Sometimes, you land in a city and before you know which way is north, you feel like you could move there. For me, Old Town San Sebastian is that place and I blame it all on an epic San Sebastian tapas crawl I did a few years back.
To tell the truth, I visited Basque Country as one of the first places in both Spain and France. Before I decided to move to France for culinary school, I visited a friend who loved France. They were studying abroad there.
And, because her family has Basque origins, we headed to this unique corner of Europe. The weather was like San Francisco and the vibe more laid back than I was expecting. The unique wines, cheeses, and dishes I had never tried before drew the food lover in me, especially once I tried San Sebastian tapas.
It is now one of the parts of France and Spain that I enjoy sending our travel clients to because they always have a great adventure. There are great hiking trails, castles, and charming fishing villages.
The art is top-notch, but it’s the creative food, artisanal ciders, wines, and handmade cheeses that make me return. And the best way to try it all is an Old Town San Sebastian tapas crawl. So we’re sharing our picks of places to check out on your next trip.
Five Essential Stops On An Old Town San Sebastian Tapas Crawl
San Sebastián, located in Spanish Basque Country, is world-famous for its incredible food scene—especially its tapas, known locally as pintxos. In this coastal city, going from one pintxos bar to another is a way of life. Each stop offers small dishes that range from simple anchovy-topped bread to fancy creations that could win Michelin stars.
Whether you are walking through the busy streets of the Old Town or visiting modern neighborhoods, trying San Sebastián’s tapas is a must. On my last trip, I convinced my siblings to join me on a tapas crawl. They rolled their eyes at their food-loving sister. They thought it would be more trouble than it was worth.
With a list of tips from friends who cooked in nearby Michelin-starred kitchens, we decided to go for it. We sipped Txakoli, sherry, and local ciders at every place we visited. We tried to hold back, but we still made it to 8 bars and enjoyed a variety of snacks. These were our top picks for a San Sebastian tapas crawl:
Paco Bueno bar
If you’re not sure how to kick things off, start here. It’s a large place with room to sit at the bar or find your own table. There is so much food that the only problem will be deciding what to skip. The bocadillos (little sandwiches) were amazing as were the frituras (deep fried bites).
Astelena
A pretty worn-in looking place, what it lacks in charm, Astelena makes up for in food. This place offers small bites, from simple jamon with peppers to daring foie gras ravioli. It connects traditional tapas places, like Paco Bueno, with the modern dishes from local Michelin-starred restaurants. Some of our favorites when we went where the croquetas coated in crunchy pistachios and the crepes stuffed with salmon and cheese.
Txepetxa Bar
If you aren’t a fan of anchovies, well, first you should try this toast and then you should book it to Txepetxa to become a convert. They have seemingly endless ways to serve the Spanish marinated white anchovies knowns as boquerones. We went to town with a big group. We could order one of each type. Our favorite was the tostada de anchoas y centolla.
La Cuchara De San Telmo
Another place that explores new flavors offers many types of meat. You can find duck confit, foie gras, and pig’s ear here. Try their various pintxos; we absolutely love the seared foie gras with apple compote and the goat cheese risotto. And, hopefully, it goes without saying that, if they have foie gras or txipirones (squid), get it!
Bar Nestor
There’s a lot of amazing food here from the Ensalada de Tomate to the Tortilla de patata (available from 12pm to 8pm), but the Txuleton de Buey (thick-cut rib-eye steak) pretty much blew our minds.
Our server was from Argentina. He said the steak at Bar Nestor was better than any he had in South America. I’m not sure about that, but I do know this: once you order it, be ready to stay a while. You probably won’t eat anything else for the rest of the night.
How To Do A Tapas Crawl
If you haven’t done a tapas crawl (txiquiteo in Basque), you’re gonna want to read up on it so you know how to get fed and how to pace yourself. The idea is to hop from bar to bar, enjoying drinks and eat small bites from classic like croquetas, bocadillos, and jamon to anything else that looks delicious.
Make like a local on your San Sebastian tapas crawl and get one to three bites at each stop. Go hungry so you can make it through a few places and always ask the bar what their favorites are (including for the wine and cider options). You can do it for lunch or dinner but we prefer it as a dinner activity. The bars often change their offering so look online or on social media (especially for local experts like Marti Buckley) for recent recommendations.
What Are Basque Pintxos?
Pintxos (pronounced “peen-chos”) are the Basque Country’s answer to tapas—small, flavorful bites traditionally served atop slices of bread and often skewered with a toothpick. Unlike other tapas, which are typically shared and come in various sizes, pintxos are meant to be individual portions, allowing you to sample a wide variety of flavors as you hop from bar to bar.
Some classic Basque pintxos you’ll want to try during a San Sebastian tapas crawl include gilda, a salty and briny skewer of olives, anchovies, and pickled peppers considered the original pintxo; txistorra, a grilled mini Basque sausage often served warm on crusty bread; and bacalao al pil-pil, a silky salted cod dish made with garlic and olive oil.
Don’t miss tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelet), jamón ibérico sliced paper-thin, or more modern creations like seared foie gras with apple compote. Whether you prefer traditional or inventive, San Sebastián’s pintxos scene is a delicious dive into Basque culinary culture.
Why Visit Basque Country?
You probably already know that Basque Country is super unique—with a language that has no known origins, more Michelin-starred restaurants than most other countries, people who technically live in Spain and France but who look at the borders of Basque Country as the only borders worth really acknowledging.
Be it the beaches at Hossegor with surfers who look like they just came out of the Southern California waves; chic Biarritz with high-end boutiques and the Imperial palace; the hills with Michelin-starred restaurants to Pamplona’s running of the bulls to world-class wineries; or Bilbao with Gehry’s Guggenheim sitting like the city’s crown jewel.
Essential Spain Travel Tips
If you’re planning a trip to Spain, knowing a few local customs and practical tips will make your journey even smoother. Before you set off on your culinary adventures, be sure to check out our Spain travel tips guide, covering everything from dining etiquette to transportation and cultural insights.
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