A perfect stop for wonderful cocktails. Located in a local neighborhood very close to the main…read morewalking area. This out-of-the-way bar offers a wonderful seating area outside, and a beautiful bar and seating area inside. Very pleasant vibe with mixologists hard at work behind the bar serving up a wide variety of cocktails and mocktails. There is no food at this location but little munchies are provided along with your drink orders. Drinks are premium so pricing can be more than what you would expected typical bars of the city. Frustrating This bar is open only during evening hours. Check their website for any changes. Highly recommend that you stop in for one of their beautifully prepared drinks that are exceptionally refreshing.

We stopped by the Gintoneria when we visited San Sebastian in 2018. It was a really fun place with…read morea nice patio. They specialize in fancy gin cocktails. The staff and other patrons were really friendly during our visit in 2018. 2023 UPDATE: We decided to stop here again in August 2023, but unfortunately the place was disappointing. We were seated on the patio, surrounded by chain smokers. I know...I know. That's how it is in a lot of European cities. I get it, and I could have tolerated it for a bit, except that the service was horrible too. Nothing like our previous visit when we were greeted by friendly people. This time it seemed as though they didn't care to be bothered to serve anyone. I don't know if it was an off night. Either way, we left not long after arriving. It may be a post-pandemic thing, where people are overworked and tired. Hopefully it will improve as time goes on.

What an amazing find! Alkimia is the perfect romantic spot to enjoy San Sebastian's best cocktails…read morewhile snacking on some small plates of food. The bar staff is super knowledgeable, especially the lead bartender Kamil, and the signature cocktails are some of the best I've ever had - and I'm from NYC! As amazing as the food and wine scene in San Sebastian is (and it's 100% world class) - it's actually almost impossible to find a decent cocktail. We lucked onto Alkimia based on a local friend's recommendation and were absolutely blown away. Do yourself a favor, start or end the night with a drink at the best real cocktail bar in San Sebastian - you won't be sorry!

Go here. My girlfriend and I came to this cocktail bar knowing that beer, wine, and vermouth were…read morethe standards in San Sebastian, however the cocktails here proved more than worth a stop. Mikel made us the most phenomenal mezcal drink and old fashioned we've had in a long time. Our mezcal cocktail, the Al Green, was tart and boozy - beautifully garnished with wasabi peas. Served in a coupe glass, it was a deep green, but tasted of the floral and bitter notes of the mezcal with citrus and savory notes. Any mezcal or margarita lover would love it. The old fashioned was served as it should be - with a massive rock and a heavy shake of bitters. The orange garnish and local cherry set off the bourbon perfectly. On your quest for pintxos and dinner in San Sebastian, make a point to stop and see Mikel at Arraun.

We were winding down from our 3rd day of Pinxto pub crawl and were looking for a place to dance…read more(that wasn't filled with Aussie frat boys....well any frat boys in General). Walking towards our Pensionne, we heard the muffled beats of house music and decided to try it out. I'm glad we did! We rolled in about 12am, and it was empty except for a bachelorette party and a few dudes. As we were a group of 8, we were happy to spread out into the small area and continue our celebrating our libations. So why do you ask, does this bar warrant 4*...well it's because the DJ was spinning the most awesome set of deep house!! As it rolled into 1-2am it got a little bit more crowded but I think this places doesn't really get bumping until 3am (it closes at 4-5am). So if you're up for some good house music (none of that progressive sh** either), come to Bar Arraun. Drinks are a little $$ but they are stiff. Worth it for a night of dancing to some good beats and lots of BASS

You must eat here. The food is outstanding. An eclectic menu with traditional Basque meeting…read moreinfluences from Asia, India, Latin America. All prepared with care and attention to detail. Portions are generous. Flavors are big and balanced. Just delicious, whether seafood or meat or vegetables. We had scallops in a deep seafood stock, grilled hake with Thai infused coconut milk and lobster oil, and classic Indian butter chicken. Each dish outstanding on its own, all from one kitchen is wow. Presentation is thoughtful and beautiful. Vibe is cool without trying to be cool. Feels relaxed. Fun music playing without being loud or intrusive. Staff are fun and friendly and precise in their care. And to take it all to the next level was our host, Cesar. Not just thoughtful and welcoming but his passion for each dish and the care and thought that goes into them was obvious. His joy is genuine and we appreciated him sharing details with us so we could be part of the fun. In a city with so much wonderful food, La Madame stands out because it is a sit down restaurant, serving fresh and inspired and delicious food, with care and creativity and obsessive detail and pure happiness. Make a reservation, it's worth it. And take in the joy Cesar shares with you through every dish.

