If you are a passionate of the gastronomy and are planning a visit to San Sebastián, can not lose you the experience of a pintxos crawl in this charming Basque city. San Sebastián, also known like Donostia in Basque, is famous by his vibrant culture of pintxos, a local version of cover them Spanish. In this article, will provide you a complete guide to enjoy to the maximum of your pintxos crawl in San Sebastián, from how order the lunch and the drinks until the best places to find the pintxos more delicious.
What Have to Know Before Beginning
Before submerging you in the delicious experience of a pintxos crawl in San Sebastián, there are some important things that have to know:
Season and Moment of the Day
Although San Sebastián is a popular fate during all the year, is important to consider the season of your visit. During the tall season, is more likely that find a main influx of tourists and local, what could result in full bars and long waits. If you prefer a calmer experience, considers to visit in low season.
Besides, take that the opening schedules of the bars and restaurants in Spain can be different of what are accustomed. A lot of places close during the evening and reopen for the dinner, so ensure you to consult the schedules before scheduling your crawl.
Choose the Bars
One of the keys to enjoy of a pintxos crawl successful is to choose the bars that will visit. In this article, will provide you a list of some of the best bars of pintxos in San Sebastián, each one with his own culinary specialitys. Maintain a clear direction in mind and averts to repeat places to take advantage of to the maximum your experience.
How Order the Lunch
When you arrive to a bar of pintxos, will find two common forms to order:
Pintxos in the Counter: A lot of bars will have a selection of pintxos cold in the counter. You can choose those that call you the attention and enjoy of them directly in the bar. However, if you wish the pintxos hot or facts to request, is recommended to consult the pizarrón of special behind the counter.
Board Of Special: The “pizarrón of special” is used to to have a variety of delicious options that will prepare to request. These are often the most innovative creations and sabrosas that the bar has to offer.
In general, it is recommended to opt by the pintxos done to request, since they will offer you a culinary experience fresher and only.
Pairing With Drunk
One of the most charming appearances of a pintxos crawl in San Sebastián is the opportunity of maridar your delicious culinary creations with local drinks. Here you have some options of drinks that can consider:
- Caña: A small beer that is a classical mate for the pintxos.
- Rioja Wine: A red wine that complements well a variety of flavours of pintxos.
- Cider: The dry Basque cider is an option refrescante and slightly efervescente.
- Txakoli: A dry white wine and slightly espumoso that it is especially popular in the region.
You do not concern you too much by the strict rules of maridaje; simply it chooses what more like you and enjoys of the experience.
San Sebastian City and Pintxo Lunch from Bilbao
Councils to Enjoy of a Pintxos Crawl in San Sebastián
Here have a guide step by step to begin your pintxos crawl in San Sebastián:
- Chooses a Bar: it Selects a bar to begin your experience. You can consider the bars that recommend you more advance.
- It finds a Place: it Goes in to the bar and looks for a place in the counter or in a table if it is available.
- Order it Everything: it Throws a glimpse to the pizarrón of special and chooses one that call you the attention. It orders also a drink that you apetezca.
- It enjoys: it Enjoys of your pintxo and drunk in the bar. Take you your time for saborear the flavours and appreciate the atmosphere.
- Pay and Continues: When you have ended up, it returns to the counter to pay your account. Afterwards, you are ready to spend to the following bar and repeat the process.
The Best Places to Find the Pintxos More Delicious
Now that have a clear idea of how enjoy of a pintxos crawl in San Sebastián, is time to to explore some of the most stood out bars in the city:
Bar Sport
Direction: Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 10, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa.
Schedule: Of Monday to Friday of 9h to 00h, Saturdays of 10h to 00h and Sundays of 11h to 00h.
The Bar Sport, situated in the old helmet of San Sebastián, is famous by his pintxo of foie, an exquisite delight elaborated with foie gras to the iron on bread and a pinch of fat salt. Also we recommend you try the chipirón to the iron with vinaigrette and the croquettes of funguses.
Bar Sport
Direction: Arrandegi Kalea, 5, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa.
