The longest stretch of time I spent traveling alone was in southern Spain. I was 21 at the time, and spoke no Spanish. I hopped from hostel to hostel, staying only 2 nights (max) at a time in each city. I drank many a glass of sangria, ate many a delicious tapas, and made friends with many a cute Australian.
When my friend Nathalie decided to have her bachelorette party in Ibiza, after getting over the initial shock of having to travel to Europe for a weekend, I knew that the trip would be an excellent excuse to test my solo travel prowess a little later in life, get inspired by Basque cuisine, and mentally recharge.
I definitely approached the trip with a different mindset now that I’m 27 and had zero interest in meeting 21-year-old Australians. But since I still speak no Spanish, I was lucky to find some foodie insiders to give me my first introduction to pintxos culture (the Basque version of tapas) and take the reins on the ordering so that I didn’t have to feel like a big dumb American weenie right off the plane.
If you’re heading to the Basque area, you should definitely consider doing a tour with San Sebastian Food. It’s one of the things I would have never invested in as a 21 year old, preferring perhaps to follow the New York Times pintxos list. But it really pays to have a local show you the ropes, and if you’re a food nerd like me, it’s great to have someone there to give you all the cultural background on what you’re eating, how the ingredients were produced, and why the dishes came to be – like, for instance, that the Gilda, a skewer with anchovies, olives, and hot peppers, was named after Rita Hayworth because she is similarly tall and spicy.
After 18 hours of travel, including one sleepless red eye, I arrived in San Sebastian mid-afternoon. At 6pm I met up with my tour guide Eli and a mix of other folks from around the world at the San Sebastian Food headquarters. From there we zigzagged through the old quarter to 7 different pintxos restaurants. Each spot had a different specialty, which was usually written on a chalkboard behind the bar. The cold dishes were laid out on the counter, but you really need to know what each place is known for if you want to order right.
Pintxos eating is rooted in many traditions, and I was so lucky to have Eli explain them to me. First, you’re meant to throw your napkins on the ground. This also means that the dirtier the pintxos bar, the better it is. In the case of La Mejillonera, where the specialty is mussels of all kinds, the empty shells are even discarded on the floor (think peanut shells in a New England ale house). The second most important thing about Basque culture is that everyone respects the honor system. You order drinks and bites as you go. When you’re ready to leave, you tell the bartender what you had and pay. It was very jarring for this New Yorker not to pull out a credit card after each glass of Rioja. But it’s a superior experience for the diner, so long as no one takes advantage.
Basque cooking is extremely seasonal and ingredient-based, and after about 3 stops, I started to catch onto what some of those specialties were. Txepetxa served anchovies every which way, but they were pretty ubiquitous no matter where we went, as were other seafood specialties like hake (merluza), monkfish (rape), baby squid (chipiron), and salt cod (bacalao). Some ingredients that are only in season for a few weeks come at a premium, and it’s not unusual to pay 20 euros for a plate of mushrooms, as we did at Gambara.
One of the best and most surprising dishes I ate was a briny white anchovy served over blueberry jam on a piece of baguette. Yes, I ate the bread and suffered for it. I spent the rest of my time in San Sebastian returning to a lot of my favorite spots. The pintxos I ate the most of was the solomio at Gandarias. It was just the juiciest, most perfect piece of steak a girl could ask for. I was munching on one when I went over to a pair of Dutch fellows to introduce myself, and when they saw the juices running down my face, their reactions was: “well, that’s charming.” Needless to say, we were fast friends.
I could go on and on about San Sebastian, but I want to let you discover it for yourself. Below is a list of all my favorite pintxos spots and what to eat there. Most places I discovered through San Sebastian Food, and a few I went to throughout the week per their recommendations. I didn’t really eat at any restaurants except for my last day in town, when I went to Arzak. I’m going to do a full write-up on that experience. If you have the time and the budget for one of those special Michelin star meals, I’d highly recommend going.