Good Many people had…read moresaid this place was amazing. The service was really good. The Scallops and Hamburger were really good from what the people in our group ordered. The scallops were a main course but only had 5 scallops not starch or vegetables, great flavor. So both that ordered the scallops thought they should be more to the dish. The large prawns from Ecuador influence was delicious with basil and peanut sauce. Everyone said the Indian influenced butter chicken was best dish of the night. The pork potsticker from Vietnam Was really nice. The waiter we had took us on a great food journey during the description. The cocktails were great with a nice variety. The Bad: My group had a 4 star experience I had a 3 star experience. To start we were a party of 6 and they only brought 3 menus and they asked me for my order before I was even able to look at the menu. So having to wait on looking at the menu was rather rude in my opinion each customer should get a menu. So started off with a negative. Especially since they were asking us to order when 2-3 people hadn't even looked at the menu. The waiter should let everyone know to share the menus when they only bring three menus for a party of 6. I ordered the Wellington 2.0 It should be called .5 For me it wasn't an improvement on a beef Wellington it was not even half a beef Wellington. It was a take on Beef Wellington. But the puff pastry was an after thought that didn't even cover the top of my steak. They said the steak would be medium and recommended that. It was just below medium rare very blood. The broccoli was cooked okay but not really seasoned. I had never had parsnips but figured I would try something new it had foie Gras, also so I now know this combination is not for me. See photos So I don't recommend Wellington 2.0 Unless you just very rare medium rare, with parsnip purées and foie Gras.

What a beautiful set up here. We were lucky enough to grab 2 seats on the on top floor inside…read morefacing the sunset. It had an awesome view. San sebastian is a unique oceanfront city and this is the perfect place to enjoy it. Come here before the crowds take all the seats. There aren't a ton of seats either. They have some spots for bigger groups as well but it is not a massive place. I really enjoyed it here. The service was good as well. The waitress was attentive and friendly. Would definitely come back for the view alone. We didnt get fancy drinks but they had a good selection. Come check it out!

GU is a brand-new restaurant, cocktail bar, nightclub that open a few months ago at the second…read morefloor of the historic Club Nautico in San Sebastián. Located next to City Hall, on the waterfront, the 1930s Art Deco style building offers spectacular bay views. In fact, if you sit at a waterfront table, you'll think you're on a boat. The establishment was created by the same team behind the highly successful and popular Atari Gastroteka nearby in the town's Old Quarter. Their theme for GU -- "Music, Gastronomy, Architecture." The staff is professional and friendly. The cocktails are excellent. The sound system is state of the art. The building is an architectural gem. The drink menu is quite diverse featuring a dozen different custom cocktails. The mixologists in San Sebastián take their jobs seriously. The "El Diablo" is their spicy take on a classic margarita with ginger beer adding the zing. The GU Mule is their version of a classic Moscow Mule. The food includes a limited but well designed selection of sushi and pan-Asian selections presented in an artful style. GU straddles the line between restaurant, bar, cocktail lounge, and night club. Unlike many of San Sebastian's bars, it does not offer food at the bar -- only at the tables. The interior decor is quite edgy, with expansive glass sliding window walls, huge skylight, and comfortable Eames-style leather seating. The life-size cardboard cutouts of Le Corbusier (nude) and Mies van der Rohe (suited) in the men's roof are comical. Definitely worth checking out for a relaxed light meal and a few drinks while taking in one of San Sebastián's beautiful sunsets.

Diego and Esti are incredibly talented and amazing people. They were very hospitable and I was…read morereally impressed with how much care they put into every drink. Extensive knowledge of all sorts of cocktails and can put them together with the best flair I've ever seen! Huge shout out to Pietro as well who was asked to come help for the night and was incredible! Thanks again for an awesome night and helping this first time tourist to Bilbao have a fantastic time! Much love guys and I'll see you again soon!

If you've spent any time in Bilbao, you've come to learn that while the food is excellent, they are…read morenot known for their cocktails. BUT, enter Gin Fizz. This appears to be a one man operation and labor of love. Trained mixologist, Diego, brings heart to every concoction. Well versed in flavor profiles, his drinks are complex, subtle and flavorful. Plus, Diego is just a really sweet guy. If you are in need of something other than the Basque region's fine wines, stop by Gin Fizz. Worth a trip.

