Shrimp pintxo with a slice of lemon (San Sebastián)

🇪🇸San Sebastián, Spain

The Pintxos Pilgrimage

The greatest bar crawl on earth. Fuelled entirely by tiny masterpieces on bread.

Example Extreme Day Trip:🛫 From London Heathrow💰 From £38 return⏱ 1h 45m flightShare to WhatsApp

Why this dish?

San Sebastián has more Michelin stars per capita than almost anywhere on earth. But the best eating in the city happens standing up, in a bar, with a small glass of txakoli and a pintxo - a Basque tapa, usually perched on a piece of baguette and held together with a cocktail stick. Crab and mayonnaise. Anchovy and pepper. Foie gras on brioche. Jamón with a quail's egg. You work your way through the old town bar by bar, standing, eating, drinking, and speaking to strangers.

There is no better meal format in the world. And you can do the whole thing and be home for dinner.

Our Picks

Bar Nestor

Address: Calle Pescadería 11, San Sebastián (La Parte Vieja)
What to order: The tortilla de patatas - only made twice a day. Arrive before 1pm and put your name on the list.
Book ahead: No reservations. For the tortilla, arrive early and add your name to the handwritten list at the bar.
Pro tip: Missing the Nestor tortilla is one of life's great regrets. Only two are made per service. Set a reminder.

Bar Borda Berri

Calle Fermin Calbeton 12, San Sebastián

While tourists queue at the famous bars, Borda Berri serves what many consider the best single pintxo in the city - a risotto de hongos (mushroom risotto) on a spoon. Tiny, perfect, and largely unknown to visitors.

What to order: Risotto de hongos. The txangurro (crab) pintxo. A glass of txakoli with each.

Good to know

Pintxos are available in virtually every bar in La Parte Vieja. The quality floor is very high - you will not eat badly anywhere. The etiquette: bars display pintxos on the counter, you take a plate, help yourself, keep your cocktail sticks to count your consumption, and settle up at the end.

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