Have you ever been to San Sebastian? Let me know your favorite pintxos in the comments! I’ll have recipes for a few of them coming up on the blog.
xo
Phoebe
Sleeping
Again, since I’m not 21 years old anymore, I had a hard time deciding what type of venue I wanted to stay in. I felt too old for a hostel, but also worried about not being able to meet anyone in a hotel.
A pension is a great option that’s in between. It’s still funky, but offers you the privacy that a hostel dorm room just won’t give you. Since they’re mostly converted apartments in the old town, the bathrooms are for the most part in the hallway. Shared bathrooms were never really part of the hostel experience that bothered me. Except for one time in Madrid when the door to our ensuite bathroom was just a shower curtain. Ask me to tell you sometime about how that experience played out. I rarely saw anyone else en route to the bathroom. Since the pensions are small, you’re really only sharing the bathroom with a handful of other people, and they are kept pretty clean after each use by the staff.
Pension Larrea
Calle Narrika Kalea 21. First floor
I stayed in two different ones throughout my trip, but this one was the superior experience. The rooms have little character, but they’re clean and perfectly located.
Hotel Londres y de Inglaterra
Calle de Zubieta, 2
If my food budget wasn’t twice my lodging budget, I would have stayed here. It’s right on the main beach, playa della concha, and just a short walk from the old city, where all the pintxos restaurants are.
If I had it to do over, I would have stayed in an apartment for half of my stay. All I wanted to do was buy some fresh fish from the market and cook it. But that’s just not an option when you’re staying a pension. A couple I met on the pintxos tour said they were having a great experience in a room of an AirBnB apartment.
Eating/Drinking/Pintxos Hopping
San Sebastian Food
I highly recommend starting your trip with a pintxos tour or cooking class (more on the class here). If you have a nice sized budget, you also might consider having the company act as your travel agent and book your hotel and restaurant reservations. Everyone who works there is beyond professional and will make you feel like part of their family for the week. That’s me above with COO Susan Creamer and the uber talented creative director Aiala Hernando.
Arzak
Get the tasting menu and put yourself in Elena and Juan Mari’s hands. It isn’t cheap, but the restaurant is so representative of the Basque region and how new and old world food culture meets. Though Arzak has maintained three Michelin stars, it still feels like a family-run restaurant, which it’s been for three generations.
Goiz Argi
Calle de FermÃn Calbetón 4
This is the place to go for seafood a la plancha. We had wonderful prawn skewers (brocheta de gambas), grilled squid (chipiron a la plancha), and pimientos di padron. They all pair great with Txakoli, the young white wine of the region that was described to me as a “breakfast wine.”
Txepetxa
Calle Pescaderia 5
If the fish-shaped menu on the wall is any indication, this place is all anchovies, all the time. Try the Gilda, the first pintxos invented in San Sebastian and named for Rita Hayworth because she is tall and spicy. This is also where I had the anchovy toast with blueberry jam. Have some sidra with the meal.
Zeruko
Calle Pescaderia 10 (right across from Txepetxa)
This is one of the modernist pintxos bars that incorporates some of the molecular gastronomy that the region is known for. The bar is full of interesting and beautiful creations. Go to town!
Borda Berri
Fermin Calbeton 12
We ate a ton here, and it’s one of the places that I returned to. Idiazabal and Hongos (sheep milk cheese and wild mushroom) Risotto was amazing. But glutards be warned: “risotto” in San Sebastian is made with orzo, not rice. The Veal Cheeks here are melt in your mouth amazing, as is the pulpo (octopus). Though less traditional in the north, they also served up a great Salmorejo – a creamy-style gazpacho that was my go-to when traveling in Andalucia.
Gandarias
Calle 31 de Agosto
Don’t miss the solomio (pictured). And do a little surf and turf by pairing it with the shrimp and chorizo brocheta. We drank an amazing red wine here: Ribera del Duero (Krel).
Gambara
Calle San Jeronimo 21
This is the place for seasonal specialties like the mushroom plate. It’s expensive, but worth it. You’ll never taste anything so pure and umami-laden. Wash it all down with a glass of Navarra rose.
