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TL;DR:
San Sebastián is often described as one of the world's greatest food cities.
We think that's only half the story.
What makes this city extraordinary isn't just the Michelin starred restaurants but it's people keeping the culinary customs alive.
The family who has baked bread before sunrise for generations. The cheesemaker who still follows traditional methods. The café owner who knows every regular customers orders off by heart. The bartender who proudly recommends what's in season today, not what appears on every travel list.
These people are the heartbeat of Donostia. (Donostia is San San Sebastián in Basque language) They keep neighborhoods alive, preserve traditions and make every visit feel personal.
So while you'll find incredible food here, we hope this guide encourages you to experience something even more meaningful: the everyday life of a city that continues to thrive because of its local community.
Eat locally. Shop locally. Take your time. Say Kaixo (Hello in basque language).
That's the San San Sebastián we love. Let the city surprise you.
💸 Currency
EUR (€)
☀️ Best season
April - May and September - October
Warm(ish) weather,fewer crowds and locals are still enjoying the city.
😋 Local dish & where
Gildas (the first pintxo ever officially invented) Pintxos are our version of tapas, they're from the Basque Country. It's pickled peppers, wrapped in a plump salted anchovy, a green olive and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Unassuming and delicious. You can find them in many places but we recommend: Casa Urola, Bar Txepetxa and Casa Valles.
Pair this with a glass of sparkling txakoli wine and you're in heaven!
💬 Languages
Basque (Euskara) and Spanish.
Everyone appreciates a simple Kaixo! (hello) or Eskerrik asko (Thank you)
🚌 Getting around
Best explored on foot, the city also has an extensive network of bike lanes and you can use one of the public bike-sharing options. Public buses connect neighbourhoods and beaches further from the centre, and you can simply tap on and off using your contactless debit or credit card. Taxis, as well as ride-hailing apps like Uber and Cabify, are also widely available.
📍Gros
If we weren't working, you'd probably find us in Gros.
Less crowded than the Old Town, more local, full of surfers, cafés, bakeries and independent boutiques and wine shops.
Bar Roberto, Zurriola Beach, Eguzki bar
Mornings begin with coffee and fresh pastries, afternoons end on Zurriola Beach and evenings naturally drift into pintxos and wine.
It's where Donostia feels like everyday life rather than a destination.
👄 Musts:
A classic local spot, order a Vermouth
For sunset
🍷 Streets around Zabaleta
For an evening pintxo crawl and fresh pintxos at Eguzki bar from Friday- Sunday
🍽️ MUKA
This is where we take all our friends. Amazing produce, everything is grilled. Relaxed service, beautiful place. It works for couples, friends and big families. Book in advance.
Try the mushrooms and fried prawns
Three young chefs giving their all. local produce. Basque cuisine with a modern twist. The kind of place you don’t want the meal to end
Everything is good here, everything!! Crowded but worth it.
If you think you don't like anchovies,start here.
You'll probably change your mind.
TOPA Food Tours, La Bretxa Market, La Concha
Not because it's ours but because food is the best way to understand Basque culture.The stories behind each family business matter just as much as what's on the plate.
You need to take a bus or drive, but it’s a 15 minute ride away from San Sebastián.It’s a gorgeous open air museum with sculptures made by local artist Chillida in a gorgeous green open land. In summer they have concerts.
See what local chefs buy every morning. Go to the olive oil stand, have a coffee,taste some cheese.
Seasonality is everything in Basque cuisine.
🏊🏻♀️ Swim at La Concha
Tourists take photos.Locals jump in. Go early and you’ll have the beach to yourself. A cool plan is to book a 2hr circuit at La Perla Spa and hop intheir salt water pools, go to the jacuzzi that overlooks the bay and go out into the sea and back in again.
An easy panoramic view of the city, when is sunny there’s a bar called Polvorin you can stop in and have a drink. This one only takes 20-30 minutes but if you want a longer hike our favourite walk is from Gros to Ulia Mountain and down to the fishing town Pasajes. You can end with some fried anchovies and crisp glass of txakoli. You’ll be walking alongside pilgrims doing the Camino.
🚌 #Culture 1: It's rude to talk loudly on your phone when on a bus.
🥗 #Culture 2: Never fill a whole plate with pintxos off the counter it's the most touristy thing to do.
🍺 #Culture 3: Zurito is a half pour or small beer you can order without getting full and having a whole beer
We’ve pinned all the spots mentioned in this guide so you can spend less time searching and more time exploring. Access the pre-pinned Google Map and wander San Sebastián like a local 👇🏻
Mini guide curated by:
Cristina and Maider are the founders of Topa Food Tours in San Sebastián and Bilbao. Food, travel, salsa dancing and craft chocolate are what makes them tick. Here are their recommendations to their hometowns.
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