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    La Cepa

    4.1 (44 reviews)
    InexpensiveBasque, Spanish, Tapas Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    La Cepa Photos

    LA CEPA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - La Cepa

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    Famous!
    Rich T.

    This was our third (and final) stop on our eating extravaganza in San Sebastián, we had already hit two great places and around the corner from the Cathedral, we found this great place. It's a little more touristy as it is on the main route through the old town, but it is nicely furnished with plenty of space. For lunch, they have the usual bar of different foods including many (by now familiar to us) standards. We lived the Jason iberico and the calamari was terrific. We also had anchovy with peppers which was also great and a classic here. We also had a Sangria here that was good. Overall, this is a good spot if you are on your way to the cathedral and it is centrally located, it's hard to miss this place :-)

    Jambon iberique
    Eddie R.

    QUICKIE REVIEW Finest of Iberian jamon cuts had here. FOOD This is what I tried: Jambon iberique These thinly sliced pieces of jamon almost melted away when you tried to eat it. It went great with the bread and a glass of txakoli. PARKING No. SERVICE Good, order at counter, picked up counter. PRICE Less than $30. You can get a half sized port, which is still plenty as you can see in my picture.

    Jamon iberico y idiazabal
    David H.

    Ended up stopping in here twice during our visit - Cepa was solid. The cheese and jamon iberico here were delicious, and we had the best calamari of our trip here. Long thin slices of squid, lightly battered. The sangria was decent, as was the cheesecake. The anchovies in oil were also delicious.

    Tortilla y anchovy toasts
    Gabrielle M.

    La Cepa was the first of MANY pintxos bars in San Sebastian. I enjoyed the anchovy toasts- both with ham and smoked salmon. The Spanish omelette (tortilla) wasn't my favorite, as this version had green bell peppers in it, which is unusual (only onions are typical). We also had a crabmeat and smoked salmon toast that was delicious. The warm goat cheese with pistachio and honey drizzle was also DIVINE! Cute little spot with both locals and tourists alike - you won't be disappointed.

    Kim N.

    It's funny even though I dated someone Catholic for a long time, I still forgot how said Catholicism affected my ability to get food in Spain on Sunday nights. Well Bar La Cepa to the rescue. Not only that, amazing food to the rescue. Our original choice was obviously closed and I happened to remember this during my research. We arrived and it was crowded even at 1030pm. we took a spot at the bar closest to the kitchen which turned out to be a blessing. This is definitely one of the must do's in the old town central. Things you must know: -Their cured meats are awesome. They are known for their Jabugo and sausages. Take a good gander at what is hanging from the ceiling. -Their seafood on the plancha is also excellent. Hake and squid especially. Watch the chef do his magic if you're at the bar -They have some of the best bread I've ever had period. This includes all the Michelin star places in Spain and all over the world. There's a guy that makes it right behind the bar in this toaster oven-ish area. I could not get over how awesome that stuff was. you could fill up on that alone. Super nice people to boot. Definitely a gem in the area, but the locals all already know this. 4.5 stars

    Light and fluffy cheesecake
    Nikki M.

    Delightful Pintxos at this hip and happening spot. They're famous for their anchovies with red and green peppers + chopped onions as well as the gavilla (ham and cheese). We finished up with a slice of cheesecake. More traditional than that of La Vina but also quite delicious. Bonus points for such friendly staff.

    Mixed salad & octopus.

    We chose this restaurant from a list of "top" sit down restaurants and it was actually a very average, old-fashioned tapas place. They definitely use canned and pre-prepared vegetables and the seafood was NOT the best quality for the price, compared to other meals we enjoyed during our four day stay.

    Jamon Iberico!
    Hugh S.

    Great jamon. Easy stop while walking the streets if San Sebastien. Stop in for a board of Jamon and stay for a glass if txakolina. Right between the two churches.

    Great pintxos.  Self serve.  Good wines & beer.
    Denny B.

