Eat well in San Sebastián for under €15 a plate: the locals'-budget edition.
Eat well in San Sebastián for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
La Mejillonera on Calle del Puerto in San Sebastian has cooked mussels by the dozen since 1967, served standing at the bar with bravas and a cana for under 10 euros.
Try: Mussels by the dozen with patatas bravas
Tip: Standing only. Closed Wednesdays. Cash and card both.
Casa Vergara on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian's Old Town since 1948 turns out the bacalao al pil pil pintxo for under 4 euros, the canonical budget bite from the church-step counter.
Try: Bacalao al pil pil pintxo with a glass of Txakoli
Tip: Terrace fills first; the pintxo plus Txakoli is under 6 euros.
Bar Txepetxa on Pescaderia in San Sebastian sells the vinegar-cured anchovy pintxo from 3 euros, the seafood-counter budget order with a Txakoli for under 6.
Try: Anchoa a la jardinera pintxo with Txakoli
Tip: Two anchoas with a Txakoli for under 8 euros. Counter standing only.
Antonio Bar on Bergara in San Sebastian's Centro serves a wedge of the 28-egg tortilla with a cana under 7 euros, the locals' lunchtime budget plate.
Try: Tortilla wedge with a cana
Tip: Tortilla finishes by 14:30. Stand at the counter; cash and card both.
Goiz Argi on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian's Old Town fires the brocheta de gambas to order for under 5 euros, the canonical Old Town budget bite with a Txakoli.
Try: Brocheta de gambas with cana
Tip: Stand only; the brochette plus a Txakoli is under 8 euros.
Bideluze on Plaza Gipuzkoa in San Sebastian's Centro serves the morning tortilla pintxo with a cafe con leche under 5 euros, the city's breakfast institution since the early 20th century.
Try: Morning tortilla pintxo with cafe con leche
Tip: Mornings are the best time; the plaza terrace is the calmer seat.
Bar Sport on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian's Old Town fires foie a la plancha to order for under 5 euros, the late-evening budget pintxo of the working Old Town crowd.
Try: Foie a la plancha pintxo
Tip: Counter standing only; the foie plus Txakoli is under 8 euros.
La Vina on Calle 31 de Agosto in San Sebastian sells the burnt Basque cheesecake wedge from the counter under 5 euros, the city's most famous dessert without the sit-down bill.
Try: Tarta de queso wedge
Tip: Wedge to take away or eat standing. Closed Mondays.
Ganbara on San Jeronimo in San Sebastian's Old Town serves a single mushroom-and-egg-yolk pintxo from the counter under 7 euros, the autumn budget bite in mushroom season.
Try: Mushroom pintxo with egg yolk in autumn
Tip: October to December peak; closed Sundays and Mondays.
Casa Tiburcio on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian's Old Town, rebranded Fermin Calbeton in 2022, runs a working-day menu del dia at 13 to 15 euros, with three courses and wine.
Try: Working-day menu del dia
Tip: Menu del dia served 13:00 to 15:30 weekdays.
Casa Senra on Calle San Francisco in San Sebastian's Gros serves a 14-to-16-euro working-day menu del dia, with three courses, bread and wine, the neighbourhood's go-to lunch.
Try: Menu del dia in Gros
Tip: Menu del dia 13:00 to 15:30. Closed Sundays.
Bar Tamboril on Arrandegi next to Plaza de la Constitucion in San Sebastian's Old Town turns out garlic-mushroom pintxos for under 4 euros, the budget hot bite of the family.
Try: Mushrooms in olive oil pintxo
Tip: Counter standing only; closed Tuesdays.
Peak food season in San Sebastián is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. San Sebastián rewards trust.