GU San Sebastian sits on top of the 1929 Real Club Nautico on Calle Ijentea, a Jose Manuel Aizpurua rationalist landmark turned cocktail bar and late-night club with direct La Concha views.
Tip: Cocktail bar from 17:00, the floor flips to a club after midnight. Book the sunset-hour seat at the bay-facing windows through gusansebastian.com.
Address: Calle Ijentea 9, 20003 Donostia, San Sebastián
Urgulleko Polboriña sits in the old gunpowder house on Mount Urgull above the Old Town, an open-air summer-only bar with sunset cocktails, sangria and rotating local live music.
Tip: Open spring through autumn weather-dependent only; the 20 minute uphill walk from the Old Town starts behind the Museo San Telmo. Cash speeds the bar queue.
Arraun Cocktail Bar on Calle Angel in San Sebastian is the Old Town's quiet-conversation cocktail room, with a Magellan-themed list and house cocktails that rotate around ports of the 1519 voyage.
Tip: Open every evening from 19:00, weekends to 04:00; walk-in only, no reservations. Arrive before the 21:00 dinner exodus from the pintxos crawl.
Espazio Oteiza on Monte Igueldo in San Sebastian is the open-air bar of Pedro Subijana's three-Michelin-starred Akelarre, with cocktails by Patxi Troitino across six stone terraces over the Bay of Biscay.
Tip: Snacks served 12:00 to 22:00; cocktail programme runs 16:00 to nightfall, no terrace reservations. Drive up Monte Igueldo or cab from Antiguo.
Urgulleko Polboriña sits in the old gunpowder house on Mount Urgull above the Old Town, an open-air summer-only bar with sunset cocktails, sangria and rotating local live music.
Tip: Open spring through autumn weather-dependent only; the 20 minute uphill walk from the Old Town starts behind the Museo San Telmo. Cash speeds the bar queue.
The Blind Pig on Calle San Bartolome in San Sebastian is Chef Paulo Airaudo's 2021 speakeasy off Amelia, with bartender Marco Ferreri behind a discreet gold-metal door reached by WhatsApp code.
Tip: Message the venue on WhatsApp ahead for the access code and arrival time; walk-ins occasionally accepted if space. The Negroni list is the headline pour.
Alkimia Cocktail Bar on Calle San Bartolome in San Sebastian is a 1920s Chicago-style speakeasy one block from La Concha, entry by emailed access code with a craft cocktail and small-bites carte.
Tip: Write ahead through alkimiacocktailbar.com for the access code and your arrival slot. Closed Monday and Tuesday; weekends fill quickly.
Dry San Sebastian in the Hotel Maria Cristina is Javier de las Muelas's classic-cocktail room in the 1912 Belle Epoque hotel, with the city's only proper hotel-bar carte by an internationally known mixologist.
Tip: Open daily 10:30 to 00:30, to 02:00 Friday and Saturday. The afternoon-tea hour overlaps with the cocktail service; smart casual at the door.
Arraun Cocktail Bar on Calle Angel in San Sebastian is the Old Town's quiet-conversation cocktail room, with a Magellan-themed list and house cocktails that rotate around ports of the 1519 voyage.
Tip: Open every evening from 19:00, weekends to 04:00; walk-in only, no reservations. Arrive before the 21:00 dinner exodus from the pintxos crawl.