La Viña
Calle Agosto, 31
I would have never guessed I’d be eating cheesecake in San Sebastian. But you’d be a fool to not grab a slice at La Vina. It’s very light and airy – a cross between a custard and a cheesecake. The tortilla ain’t half bad either if you want to return for lunch.
La Mejillonera
Calle del Puerto 15
This place is packed with locals. Don’t be shy and elbow your way to the counter. I had every type of mussels and they were all delicious. Try the mejillones picantes, Patatas Bravas, and Calamares.
La Cuchara de San Telmo
Calle 31 de Agosto, 28
This place was on the NY Times list and also makes a mean veal cheek. The bacalao and bonito were also delicious. Like Borda Berri you can’t really go wrong with whatever is on the chalkboard. So get adventurous.
Day Trips
Everything is fairly close by bus, so I’d recommend scooting up to the French Basque country for a few nights. It’s amazing how much changes when you cross the border 20 minutes North-East from San Sebastian. Biarritz is an amazingly chic French surfing down. But I made the happy mistake of accidentally booking my hotel in Bayonne, the capital of French Basque, and just a few miles away from Biarittz. It’s much less touristy and a beautiful little town. San Jean de Luz is another great beach town, though it’s a little on the touristy side.
If you’re an art buff, you can’t go to the region without visiting Bilbao. Just scoot down there for the afternoon, as the Guggenheim is really the only reason to go. I took a bus down at 2pm and returned to San Sebastian just in time for some 10pm pintxos.
Frankie says
Bravo! Fantastic foodalogue. What’s that green herb on top of the meat in the first photo?
Phoebe Lapine says
it’s their version of a salsa verde, which pretty much just means parsley and oil. They don’t use very many herbs or spices since the cuisine is all about the freshness of the central ingredient, in that case, veal cheeks!
Steph says
Reading this really took me back to what was my favorite week in Spain out of an entire year of them. And this despite some serious food poisoning unhappily suffered there! Thank you for the gorgeous photos and write-up, Phoebe!
Phoebe Lapine says
OMG – what gave you food poisoning?? I had a couple wonky stomach days there too, but it didn’t slow me down too much. xo
Frankie says
Is that ink sauce just straight ink? Or do they flavor it in some way?
Aboutbc says
Regards from Basque Country
“De pintxos por Donostia” según el Huffington Post (con ampliación)
http://bit.ly/1ef1U79
Luis says
Totalmente de acuerdo, lo único que se consigue con tanta lista de recomendaciones es el calificativo de “bar de giris” y que la gente de aquÄ« deje de ir, una cosa es valorar el trabajo bien hecho y otra masificar un buen lugar, obviamente cada barero tendrá su opinión pero no caigamos en el simil de la famosa frase “pan para el verano, hambre para el invierno” .Afortunadamente tenemos cientos de bares en lo viejo y cientos más en otros barrios, no convirtamos esta ciudad en una ruta hortera para giris.
ELBM says
As a fellow foodie traveling to Spain, this post was so very helpful! I was planning Azark already as I saw that Thomas Keller recommended it. I can’t wait to try the spots you listed. XO
Phoebe Lapine says
I’m so glad you found this helpful! let me know where you ended up! so jealous… xxx
Kara says
Hi,
I found your site through your awesome Huffington Post article. I’m planning a 2-week trip to Spain for the end of November and was wondering how many days you would recommend for San Sebastian. The majority of my trip will be spent in Barcelona, then we’ll be doing a side road-trip through southern France – San Sebastian – Madrid.
Food is my primary concern, so as a foodie, how long would you stay?
Many thanks. I appreciate your article and your site!
Kara
Phoebe Lapine says
Hi Kara,
So glad you happened up my guide to SS! It definitely has the best food. I would spend at least two nights in San Sebastian and use them for pintxos alone. Check out San Sebastian Food for great tours. If you want one of the michelin star restaurants for dinner or lunch one day, you should book a month in advance. Arzak was great! I loved my day strips to Bayonne, Biarritz, and Bilbao (just to see the museum). So I would say 3 nights in SS with a day trip to Bilbao and a night in one of the French Basque towns. Let me know if you need anything else!
xo
P
Lottie Lumsden says
Love your site. Can you just turn up at all of these pintxos bars or do you book at any of them? Thank you.
