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!

They have an English menu, but the counter guy wanted me to try Spanish and bring from Cali I can…read moreget by. Glad I stopped as the brocheta de gambas and Mari Juli were excellent. Ordered a small beer so I can possibly hit another spot, but don't think it's happening as I'm full. Couple of things I've learned while here are order from the Caliente (hot) menu, usually the top 1 or 2 are that restaurants specialty pintxos, order a small beer so you can try several places. It's small inside with mostly standing room the service counter.

Wish I was back in the quaint seaside town of San Sebastián/Donostia in the Basque country. Goiz…read moreArgi is a little place serving pintxos, located in the middle of the busy San Sebastián center of town. Came here on the recommendations of some locals and it did not disappoint. No bells or whistles here, just great local tapas made fresh in front of you. The workers spoke limited English but you simply point to what you want.

If you're an anchovy lover, Bar Txepetxa is an absolute must in San Sebastián…read more Our tour guide, Javier, highly recommended it, calling it one of the city's best pintxos bars, especially for anchovies. He was spot on. There was a line outside when we arrived, but it moved quickly, and soon we were standing at the lively bar, just like the locals. Don't expect to sit. This is the authentic pintxos experience where you stand, eat, enjoy a drink, and soak in the buzzing atmosphere. Txepetxa specializes in boquerones, vinegar-cured white anchovies that are incredibly fresh, silky, and not fishy at all. They're marinated using a secret family recipe that's made this tiny bar famous for decades. We ordered almost every anchovy pintxo we could, and every single one was delicious. My favorites were the anchovy with jardinera sauce, topped with peppers and onions for a fresh, tangy bite, and the anchovy with trout roe, where the rich anchovy paired perfectly with the delicate pop of the roe. We also loved the anchovy with spider crab cream, which was incredibly creamy and flavorful. The walls are covered with photos of famous visitors, from celebrities to Spanish royalty, adding to the charm of this iconic little bar. Whether you're already an anchovy fan or think you don't like them, this is the place that might change your mind. The quality is outstanding, the service is fast despite the crowds, and the atmosphere is exactly what makes San Sebastián's pintxos culture so special. A definite 5-star must-visit and one of the highlights of our food tour in San Sebastián. I'll be dreaming about those anchovy pintxos long after this trip.

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.

I wandered around old town for HOURS wth my pintxo guide in hand. Many places were either way too…read morecrowded to get to the bar, the food looked not great, or had a terrible atmosphere. Finally, exhausted and delirious I stumbled into this rezi. Thankfully so! The server was so friendly even though my Spanish sucks. I immediately ordered a red sangria (Delish!) to calm my pintxo nerves. I settled into the bar and finally ordered the classic jamón ibérico. I used to think the ibérico was the region of the country but as I learned at the market, it's the cut of ham. Ibérico is very popular but I find there are better less fatty cuts but many bars only carry this. I digress! It was good and came with fluffy fresh bread, plentiful at that! (See pic). Then on a recommendation I ordered the beef carpaccio off the regular non pintxo menu. It was the best dish of my trip so far. It had chopped beef, onion, pickles!, and I think some horseradish sauce. I would fly back to Spain just to have this again. Go here, and order this.

Bar Astelena was the first stop on our pintxos crawl and I would've been happy to spend the whole…read morenight here. The pintxos were delicious and aesthetically pleasing, and the portions were generous compared to some of the other traditional bars. The space was modern, colorful, and inviting. The large platter of Jamon Iberico was pork perfection (16€). We could see them slicing the meat from the large pork leg. The foie a la plancha had a nice presentation with coarse sea salt and fruit reductions, such a great value at 4€. The house wines were 2€. This was one of the culinary highlights of my European trip... I'd definitely go back on my next trip.

This bar/restaurant in the Gros district of Donosti (the other side of the river) has received…read moreMichelin recognition in years past. I went in to get a few pintxos, so I got a table near the bar and ordered a crujiente de langostino (deep fried prawn) and a txopito (grilled squid with caramelized onions). I LOVED my choices. I thought these were probably the best pintxos I had in San Sebastian. The price was not bad about 3.5-4 euros per plate. I had a nice cold beer with my seafood bites. The place was not too busy, and the servers were very efficient on getting everybody what they needed. Loved the place...check it out next time you are in the area....

This was my 2nd stop for my Spanish Tortilla de Patatas comparison. I enjoyed it here but found it…read morea bit sweeter than the one I had earlier at Zabaleta. They allowed the onions to really caramelize, which is what made it sweeter. I guess I prefer a more savory Tortilla. But this was still very good. It was a bit firmer in texture, and there was something in the flavor profile than reminded me of my Grandmother's Kugel. I guess a starch soaking up eggs and caramelized onions. Also couldn't not try their smoked salmon Pintxos. Nice healthy amount of not too salty smoked salmon with cream cheese on a baguette. Topped with a red and green pepper relish. I hear they are known for an Anchovy Tortilla. I think I made a mistake, because I didn't see it on the counter, I assumed they didn't have it. But I think I needed to order it and it's made in individual portions. Oh well, put it on the list for the next time I'm in town.

