Bar Astelena is a basque pintxos restaurant in Parte Vieja, San Sebastián.
Bar Astelena on Calle Inigo in San Sebastian's Old Town, in business since 1960, runs a tight counter of pintxos plus a small dining room behind for sit-down.
Editorially verified May 20, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Foie con compota, Carrillera, Pintxos del dia
Must order: The foie con compota de manzana; the carrillera braised in red wine.
Tip: Smaller crowd than the Calle 31 de Agosto rooms; lunch sit-down requires booking by phone.
Address: Calle Inigo 1, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian, San Sebastián
Sirimiri Gastroleku on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian's Old Town runs a contemporary pintxo bar with fresh fish ceviches, slow-cooked carrillera and a small.
Signature: Ceviche, Carrillera, Pato
Order: The seasonal fish ceviche; the slow-cooked beef cheek.
Tip: Sit at the counter to watch the kitchen; the back dining room is a sit-down service.
Casa Vergara on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian's Old Town, since 1948, sits opposite the Santa Maria del Coro basilica with the bacalao al pil pil pintxo.
Signature: Bacalao al pil pil, Brocheta, Pintxo de tortilla
Order: The bacalao al pil pil pintxo; the tortilla by the slice; a glass of Txakoli on the church-step terrace.
Tip: Terrace seating across from the basilica fills first. Open daily; standing room only.
Casa Tiburcio on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian, rebranded Fermin Calbeton under Grupo Garrancho in 2022, runs a Basque pintxo counter and a back-room.
Signature: Brasa de carne, Callos y morros, Pintxos tradicionales
Order: The callos y morros if it's on the day's list; the brasa-grilled chuleton from the back.
Tip: Brasa lights at 12:30 and 20:00. Stand at the front bar for pintxos.
Atari Gastroteka on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian, opposite the Santa Maria del Coro church, runs a long bar of experimental pintxos and a church-step.
Signature: Brocheta de langostinos, Solomillo con foie, Pintxos de autor
Order: The langostino brochette; the solomillo with foie; a Txakoli on the terrace.
Tip: No reservations, walk in only. The terrace is the social hour; pull up at 19:30 to beat the queue.
Borda Berri on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian cooks hot made-to-order pintxos off a tight blackboard menu, no counter display, the Idiazabal-cheese risotto.
Signature: Risotto de Idiazabal, Carrillera al vino tinto, Costilla de Basatxerri
Order: The risotto de Idiazabal con puntalette; the carrillera al vino tinto; the Basatxerri pork ribs.
Tip: Walk in only, closed Sundays. Stand outside if the bar is full; orders come out fast.
Sirimiri Gastroleku on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian's Old Town runs a contemporary pintxo bar with fresh fish ceviches, slow-cooked carrillera and a small.
Signature: Ceviche, Carrillera, Pato
Order: The seasonal fish ceviche; the slow-cooked beef cheek.
Tip: Sit at the counter to watch the kitchen; the back dining room is a sit-down service.
Topa Sukalderia in San Sebastian's Gros is the IXO Grupo (Andoni Luis Aduriz) Basque-Latin American room since 2017, with tacos, ceviches and pisco cocktails.
Signature: Quesadilla de morcilla, Cochinita pibil taco, Ceviche
Order: The quesadilla de morcilla; the cochinita pibil taco; the pisco sour.
Tip: Walk in at the bar or book a table through topasukalderia.com. The kitchen runs continuously from 13:00.
Casa Vergara on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian's Old Town, since 1948, sits opposite the Santa Maria del Coro basilica with the bacalao al pil pil pintxo.
Signature: Bacalao al pil pil, Brocheta, Pintxo de tortilla
Order: The bacalao al pil pil pintxo; the tortilla by the slice; a glass of Txakoli on the church-step terrace.
Tip: Terrace seating across from the basilica fills first. Open daily; standing room only.
Casa Tiburcio on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian, rebranded Fermin Calbeton under Grupo Garrancho in 2022, runs a Basque pintxo counter and a back-room.
Signature: Brasa de carne, Callos y morros, Pintxos tradicionales
Order: The callos y morros if it's on the day's list; the brasa-grilled chuleton from the back.
Tip: Brasa lights at 12:30 and 20:00. Stand at the front bar for pintxos.
Atari Gastroteka on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian, opposite the Santa Maria del Coro church, runs a long bar of experimental pintxos and a church-step.
Signature: Brocheta de langostinos, Solomillo con foie, Pintxos de autor
Order: The langostino brochette; the solomillo with foie; a Txakoli on the terrace.
Tip: No reservations, walk in only. The terrace is the social hour; pull up at 19:30 to beat the queue.
Borda Berri on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian cooks hot made-to-order pintxos off a tight blackboard menu, no counter display, the Idiazabal-cheese risotto.
Signature: Risotto de Idiazabal, Carrillera al vino tinto, Costilla de Basatxerri
Order: The risotto de Idiazabal con puntalette; the carrillera al vino tinto; the Basatxerri pork ribs.
Tip: Walk in only, closed Sundays. Stand outside if the bar is full; orders come out fast.
