19 editor picks in San Sebastián.
19 cafe places in San Sebastián we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in San Sebastián | Cafe across every city.
Cafe culture in San Sebastian spans the grand old daytime rooms and a fast-growing speciality-coffee crowd. Bideluze on Plaza Gipuzkoa holds the classic centro tradition, while Sakona Coffee Roasters in Gros and Old Town Coffee on Reyes Catolicos Kalea lead the modern roasting wave. Smaller spots like Koh Tao Cafe on Calle Bengoetxea and Kafe Botanika on Paseo Arbol de Gernika fill out the everyday coffee map.
Bideluze on Plaza Gipuzkoa in San Sebastian's Centro is one of the city's breakfast institutions, retro-tiled floors, sit-down service and a counter.
OrderThe morning tortilla and cafe con leche; a pintxo of jamon at midday.
TipBreakfast service from 08:00; the plaza terrace is the calmer morning seat.
Sakona Coffee Roasters in San Sebastian's Gros has run a specialty coffee programme since 2015, anchoring the city's third-wave scene with a 30-cover cafe.
TipTry the seasonal filter pour or a flat white; the bean retail wall stocks Sakona's roasts to take home.
Old Town Coffee in San Sebastian's Centro, founded by Brazilian friends, runs single-origin coffees rotated seasonally. Order the single-origin espresso.
TipThe Mercado San Martin branch is the original location; the Reyes Catolicos cafe is the newer flagship.
Koh Tao Cafe in San Sebastian's Centro, named for the Thai island where founders Ana and Ainara dreamed it up, is one of the original third-wave coffee bars.
TipPull up at the counter for the flat white; homemade cakes and a small brunch carte sit on the side.
Old Town Coffee inside Mercado San Martin in San Sebastian's Centro is the market-stall outpost of the city's specialty coffee pioneer, with a stand-up.
TipPair a filter coffee with a Geltoki croissant from the bakery stall across the aisle. Closed Sundays.
Bideluze on Plaza Gipuzkoa in San Sebastian's Centro is the breakfast institution, with retro tile floors, a counter of morning tortilla and a back room.
TipMornings are the best time; the plaza-side terrace is the calmer seat. Closed Sunday afternoons.
Kafe Botanika next to the Urumea river in San Sebastian's Centro runs an international cafe carte with vegan and gluten-free options, plus one.
TipThe terrace has been named among Spain's most beautiful; book by phone for weekend brunch.
La Madame on Calle San Bartolome near La Concha in San Sebastian's Centro is the city's pioneer brunch room, opened in 2011 by owners returning from New York.
TipWeekend brunch only, Saturday and Sunday 12:00-13:30. Book ahead through their site.
Akerbeltz on Calle Mari in San Sebastian's Old Town is a cosy cafe-and-craft-beer room with a Bay-of-Biscay terrace overlooking the harbour.
TipTerrace tables go first; the back room is calm. Coffee in the morning, craft beer in the afternoon.
Topa Sukalderia in San Sebastian's Gros runs a daytime cafe-and-counter alongside the Aduriz-helmed Basque-Latin American kitchen, with cafe de olla.
TipMorning hours are quieter; the bar opens at 12:00 and serves coffee with the lunch menu.
Pasteleria Geltoki on Easo in San Sebastian's Amara is a working Basque bakery-cafe with a counter of pastries, sit-down coffee service and the locals'.
TipOpen from 07:30 weekdays; the bread queue is long by 09:00. Closed Sundays.
Pasteleria Otaegui's original branch on Narrika in San Sebastian's Old Town has run a counter of Basque pastries and morning coffee since 1886.
TipTartas de queso to take away; eat in for a coffee and a slice of the day's bake.
Atari Gastroteka on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian's Old Town, opposite the Santa Maria del Coro basilica, pulls a steady morning coffee crowd that takes.
TipMornings are the best coffee hour; pintxos start from 11:30. The terrace seats fill first.
Sakona Coffee Roasters runs a specialty coffee programme since 2015, the city's third-wave pioneer with a public cafe in Gros and a roastery in Irun.
TipOrder the seasonal filter at the bar; the bean retail wall stocks Sakona's roasts to take home.
Old Town Coffee Roasters in San Sebastian's Centro, founded by Brazilian friends, is the city's other specialty pillar, with seasonally rotated single-origin.
TipSit at the bar for the espresso flight; takeaway beans and brew kit at the front.
Koh Tao Cafe in San Sebastian's Centro, one of the city's earliest third-wave coffee bars, runs a small-batch brew programme alongside the cafe service.
TipThe pour-over service is what to order; the cafe is small and busy on weekend mornings.
Sakona's stall inside Mercado San Martin in San Sebastian's Centro brings the Gros roastery into the daily market, with a stand-up bar of espresso and filter.
TipPair a filter with a bakery purchase from the next stall; the market closes Sundays.
Old Town Coffee's market-stall outpost inside Mercado San Martin in San Sebastian's Centro is the city's specialty coffee inside the working food market.
TipPair a filter coffee with a bakery purchase from an adjacent stall. Closed Sundays.
Petra Cafe on Calle Loiola in San Sebastian's Centro runs a small specialty coffee programme alongside a tight brunch and pastry counter, popular.
TipMornings are calm; the back room has a few seats for a slower coffee.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Visit the best pintxos and wine bars in San Sebastian on an exclusive tour. Discover some of the best local, family-run eateries and hidden gems.
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Escape the crowds and dive into the authentic flavors of San Sebastian as you taste lesser-known favorites and iconic bites in the Centro neighborhood.
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