Also: Bars in San Sebastian
Cocktails, wine bars and dives: drinking in San Sebastián for grown-ups.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in San Sebastián for grown-ups.
Museo del Whisky on the Boulevard in San Sebastian's Old Town displays 3,400 whisky bottles across two floors, including the world's smallest.
DrinkWhisky from the 3,400-bottle display
FoodSnacks
TipOwner Paul Bordonaba mixes cocktails at the upstairs bar; the basement is the piano room.
Bataplan on Paseo de la Concha in San Sebastian is the city's well-known 1990s house-music nightclub, with spectacular night views over La Concha bay.
DrinkCocktails over La Concha bay
FoodNone
TipOpens 00:30 Thursday to Saturday in summer. Dress smart; the door is selective.
Atari Gastroteka on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian's Old Town pours Txakoli from height across the city's busiest standing-room terrace on the steps.
DrinkTxakoli poured from height
FoodModern pintxos and brochettes
TipTerrace fills first; the Friday and Saturday close is 02:30.
Bar Sport on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian's Old Town pours a steady cana and Txakoli with grilled foie and stuffed squid pintxos, the classic.
DrinkHouse Txakoli
FoodFoie a la plancha, txipiron stuffed with crab
TipOpen daily until midnight. Counter standing only.
Mala Gissona Beer House in San Sebastian's Gros, a hundred metres from Zurriola beach, runs 12 draught taps with the house Oiartzun brewery beers plus 150.
DrinkMala Gissona house IPA on draught
FoodAsian-leaning bar snacks
TipIndustrial-minimalist room; the brewery flights are the value pour. Open daily.
Basqueland Izakaia in San Sebastian's Gros is the brewery's tavern outpost, serving Basqueland's freshly brewed beer, organic wine and Asian bar food.
DrinkBasqueland Imparable IPA on tap
FoodAsian-leaning bar snacks
TipFlight of four house beers is the value pour; the Asian small plates are the food pairing.
Akerbeltz on Calle Mari in San Sebastian's Old Town serves Basque cider from the barrel and a small craft-beer list, with a harbour-side terrace overlooking.
DrinkBasque sidra natural from the barrel
FoodPintxos and small plates
TipCider poured high into wide glasses; the terrace fills at sunset.
Casa Urola's downstairs counter on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian's Old Town is the entry-level Basque pintxo bar with the city's deepest Txakoli pour.
DrinkItsasmendi Txakoli with the kokotxas pintxo
FoodBasque pintxos and kokotxas al pil pil
TipStand at the counter for pintxos; upstairs takes reservations for full sit-down.
Borda Berri on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian cooks hot made-to-order pintxos off a tight blackboard menu, with a Txakoli pour and a single house red.
DrinkTxakoli with the risotto de Idiazabal
FoodHot made-to-order pintxos
TipNo counter display; read the blackboard. Closed Sundays Standing room when busy.
Bar Tamboril on Arrandegi next to Plaza de la Constitucion in San Sebastian's Old Town, run by the same family as Ganbara, keeps the mushroom-in-olive-oil.
DrinkTxakoli with the champinon pintxo
FoodMushrooms in olive oil, gamba a la gabardina
TipListed in the Michelin Guide as a Bib-recognised pintxo room. Counter standing only.
La Vina's front counter on Calle 31 de Agosto in San Sebastian pours sherry and Pedro Ximenez alongside the burnt cheesecake wedge, the canonical pairing.
DrinkPedro Ximenez with the tarta de queso
FoodTarta de queso and classic pintxos
TipClosed Mondays. The wedge plus PX is the proper Old Town stop.
Topa Sukalderia in San Sebastian's Gros runs a Latin spirits bar inside the Aduriz-helmed restaurant, with mezcal, pisco and tequila programmes alongside.
DrinkPisco sour and mezcal flights
FoodBasque-Latin American small plates
TipPisco sour is the entry-level pour; the mezcal flight comes with the cochinita pibil.
Bar Txepetxa on Pescaderia in San Sebastian, since 1972, pours Txakoli alongside the vinegar-cured anchovy pintxos for which the city queues.
DrinkTxakoli with the anchoa a la jardinera
FoodVinegar-cured anchovy pintxos
TipTwo anchoas with a glass of Txakoli; closed Mondays.
Ganbara's ground-floor counter on San Jeronimo in San Sebastian's Old Town pours Txakoli alongside the autumn setas pintxo and the spider-crab plate.
DrinkTxakoli with the autumn setas
FoodMushrooms, spider crab, pintxos
TipOctober to December for peak mushroom season; the counter is busy from 13:00.
La Cuchara de San Telmo on Calle 31 de Agosto in San Sebastian, open since 1999, pairs the made-to-order pintxos with a Rioja-leaning by-the-glass list.
DrinkHalf-bottle of Rioja with the carrillera
FoodModern Basque made-to-order pintxos
TipThe carrillera with a Rioja red is the canonical Cuchara order. Queue early.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Spend an evening exploring five San Sebastián bars with a Michelin-trained chef. Enjoy 7 to 12 pintxos, txakoli and local drinks, plus dessert, a full dinner with stor...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Visit the best pintxos and wine bars in San Sebastian on an exclusive tour. Discover some of the best local, family-run eateries and hidden gems.
Guided tour · 2.5 hours
Escape the crowds and dive into the authentic flavors of San Sebastian as you taste lesser-known favorites and iconic bites in the Centro neighborhood.