A wonderful 2 night reunion with Gregory, the hardworkin cool bartender, at his small…read moreestablishment. How can we endure the wait til next time? Pity we can only have 2 drinks each :-)

This is the go-to-bar if you're into cocktails! The atmosphere is classic and serene as is the…read morebartender. The bar offers fantastic cocktails, all the classic you could ask for done exactly as in the original recipees. The sortiment of gins - I didn't know there were these many! We had a great evening accompanied with great music! When you're done with the pintxos don't miss out going to Garbola on your visit to San Sebastian!!!

A perfect spot for small plates and a cool wine! We arrived…read moreas the opened and got sat with no reservation. They did pack out about 45 min later so I would recommend making a reservation. The staff was kind and helpful on recommendations. She even brought out two of their wines for me to try and decide between. We had the olives, tuna belly (in season) and steak tartare. All were perfect. The olives went well with our wine and the tuna belly was flavorful and juicy. The steak tartare was a highlight. Perfect consistency and topped with a runny egg, as it should be. I would love to visit their Australia location someday.

They open at 7:30 pm on the dot, I would recommend getting there right when they open if you don't…read morehave a reservation. From start to finish our meal was exceptional, quite possibly the best meal we had during our three nights in San Sebastián! The veggie salad was so fresh and tasty, the drinks were exquisite and we finished off with the meat tagliatelle which was unreallllll! Would definitely go back if I ever find myself in this part of the world again!

One of my favorite Pintxos spots on the outskirts of Old Town and a must-visit for San Sebastián…read morefood... even if you aren't lucky enough to get one of the coveted pieces of the famous tortilla. What to know beforehand: the tortilla is made twice a day and released at 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm. There's a limited number of slices and folks line up in advance so it goes almost instantly. If you aren't able to get the tortilla, there are still several made-to-order Pintxos that cannot be missed, so worth sticking around and ordering a few! On a raining Saturday around 1 pm when I first arrived, the tortilla was fully gone but I enjoyed starting my pintxos crawl off with the prawn ravioli, the scallops, and the crispy oxtail. The crispy oxtail was otherworldly. Stewed, flavorful oxtail wrapped in a fried, crispy phyllo outer layer provides texture and flavor you can't beat. The ravioli was also very, very good. I liked the scallop, which was perfectly cooked, buttery delicious, but was not a huge fan of the mayo sauce it comes with. (My American palate just can't tolerate that much mayo.) I ended up enjoying the atmosphere and food here so much I came back in the afternoon (when they were only doing cold pintxos) and grabbed the pistachio cheesecake for postres, which ended up being one of my favorite desserts of the weekend. Super creamy, not too sweet, served with a raspberry sauce and a lemony ice cream to cut the richness of the cheesecake nicely. It's such a fun vibe inside this spot. Txakoli (the local wine) is as expensive as water, at 3 euros and it's kind of a fun almost party atmosphere without being too boisterous. I stood at the counter when I first arrived but eventually secured a bar stool and there's great people watching. The staff is interactive but courteous and fast, and people move through this door very efficiently. Even when crowded, it never feels claustrophobic like some of the main spots in Old Town. Already counting down the next time I can come into San Sebastián and eat here!

Antonio bar was on a YouTube blogger we came across and featured their tortilla de patatas. We…read moreshowed up shortly after 9am and the bar was full inside, outside counter with customers and there was a line. The bar doesn't like people waiting in the hallway so the line wraps onto the sidewalk. It didn't take long for a couple chairs to become available at the bar. Ordered a cafe with milk and a couple of tortillas. The tortilla is served just about everywhere- tabernas and restaurants in Spain. Antonio's version is different, a really good different. Made with 35 eggs, caramelized onions and potatoes. The caramelized onions really sets their tortilla apart from the rest. We stopped by twice to eat their tortilla. Pintxos start at 7pm. Get there's early for that. We got seats at the bar around 630 pm and finished our cold pintxos from the case. We still had 20 minutes before we could order the hot Pintxos and felt bad just waiting and was about to cash out when our bartender said if you leave it will be hard to get seats later. Ordered another round of drinks and waited it out. Enjoyed the scallops, oxtail won ton, shrimp won ton and foie gras. Food came out quick and as soon as we were done, our seats were quickly occupied. The same servers were there in the morning, there at night. They hustle and it shows. You must go here!