Also: Hidden Gems in San Sebastian
The places in San Sebastián the guidebooks miss.
The places in San Sebastián the guidebooks miss. locals-only counters, after-hours rooms and the spots tourists walk past.
Bodega Donostiarra in San Sebastian: spanish tapas room. Side-street Gros bar off Pena y Goni from 1928, where the locals' Indurain and mini completo.
Why locals goSide-street Gros bar off Pena y Goni from 1928, where the locals' Indurain and mini completo pintxos sit a block off the Paseo Colon strip the visitors walk.
TipThe mini completo de bonito and the Indurain are the signature plates; lunch crowd is local. Open from 09:00 daily.
Antonio Bar on Bergara Kalea in San Sebastian's Centro skips the Old Town queues and pours the city's best tortilla and a canonical gilda at the counter.
Why locals goCentro neighbourhood counter the Old Town queues skip, with the city's best tortilla and a canonical gilda.
TipTortilla finishes by 14:30; arrive earlier on weekends Word-of-mouth is the only marketing.
Bar Tamboril in San Sebastian: Same family as Ganbara but a tighter, quieter counter on Plaza de la Constitucion that even guidebook regulars skip.
Why locals goSame family as Ganbara but a tighter, quieter counter on Plaza de la Constitucion that even guidebook regulars skip.
TipTwo pintxos: the champinon and the gamba a la gabardina. Closed Tuesdays.
Fermin Calbeton at the end of its namesake street in San Sebastian runs a back-room brasa and a callos pintxo, rebranded from Casa Tiburcio in 2022.
Why locals goEnd of Fermin Calbeton with a back-room brasa and a callos pintxo the guidebook crawls overlook; rebranded from Casa Tiburcio in 2022.
TipBrasa lights at 12:30 and 20:00.
Casa 887 is gros stone-basement room of brazilian chef antonio belotti with a 65-euro tasting that locals book midweek and tourists rarely find.
Why locals goGros stone-basement room of Brazilian chef Antonio Belotti with a 65-euro tasting that locals book midweek and tourists rarely find.
TipOpenTable bookings; the kitchen leans Asian-Basque. Lunch Wed to Sun, dinner Mon to Sat.
Sirimiri Gastroleku on Calle Mayor in San Sebastian pulls Bretxa-market shoppers more than tourists, with a seasonal ceviche the surest order at lunch.
Why locals goCalle Mayor counter close to Bretxa that pulls Bretxa-market shoppers more than tourists.
TipLunch hour 13:00-15:30 is the market crowd; the seasonal ceviche is the surest order.
Akerbeltz above San Sebastian's Old Town runs a Bay-of-Biscay terrace and the city's quietest harbour-side cider stop, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Why locals goTucked above the Old Town with a Bay-of-Biscay terrace, the city's quietest harbour-side cider stop.
TipClosed Mondays and Tuesdays. The terrace fills first; arrive before 19:00.
Bideluze on Plaza Gipuzkoa in San Sebastian is a breakfast counter with retro tile floors that locals love and tourists walk past, plaza terrace seating.
Why locals goPlaza Gipuzkoa breakfast counter with retro tile floors that locals love and tourists walk past.
TipMornings are calmer; the plaza terrace is the better seat than the back room.
Casa Senra on Calle San Francisco in Gros runs a Zurriola-surf-crowd menu del dia under 16 euros that visitors miss, closed Sundays in San Sebastian.
Why locals goGros backstreet menu del dia room the visitors miss, where the Zurriola surf crowd lunch with locals.
TipMenu del dia under 16 euros. Closed Sundays.
Guided tour · 4.5 hours
Embark on a culinary journey in San Sebastián. Walk through the charming old town to our "gastronomical club," where you'll create and savor 4 pintxos, a Basque cheese...
Private tour · 2.5 hours
San Sebastián Hidden Pintxos Tour: Eat Where Locals Go
Guided tour · 2 hours
Casually engage in Basque Country gastronomy on a walking tour in San Sebastián´s best bars. Taste a variety of pintxos and chill like locals do. Full OLD TOWN visit included.