The surfers-and-students quarter east of the Urumea river around Zurriola beach, anchoring the modern Basque cooking wave at Galerna, Topa Sukalderia and Sakona Coffee.
Galerna Jan Edan in San Sebastian's Gros, run since 2016 by Jorge Asenjo and Rebeca Barainca, cooks a short modern-Basque tasting menu in a 30-cover room.
Signature: Tasting menu, Bonito de Bermeo, Game-season hare
Order: The bonito de Bermeo when the line boats land; in autumn the game-season tasting around hare and pigeon.
Tip: Two services, lunch and dinner, both menu-only. Book a fortnight ahead in season; the dining room is small and full.
Topa Sukalderia in San Sebastian's Gros is the IXO Grupo (Andoni Luis Aduriz) Basque-Latin American room since 2017, with tacos, ceviches and a counter.
Signature: Quesadilla de morcilla, Cochinita pibil taco, Pisco sour
Order: The quesadilla de morcilla and the cochinita pibil taco; the pisco sour to drink.
Tip: The bar is walk-in; tables need a reservation through the website. The kitchen runs continuously from 13:00 onwards.
Casa 887 in San Sebastian's Gros runs a Basque-fusion kitchen with Asian inflection in a stone-and-wood room, with both a la carte and a 65-euro tasting menu.
Signature: Steak tartare, Carabineros, Asian-leaning Basque tasting
Order: The steak tartare and the carabineros if they're on the carte; the tasting if you're in for the night.
Tip: Book through OpenTable; the room is intimate and sells out on weekends.
Bar Bergara on General Artetxe in San Sebastian's Gros, since 1950, is the award-winning miniature-cuisine counter where Juan Mari Arzak is a regular.
Signature: Txalupa, Itxaso, Udaberri
Order: The Txalupa with prawn-mushroom gratin; the Itxaso monkfish with seafood cream.
Tip: Walk in only at the counter; small street terrace. The kitchen rotates new pintxos through the year while keeping the prize-winners on the daily list.
Casa Senra on Calle San Francisco in San Sebastian's Gros runs a working-day menu del dia and a traditional Basque pintxo counter, the neighbourhood lunch.
Signature: Menu del dia, Pintxos tradicionales, Carrillera
Order: The menu del dia at lunch; the carrillera al vino tinto if it's on the carte.
Tip: Lunch served 13:00-15:30; menu del dia 14 to 18 euros. Closed Sunday.
Topa Sukalderia in San Sebastian's Gros is the IXO Grupo (Andoni Luis Aduriz) Basque-Latin American room since 2017, with tacos, ceviches and pisco cocktails.
Signature: Quesadilla de morcilla, Cochinita pibil taco, Ceviche
Order: The quesadilla de morcilla; the cochinita pibil taco; the pisco sour.
Tip: Walk in at the bar or book a table through topasukalderia.com. The kitchen runs continuously from 13:00.
Bar Bergara on General Artetxe in San Sebastian's Gros, since 1950, sets out one of the most decorated miniature-cuisine pintxo counters in the city.
Signature: Txalupa, Itxaso, Tortilla de anchoas
Order: The Txalupa gratin of prawn and mushroom; a wedge of the tortilla de anchoas; a glass of Txakoli.
Tip: Walk in at the counter; small street terrace fills first. Closed Wednesdays.
La Gintonería Donostiarra on Calle Zabaleta in San Sebastian is the Gros gin lounge with over 150 gin labels and theatrical aromatic-infusion gin and tonics.
Tip: Open evenings from 18:00; book ahead at weekends. The flight format lets you taste three gins side by side before the full pour.
Mala Gissona Beer House on Calle Zabaleta in San Sebastian is the Gros craft-beer dive 100 metres from Zurriola, with 12 taps and 150-plus cans split between.
Tip: Kitchen runs late; Thursday through Saturday close at 01:00 or later. Stand at the front bar for the surf-and-skate Gros crowd talking flights.
Basqueland Izakaia on Calle Peña y Goñi in San Sebastian is the Gros taproom for Basqueland Brewing, opened 2020 with 12 rotating taps and Asian bar food.
Tip: Pair the Santa Clara lager with the ramen; the room runs late and weekend taps rotate fastest. Walk-in only, the bar tightens after dinner service spills over.
Picachilla Taberna Nautikoa on Calle Peña y Goñi in San Sebastian is the Gros nautical-themed local across from the Kursaal, with 100-plus beers.
Tip: Match nights run the bar at full volume until last whistle, then the room thins for a quiet pour. The terrace faces the Cubos de Moneo and Zurriola promenade.