Love the sound of anchovies on toast with blueberry jam!
Lottie
Phoebe Lapine says
you certainly can! they are all standing room only and get very crowded. Don’t be shy and shove your way in there. You’ll love it! xo
michelle vieth says
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Viv Boyd says
Thank you for this post, not sure how I found it but it is bookmarked – permanently. I am a newly ’50’, travelling solo, looking to spend a few days before commencing my Camino mid May. I wanted to go to San Sebastion for a few days after my long haul from Australia as my stomach would not forgive me if I missed it. Your recommendations about tours and pensions, have left me unafraid of doing it myself.
Phoebe Lapine says
You will have a ball Viv. Definitely check out San Sebastian Food if you want to splurge on a pintxos tour. It’s a great way to start and to get to know people. Report back! I’m jealous!
grace says
Hi Phoebe, I’m so glad i found your site in a google search, i’m going to be in bilbao and san sebastian on my own and love taking tours. I speak zero spanish but my french is decent. Question, did you take the pinxtos tour or the Insider Tour cook pass tour? I think i should do this right away as I’m a total foodie and just starting up my food blog based in San Francisco! So much food, so little time. 🙂
Phoebe Lapine says
I’m so glad you found your way here as well! I took the pintxos tour, which was amazing. That’s my first choice. But I also did a class that involved cooking in a restaurant kitchen. Also special. But the pintxos tour is a great way to get oriented. Hopefully you’ll get Elle! She was great. Enjoy and report back – jealous! xo
Sebastour says
Fantastic post!! If you want, you can download a gastronomy and tourism guide of Donostia – San Sebastian in our web page!
pilar says
Hi, I liked what he told San Sebastian , fantastic , I would recommend 2 bars than for me are essential and always speak the same .I am personally of San Sebastian and not go to many of them since I are very expensive , I do very much like the sports bar on the street Fermin Calbeton with prices very cheap amazing quality compared to bars next door and a sublime foie .this in third place on trip advisor and comments another bar is good paco on the main street with a delicious shrimp raincoat. Both bars are always full of local or locals and that says a lot .thanks
Phoebe Lapine says
Thanks for sharing pilar! I wish i was going back sometime soon so I could try them! xo
Sam says
On our way home to Andalucia from a family Christmas in Scotland. Stopped off at Pension Bule on Reyes night. It’s fantastic, right by the old town of Donostia yet up to the minute, showers, linen, everything perfect. Try it next time!
Phoebe Lapine says
So good to know!! Thanks for sharing Sam!
Amanda Filmer says
Hi Phoebe, Thank you for your very informative review of San Sebastian. I am off to SS tomorrow and will definately follow your Tapas Run. I am about to run a new menu at my hotel and are looking for inspiration. We live in Andalucia and the Tapas are not much to be desired. I will report back with anything special I experience. This is my 3rd visit and will be revisiting some old favourites. Yours Truly Amanda Filmer.
Phoebe Lapine says
I’m jealous this is your third visit! Please report back on any recommendations 🙂 xo
albert says
HI Phoebe,
Great write up. If you get back go to Getaria and have turbot @ Kaia Kape. Also Akelarre and take the Paso Igeldo to get to Getaria and Zarrutz
Al.
http://www.foodandwinecyclingtours.com
Phoebe Lapine says
Thank you for the recs!! One day…
Magaret J says
is there any reason to avoid a Pintxos tour on a Sunday or Monday? Are any of the bars closed?
Phoebe Lapine says
I’m not sure Magaret! But you can look on the websites of the places I mentioned.
Magaret J says
April 2, 2018 at 2:25 pm
is there any reason to avoid a Pintxos tour on a Sunday or Monday? Are any of the bars closed?