Also: Budget Eats in San Sebastian
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.
Try: Mussels by the dozen with patatas bravas
Tip: Standing only. Closed Wednesdays. Cash and card both Cash is faster than card.
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.
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.
Try: Brocheta de gambas with cana
Tip: Stand only; the brochette plus a Txakoli is under 8 euros Cash is faster than card.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Try: Mushroom pintxo with egg yolk in autumn
Tip: October to December peak; closed Sundays and Mondays Cash is faster than card.
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.
Try: Working-day menu del dia
Tip: Menu del dia served 13:00-15:30 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.
Try: Menu del dia in Gros
Tip: Menu del dia 13:00-15:30. 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.
Try: Mushrooms in olive oil pintxo
Tip: Counter standing only; closed Tuesdays.