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 of the Santa Maria church.
Food program: Modern pintxos and brochettes
Tip: Terrace fills first; the Friday and Saturday close is 02:30.
Address: Calle Mayor 18, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian, San Sebastián
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 late-evening counter.
Signature drink: House Txakoli
Food: Foie a la plancha, txipiron stuffed with crab
Tip: Open 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 bottles and cans.
Signature drink: Mala Gissona house IPA on draught
Food: Asian-leaning bar snacks
Tip: Industrial-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 in a city-centre room.
Signature drink: Basqueland Imparable IPA on tap
Food: Asian-leaning bar snacks
Tip: Flight 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 the Cantabrian.
Signature drink: Basque sidra natural from the barrel
Food: Pintxos and small plates
Tip: Cider 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 and a kokotxas pintxo on every visit.
Signature drink: Itsasmendi Txakoli with the kokotxas pintxo
Food: Basque pintxos and kokotxas al pil pil
Tip: Stand 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 as the drinks list.
Signature drink: Txakoli with the risotto de Idiazabal
Food: Hot made-to-order pintxos
Tip: No counter display; read the blackboard. Closed Sundays.
