Where to Eat the Best Pintxos in Old Town, San Sebastián (These Win Every Time)
A chef-approved pintxos list that never fails. This guide to San Sebastian's Old Town will have you falling in love with melt-in-your-mouth sirloin, life-changing anchovies, and much more.
I don’t know how many times I’ve written this list and sent it out to people. I’d jot it down in IG DMs, rewrite it on WhatsApp, and eventually saved it to my Notes app for easy copy-paste access. Then… that got deleted. (Classic.)
So I’d rewrite it. Again. And again.
Some bars have closed or changed hands, but these spots are still my forever faves. As a former food tour guide and travel writer for Devour—and now practically married to a Donosti-native chef with a palate so picky it could rival Michelin inspectors—this list is as vetted as it gets.
Truth is, it’s more Chef’s Mikel’s list than mine. I fell in love with him after he gave me a pintxos tour, after all. ❤️
Five reminders before we begin our pintxos tour:
It’s not just about where you go, it’s what you order.
Don’t be ashamed to order just one pintxo and a drink. These bars want a quick turnaround! And you want to save your appetite for what matters.
Don’t know what to order? Look for the 'Best Pintxos' plaque on the wall. It spells out their top bite that wowed the city’s best chefs.
Know what you want. Practice your order in Spanish before you squeeze in.
This list is a feast! Around six to seven pintxos should fill you up nicely for dinner. Don’t feel like you need to hit every bar in one go. Your tummy will thank you for pacing yourself.
Note: Sunday and Monday are tricky. Not all pintxos bars will be open on Sunday afternoon. And others will take their well-deserved break on Monday. (Some will take Tue or Wed instead so it’s always best to check schedules on Google Maps or ask the bar itself.)
Pro tip: order a small-sized beer (called a zurito) so you don’t get too smashed as you pintxos-hop.
Bonus content: At the bottom of this post, I share my Google Map with all these spots pinned, with notes on what to order when you click on each.
Old Town (Parte Vieja): Pintxos Central
Parte Vieja is the heart of San Sebastián’s food scene, bursting with energy, tradition, and more than 200 bars and restaurants packed into just a few square blocks. It’s where bar counters are lined with colorful pintxos, and where tourists flock to snack and savor.
Note: This list follows a route starting near La Concha Beach and moves through Parte Vieja toward the other side. If you’re coming from the barrio Gros or Zurriola Beach, flip it and go bottom to top!
Antonio’s Bar
Order: Tortilla de Patata. It’s limited and brought out at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12nn, and 2pm. (Unless they’ve changed the schedule!)
Paco Bueno
Order: Beer-battered prawns or Gambas Gabardina. One of my favorite hangover pintxos. Not hungover? Pair it with a marianito.
La Mejillonera
Order: Mejillones (mussels) Tigres, Mejillones a la Vinagreta, Calamares Bravas
Bar Txuleta
Order: Croqueta de Txuleta. That translates to Steak Croqueta. 'Nuff said.
Gandarias
Order: Solomillo (sirloin) pintxo. Tender, grass-fed beef grilled to perfection. Classic.
Txepetxa
Order: Anchovy pintxos, especially the crab sauce. If you don’t think you like anchovies, this place will change your mind.
Borda Berri
Order: Beef cheeks (carrilleras), pork ear (oreja) with chimichurri sauce, Idiazabal cheese risotto. Missed the beef cheeks? Try them at Atari or Cuchara San Telmo.
Bar Sport
Order: Foie a la plancha—nothing else. Ultra simple, ridiculously good. I know someone who got gout because he couldn’t stop coming back for this. Consider yourself warned!
Goiz-Argi
Order: Brocheta de Gambas. Simple, juicy, tasty shrimp in a skewer.
Gorriti
Order: Anchovies with egg and green peppers, morcilla and chorizo skewers. Old-school vibes, delicious staples.
Bar Martinez
Order: Piquillo pepper stuffed with tuna tartar, drizzled with vinegar and olive oil. Perfectly sweet and smoky. (I crave this one a lot!)
La Viña
Order: What do you think? Basque cheesecake. Yes, it’s worth the hype. Yes, you can pour some of your jerez wine over it. Yes, you'll probably be back tomorrow.
Zazpi
Order: Pork ear stew. This place is worth popping in for a pintxo—or going all in for a sit-down meal.
Got a sweet tooth? Want more than cheesecake? Toma:
Otaegui
Near Txepetxa, Borda Berri, and Bar Sport
Order: Pantxineta, torrija, bomba de crema. This is Basque pastry heaven. In Old Town, it's just a store. But near Buen Pastor you’ll find their sit-down café—perfect for cake and coffee.
Pasteleria Oiartzun
Right across Antionio’s Bar
Order: Tarta de limón, the "Izaga" (if you love praline), palmera de pistacho (if they have it). This is the sweet break you didn’t know you needed.
When I first arrived in San Sebastián, Mikel took me on a pintxos tour. It was first on his itinerary for me. By the time I took a bite of La Viña’s cheesecake, I was in love… with the food and the city.
“It’s like creme brulee and cheesecake made a baby!” - Me after my first bite of La Viña’s cheesecake
Donostia is a place rich in history, culture, and pride. While visiting, read up, soak it in, and walk around with your eyes and heart open. It’s so, so much more than pintxos. But those pintxos? Easily the best street food on this side of the world.
Bonus Content: My Overwhelming Google Map!
It’s where I add my favorite food spots around Spain. If you think you’re capaz (able) to decipher it, add it to your Google Maps, zoom into San Sebastian, and click on the dots to find notes on what to order.