Schedule: Of Wednesday to Saturday of 12:00h to 15:00h and of 19h to 23h, Sundays of 12:00h to 15:15h.
In the Bar Txapetxa, in the old helmet of Donostia, will find until 14 different combinations of pintxos of anchovy, starred by this sabroso fished. From anchovies with vegetables until anchovies with cream of centollo, the options are varied and delicious.
Bar Txapetxa
Direction: Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 12, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa.
Schedule: Of Wednesday to Saturday of 12:30h to 15:30h and of 19:30h to 22:30h.
It embroiders Berri stands out by his tall quality and his fusion among the Basque and Catalan gastronomy. In addition to his famous risotto of cheese Idiazabal, suggest you try the ear of crispy pig, the tomato #fill of beautiful and the raviolis of molleja with leek.
Tamboril
Direction: Arrandegi Kalea, 2, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa.
Schedule: Of Wednesday to Saturday of 12:30h to 15:30h and of 19h to 23h, Sundays of 12:30h to 15:30h.
Situated in the old part of San Sebastián, beside the Square of the Constitution, the Tamboril is famous by his “txampis tamboril”, one of the best pintxos of mushrooms of the city. Also they are popular the peppers fillers of cod or flesh.
Ganbara
Direction: C. Of Saint Jerónimo, 21, 20003 Donostia-Saint Sebastian, Gipuzkoa.
Schedule: Of Wednesday to Saturday of 12:30h to 15:30h and of 19h to 23h, Sundays of 12:30h to 15:30h.
Ganbara, situated in the ancient helmet of San Sebastián, offers pintxos of mushrooms and funguses like his specialitys crashes. Besides, you do not lose you the puff pastries of chistorra and changurro, that are also a delicious election.
The Vineyard
Direction: 31 August Kalea, 3, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa.
Schedule: Of Tuesday to Sunday of 11h to 16h and of 19h to 23h.
If you are a lover of the cheese, the Bar The Vineyard is a compulsory stop. His cake of cheese is an authentic delight, with a soft interior and caramelizado in the outside. This cake of iconic cheese has won fame all over the world and is an experience that do not have to lose you.
Cellar Donostiarra
Direction: Crag and Goñi Kalea, 13, 20002 Donostia, Gipuzkoa.
Schedule: Of Monday to Saturday of 9h to 00h.
Situated in the neighbourhood of Gros, the Cellar Donostiarra is known by his “complete”, a bocadillo of beautiful, piparra and anchovy that has won the heart of the venues and visitors by equal.
Bar Antonio
Direction: Bergara Kalea, 3, 20005 Donostia, Gipuzkoa.
Schedule: Of Monday to Saturday of 9h to 00h.
The Bar Antonio, in the zone centre of the city, offers a variety of pinchos delicious. From shrimps with raincoat until courgette #fill, going through potatoes with ham and morcilla rebozada with foie, this bar you deleitará with his culinary options.
Saint bar Martzial
Direction: Saint Martzial Kalea, 50, 20005 Donostia, Gipuzkoa.
Schedule: Of Monday to Saturday of 9h to 23h, Sundays of 11h to 16:30h and of 18:30h to 21h.
In the zone centre of San Sebastián finds the Saint Bar Martzial, famous by his “gavilla”, a delicious croquette elaborated with ham serrano, cheese and abundant bechamel sauce.
This restaurant is one of the most famous in Bilbao and has a wide variety of pintxos made with top quality ingredients.
Enjoy of a pintxos crawl in San Sebastián is an only culinary experience that will allow you explore a wide variety of flavours and local dishes. Following the councils and steps that have provided you in this guide, will be ready to submerge you in the gastronomic culture of the city and discover the best flavours that San Sebastián has to offer. You do not lose you the opportunity to live this thrilling culinary adventure in one of the gastronomic jewels of Spain!
Irene was born and raised in Bilbao. She has a deep rooted passion for her country and culture. She has a Bachelors degree in education and has traveled to over 85 countries throughout the world.
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