Cocktail barCider and craft beer€€€
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.
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.
Cocktail barPintxo and wine bar€€€
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.
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.
Cocktail barPintxo and Txakoli bar€€€
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.
Signature drink: Txakoli with the risotto de Idiazabal
Food: Hot made-to-order pintxos
Tip: No counter display; read the blackboard. Closed Sundays Standing room when busy.
Cocktail barPintxo bar€€€
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.
Signature drink: Txakoli with the champinon pintxo
Food: Mushrooms in olive oil, gamba a la gabardina
Tip: Listed in the Michelin Guide as a Bib-recognised pintxo room. Counter standing only.
Cocktail barPintxo and sherry bar€€€
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.
Signature drink: Pedro Ximenez with the tarta de queso
Food: Tarta de queso and classic pintxos
Tip: Closed Mondays. The wedge plus PX is the proper Old Town stop.
Cocktail barCocktail bar€€€
Topa Sukalderia in San Sebastian's Gros runs a Latin spirits bar inside the Aduriz-helmed restaurant, with mezcal, pisco and tequila programmes alongside.
Signature drink: Pisco sour and mezcal flights
Food: Basque-Latin American small plates
Tip: Pisco sour is the entry-level pour; the mezcal flight comes with the cochinita pibil.