Basque Pintxos€€parte-vieja
Bartolo on Fermin Calbeton in San Sebastian's Old Town keeps one of the longest pintxo display counters in the quarter, with a sit-down dining room serving.
Signature: Tortilla de patatas, Gilda, Brocheta
Order: A tortilla pintxo from the counter; sit down for the steak or seared fish in the back.
Tip: Counter pintxos are pay-as-you-go; back room takes reservations through their site. Closed Tuesdays.
Basque Pintxos€€parte-vieja
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.
Signature: Foie con compota, Carrillera, Pintxos del dia
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.
Modern Basque€€parte-vieja
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.
Basque-latin American€€gros
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.
Basque Pintxos€€parte-vieja
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.
Basque Grill and Pintxos€€parte-vieja
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.