Akerbeltz ★ 4.2
Why locals love it: Tucked above the Old Town with a Bay-of-Biscay terrace, the city's quietest harbour-side cider stop.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The terrace fills first; arrive before 19:00.
CuisineModern Basque
Price€€
Neighbourhoodparte-vieja
Why locals love it: Calle Mayor counter close to Bretxa that pulls Bretxa-market shoppers more than tourists.
Tip: Lunch hour 13:00 to 15:30 is the market crowd; the seasonal ceviche is the surest order.
Location
Address: Calle Mayor 4, 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian, San Sebastián
More hidden gems in San Sebastián
Bideluze ★ 4.0
Why locals love it: Plaza Gipuzkoa breakfast counter with retro tile floors that locals love and tourists walk past.
Tip: Mornings are calmer; the plaza terrace is the better seat than the back room.
Casa Senra ★ 4.0
Why locals love it: Gros backstreet menu del dia room the visitors miss, where the Zurriola surf crowd lunch with locals.
Tip: Menu del dia under 16 euros. Closed Sundays.
Hidalgo 56 ★ 4.4
Why locals love it: Across the river from the tourist Old Town with a working-locals' pintxo counter the cruise crowds skip.
Tip: Lunch counter is mostly locals; the callos y morros is the working-day plate.
Antonio Bar ★ 4.6
Why locals love it: Centro neighbourhood counter the Old Town queues skip, with the city's best tortilla and a canonical gilda.
Tip: Tortilla finishes by 14:30; arrive earlier on weekends.
Bar Tamboril ★ 4.4
Why locals love it: Same family as Ganbara but a tighter, quieter counter on Plaza de la Constitucion that even guidebook regulars skip.
Tip: Two pintxos: the champinon and the gamba a la gabardina. Closed Tuesdays.