You've seen this spot all over social media when searching for popular food destinations in San…read moreSebastian-Donostia, and I can concur that the best Tortilla Española is found here. (Yes, we've tried other pintxo bars as well) Locals and tourists line up daily for this breakfast of Champions. Only a certain number of Tortillas are made daily, and when they're gone, they're gone. We were in San Sebastian the first week of May which is kinda like their shoulder season for tourists, so we had no problem on missing out.(Best time to come is between 8:30am-11am according to one of the workers)Trust me, one portion IS NOT ENOUGH , so follow this pro tip and get yourself TWO ORDERS. Simple ingredients, big flavors of the caramelized onions, potatoes, and green peppers seasoned perfectly with salt and binded with just the right amount of eggs(30 per tortilla) just HEAVEN! Oh, but don't stop there. Get what they call their Classics. Four of their most popular pintxos. I remember the Crispy Oxtail, and the scallop pintxo, but can't remember the other two. Ambiance is noisy and vibrant, service is quick and pleasant, and this is one pintxo bar you may find yourself returning to time and time again.(We went four out of the 5 days we were here.) *see Mark Wiens San Sebastian YouTube video to see how the time consuming tortilla is made

On a food tour with Culinary Backstreets in San Sebastian, we are headed to Bar Antonio near the…read morebeach for an absolute gem. The local guides words. We sat outside near the square under the umbrellas and watching people. Our guide prepped us on the history and story of this stop. The city and setting are beautiful. We are excited to explore this idyllic town in the northwestern corner of Spain. One dish, one stop on an evening of many favorite pintxos in the area. Luckily, we are walking from stop to stop so we don't develop the pintxos pooch. To our table is delivered a wedge of what looks like an omelet or pie. The guide explains this is no ordinary omelet but a world renowned "best Spanish omelet". He was absolutely correct. The light, juicy, savory and fluffy Spanish omelet is delicious. There is a sweetness from the peppers and carmelized onions, yet a perfect marriage of flavors. It have great moistness, yet not soupy. If you are entertaining for brunch or breakfast, go to Google and watch the video on how this is done at this spot and in this city. I have said in the past that I could easily skip breakfast, but if this was on the menu, I would have to rescind that statement. To the chefs at Antonio, great job and thanks for showing me what a great omelet is.

This restaurant is one of many located and what is considered the old part of town. A more modern…read moresmaller restaurant in a charming location. There is lower level and street level, indoor dining as well as outdoor seating. Without a reservation, you would be lucky to get any seating particularly during the few hours they are open in the afternoon. They open again later in the evening. We were fortunate enough to come in at the last minute and snag a table downstairs. Our server was very pleasant, and quickly brought us our drinks from the full service bar. There is also a nice wine menu. The specialty of the house is paellas. If you are not a fan of seafood, I would strongly recommend you try something else! Seafood paellas are cooked with shellfish and fish broth, which can make them saltier standard rice dishes. The calamari were done perfectly and the paella was a generous portion with good flavor.

I love coming here for the paella, it's always delicious! The service is consistently good, and the…read moreportions are generous. A great spot for a satisfying meal.

Very good food, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Both tapas and meals available. Plus gluten…read morefree bread available.

This place is a gem. At first I thought it was just a pintxos place but when we sat down and opened…read morethe menu I soon realized they offer a great selection. The Carrilleras de terneras (Glazed Calf Cheeks) is a must!!! My cousins kept telling me I had to order it but hearing it is face meet had me hesitant. I ordered and I was amazed with the flavor, texture and how soft it was. The best! Another highlight dish was the Arroz Cremoso Con Setas (Mushrooms Creamy Rice). It's like a risotto that you don't want it to end. Both are delicious. I loved both the Iberian acorn ham and the mushrooms croquettes. I ate so many trying to figure out which one I like best. Both are winners and addictive. Strong in flavor, good size, creamy inside and crunchy outside. I also recommend Pulpo a La Gallega and the Grilled baby squids Txipirones. Although both dishes looked alike they were prepared with different seasoning. Grilled Ox Sirloin with Roquefort Entrecot and Solomillo de Siervo Deer Tenderloin are worthy as well. Now the Torrija caramelized French toast with almond cream and ice cream was not at the same level of the food. My Torrija was super dry and kind of difficult to digest. I ate my wife's Torrija and her was softer than mine but still nothing I would repeat. Clean bathrooms and great service!!! Nice staff!