    Countless varieties of pinxto are presented for patrons to glide by and put on their plates. Cost between 1-3€ per item, so one can get full on some extraordinary and tasty treats. We were able to get hard cider (sidra) and Txakoli (Basque white wine) here. Both of these traditional drinks are just as important as the pinxtos. Fast waiter service. Friendly bartenders. This is fast food done right.

    Candy glass tables was fun
    Eve K.

    Roomy pinxtos spot with a large menu and a fun take on the ham croquette. Food: 4, Service: 4, Atmosphere: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Return worthiness: maybe Eve award: best use of ham in a croquette Highlights: - Fried Ham and cheese: instead of the standard croquette where little bits of ham is mixed with cheese, this has a large rectangular piece of thick ham on the middle and is served on a stick. They also don't have any pre-made but you ask for them so they are freshly fried for you. 5 stars. - Jamon and emmentaler bocadillo: liked the choice of cheese on this little thin sandwich. They also had a roquefort version it wouldn't been fun to try. 4 stars - Octopus: a version on a slice of bread (3 stars) or a full plate of slices pieces you order special (4 stars) - Open 11am (most wait til noon) - Tables to sit at and roomier than other smaller spots and an extra long and wide bar filled with plates. - Candy table: our table had a bunch of different candies under the glass which I thought was fun. - Staff: more helpful than other places we went to - Has desserts: I haven't seen many with that offering - Free wifi: for the traveller this is helpful Midlights: - Tortilla: eggs cooked the way I like more on the soft side but bit too oniony in this version. 3 stars - Fried milk: loved the concept but the outside was a little soggy. 3 stars - Calamari: big plate but not much flavor and the lemon wasn't ripe yet so we couldn't squeeze much juice out. 3 stars Lowlights - A lot on anchovy items if you're not an anchovy fan Our last stop gave us the fill we needed before heading out of town.

    1/2 ración surtido ibérico, the pâte was amazing!
    Carla D.

    Came to this restaurant specifically to taste their Iberico ham. We got half a board of a mix of hams which included a small piece of pâté. The ham was delicious and the portion was perfect for two of us to get a taste of it and still left us with enough room to continue tasting pintxos at different places.

    Txakolí
    Janice L.

    One of the larger pintxos places in the Parte Vieja. Get one of many "cold" pintxos from the long bar, and order hot pintxos and txakoli at your table. After standing for every meal, it was nice to actually sit. Standouts: Mushrooms and runny egg: a friend recommended this, which a sleeper hit amongst all the jamon and choriso plates. Delicious! Foie gras: buttery, oily goodness Sardine/mackerel/salmon cold tapas: I had several -- all were really good!

    Dennis C.

    Had the tortilla bacalao (omelette with bacalao), and jamon con emmenal here. Both were decent but nothing mindblowing. Bartender was very nice.

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    7 years ago

    The service was bad and both fish dishes were tasteless. It's also the same cost as much better restaurants nearby

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    7 years ago

    Great iberico ham and wonderful peppers.

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    8 years ago

    Five stars. Solomillo is as good as steak gets. Everything else was five stars too. Spend some time here.

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    8 years ago

    Wonderful food here. Ox tail and the wild boar were especially nice surprises, but the pintxos were also delicious.

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    Page 1 of 2

    La Cepa Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - La Cepa

    We tried lots of pintxos topped with little sardines, as seems to be their thing at La cepa.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Atari Gastroteka - Foie gras with sweet corn and white chocolate

    Atari Gastroteka

    4.5(157 reviews)
    0.1 km
    €€

    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.

    Photos
    Atari Gastroteka
    Atari Gastroteka
    Atari Gastroteka

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    La Madame - Asparagus

    La Madame

    4.6(45 reviews)
    1.1 km
    €€

    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.

