simple flavors of basque cuisine, served with an…read morealmost impossible degree of finesse and precision with some of the freshest ingredients imaginable. We were pressed for time, but the beef cheek here fell apart in our mouths and was married with a perfect red wine sauce over pillowy smooth mashed potatoes, and the shrimp were unbelievably delicate and cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of gremolata to compliment but not overwhelm. Delicious.

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Bar Néstor

4.7(159 reviews)

One of the best steaks I've ever had! To get a reservation you must show up at a designated time…read morefor same day reservations. For lunch get there around 11am. I think the lunch reservations are 1,2,3pm. For dinner get there at 5:30 pm for 8,9,10 pm seatings. They don't come out until 6-6:15 to take your name. They only take about 20 people per seating. Fixed menu. Torta, tomatoes, peppers and steak. They bring out raw bone in ribeyes and let you choose your steak. The steak comes out seared and raw on the inside on a sizzling cast-iron skillet. You are able to cook it to your liking on the skillet as you eat this incredible steak. No frills not totally worth the experience.

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.

Fresh tomatoes with olive oil and salt

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Outside Façade

Borda Berri

4.6(121 reviews)

We had the duck and the fried pork ears and they were so good!!!! the place is packed but don't let…read morethat stop you from trying this place, they have one of the best pinxtos at San Sebastian! Price is amazing with what you're gonna get!

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.

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Beef Cheek

Gandarias

4.3(144 reviews)

1.1 km

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.

Service is typical... order your drink and pintxos then find a spot to eat. Ate the uni and anchovy…read moretoast- both excellent!!

Bar

Lamb and green bell pepper

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Ganbara

4.2(82 reviews)

1.1 km

Best of the tapas bars we checked in Donostia The staff…read morewere awesome, the shrimp, wine and tomato salad were top of the list!

Everything is good!!!! Service is great, Ambiance, it is busy especially at night but don't let…read morethat deter you, if a place is packed that's where the good food is!

Variety of mushrooms

Batter fried shrimp.

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Tartaleta de txangurro

Txepetxa

4.7(33 reviews)

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.

On our must try list and it has so much history! It's Glenn Close favorite if you have Ted heard!…read moreAnchovies are their specialty and I who this was a stretch for tried a bite of both we ordered. Ok on our last night pixtos crawl and John is delighted! Nothing better than marinated anchovie w/ urchin roe. Also the roast mushrooms were fabulous!

Exterior

This place specializes in anchovy pintxos. This is topped with minced peppers and onions.

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Anchovies Pinxtos

La Cuchara de San Telmo

4.4(137 reviews)

1.0 km

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.

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.

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Razor clams

Desy

4.7(10 reviews)

0.4 km

Desy absolutely lives up to the hype…read more The burger was incredible and completely worth all the attention it gets. Perfectly cooked, packed with flavor, and one of those bites that immediately makes you understand why people recommend the place so highly. The anchovy tapa was also outstanding and a must order if you like anchovies. Everything felt high quality and well executed. On top of that, the service was great, which made the whole experience even better. Definitely a spot I would come back to in San Sebastián.

Came here for the hamburgers and it did not disappoint!! The burgers were so juicy and flavorful…read more The meatball sandwich was really good too. Come early if you can because they do run out of items on their menu. The basque cheesecake was cheesy and perfect amount of sweetness. There were indoor and outdoor seating areas. The indoor area is small and narrow. Luckily we got a table, but we saw many people standing on the side drinking and having a burger. Quick service like all places in Spain.

Love this place!

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Cantillon on tap!

Gorriti

4.6(17 reviews)

It was around 11 am and I was surprised this place was open and serving pintxos and coffee. Seems…read morelike my clock is just in line with Spain and this was my first name of the day. The coffee wasn't as good as I've had another places, and I asked for a Caliente pitxo, which is supposed to be made fresh. He however, folded from under the bar and it was barely lukewarm. Only good part was it had nice flavoring. It's a small space with standing room only, but has a WC.

Simple, old-school, and delicious. This place excels at old-school pintxod. No elaborate…read moreMichelin-star touches. No 21st-century twists. Just beautiful peppers, amazing fresh bread, blood sausage, and other sausages. Made fresh in-house and served by a couple of older gentlemen who could not possibly have been sweeter to me and my wife. It's the sort of spot where, when you're finished with your pinchos, you toss the wrappers and napkins on the floor and head out. I absolutely loved the vibe in here. As low-key as it could possibly get. The pace is unhurried, but the food reaches you quickly, and you will be blown away by the quality of the sausages, the peppers, the olives, the cheeses, the anchovies and sardines, and all the other basics done so flawlessly that you'll want to come back again and again. A special request for blood sausage was happily honored despite it needing to be stuffed and cut fresh. A perfect place to begin your Donostia journey, because you'll get Basque food as it is, not a fusion or an elevated reinterpretation. Plenty of places in the Old Town do modern takes very well, but this is the fundamentals, executed with perfection.

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Selection of pintxos.

Bar Zabaleta

4.8(16 reviews)

0.1 km

Outstanding tortilla / Spanish omelet. Meatballs were homemade and tomato sauce was fresh made.read more

Went here for their tortillas and they lived up to the hype. Very reasonable prices and friendly…read moreservice. Highly recommend.