    We are so glad we chose this restaurant! D---DIEGO--- made us feel welcome from the moment we…read morearrived and shared the culture behind the food, which made the experience even more memorable. The food was outstanding, especially the scallop, the broth they were served in was incredible. The spicy mango margarita was one of the best cocktails we've had. Great service, amazing food and drinks, and an overall fantastic experience. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    La Madame - Chocolate lava cake

    Chocolate lava cake

    La Madame - Wellington 2.0 With some puff pastry, purée of parsnip with foie gras.

    Wellington 2.0 With some puff pastry, purée of parsnip with foie gras.

    La Madame - Shrimp ceviche

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    Shrimp ceviche

    Bar Néstor - Spanish Tortilla de Patata

    Bar Néstor

    4.7(159 reviews)
    0.1 km
    €€

    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.

    Bar Nestor is one of those Old Town legends that actually earns the legend. It's tiny, slammed, and…read morelaser-focused on a few things they do better than almost anyone: the once-or-twice-a-day tortilla (you put your name down before service and pray), the txuleta that comes out perfectly salted, tomatoes and padrón peppers in season, and a handful of small plates that remind you why Basque cooking is among the greatest in the world. Our favorite bite here wasn't even the gorgeous stuffed ravioli, it was a "noodle" dish where the noodles are actually spiralized squid. Silky ribbons of txipiron, barely kissed by heat so they stay tender, tossed with good olive oil, a little oniony sweetness, herbs, and a snowfall of grated cheese (Idiazabal-like in flavor). Simple, clean, and surprisingly creative at the same time. Exactly what Donostia gets right at its best. The room is a crush (in the best way), the team is friendly but no-nonsense, and the whole operation runs very predictably: show up early if you want tortilla; be ready to stand; order the classics and whatever seafood they're excited about that day.

    Photos
    Bar Néstor
    Bar Néstor - Fresh tomatoes with olive oil and salt

    Fresh tomatoes with olive oil and salt

    Bar Néstor - Outside Façade

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    Outside Façade

    Topa Sukalderia

    Topa Sukalderia

    4.4(13 reviews)
    0.6 km

    What a wonderful find! MUST VISIT ON YOUR TRIP!! We were wandering by when we looked through the…read morewindow and saw how modern this place looked. We glanced at the menu and decided to give it a try. They have a wide variety of food. We got several dishes to share. Beginning with table guacamole, they give you the components to mix for yourself with a mortar and pestle. I hate onions and cilantro, so I was able to get my share before my friends mixed them in! Served with crispy chips, it was a nice change from regular pintxos in the area. Next was the ceviche, tuna and sweet potato (with a lot of onions), onions aside the tuna was delicious with a well balanced spice of peppers that were included in the dish. Next up was the Iberian ham cheese quesadillas: perfection! The simplicity of the dish was what made it taste so good. Exactly what it sounds like, but the cheese was delicious. But the BEST part of the meal was the al Pastor tacos! They were better than some of the tacos I had in Mexico City! Perfectly seasoned meat, with just the right amount of guacamole. MUST HAVE!!! Lastly, the desserts! The churro dessert was AMAZING! And the rice pudding was also delicious, light and flavorful! We were all amazed by this meal. Everything was delicious. The most consistent meal we have had by far during our stay in San Sebastián.

    What a treat! This place is barely visible on the street, but it's worth finding the signless door…read more The wood paneled walls draw you into a bustling restaurant. I came for lunch on a Monday. The menu is an inventive blend of Peruvian, Mexican, and Spanish. They have menus in English if you ask for it. The atmosphere is casual, but we ended up spending $50 for a two person lunch. The service is friendly. They bring plates out in courses, so it's easy to have a relaxed drawn out meal here. You don't feel rushed. The abodaba tacos were the highlight. The slightly crispy texture of the meat was heaven. The Sweet Potato Causa was a table favorite too!

    Photos
    Topa Sukalderia - Ceviche comes in an this sculpture...

    Ceviche comes in an this sculpture...

    Topa Sukalderia - Mole

    Mole

    Topa Sukalderia - Inside

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    Inside

    La Cepa - basque - Updated July 2026

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