Top 4 Pinchos Bars For First-Timers In San Sebastian

Ordering pinchos is a staple of Basque culture.

The Basque region of northern Spain is often recognized as having a culture defined by its pre-Romantic language, strong ties to its geography, and most importantly, distinctly delicious pinchos dishes.

Pinchos, or pintxos in Basque, are small plates of food traditionally on a piece of bread served in most bars and restaurants across Spain, but especially in the Basque region. San Sebastian is a coastal city in this region known by foodies as pintxos heaven. Its historical and famous street, ’31 de Agosto’, is in the only part of the city that survived a fire in the early 1800s. This one street is notorious worldwide for its concentration of mouth-watering pintxos bites.

Ordering pintxos, however, isn’t an easy task, especially for non-Spanish speakers or those foreign to the art of tapas bars in Spain. But, with a proper attitude, the ability to point at food, and a smile, the bar owners on this famous street will be sure to welcome you to enjoy their fish, egg, and meat-topped pieces of bread. So, here are the top four pintxos bars for first-timers to the extraordinary city of San Sebastian and the Basque region in general.

Gandarias

As soon as you step foot onto this famed pintxos street, Gandarias will stand out as it is the most crowded spot on the block. Although always full of people, the bar servers have devised an efficient system to get you your pintxos fast. Here make sure to order some rations or raciones which can be found in chalk on the blackboards lining the bar’s walls. Also, make sure to get there early because their chuleta or steak bites kebab-style will always be a crowd favorite.

La Viña

This popular bar is known for serving a dish not generally associated with Spanish food: cheesecake. The creamy slices of cheesecake are made all day and line the shelves above the kitchen for customers to enjoy all night. Ordering at this bar is especially easy since the servers assume most people of any nationality want some of their delicious desserts. Make sure to take a gander at the langoustines as well — a lesser-known but equally delectable plate they serve.

Karrika taberna

For a standing break and absurdly delicious traditional Spanish bites, head to Karrika! This more unknown spot is just as quality-driven as the other bars and almost always has seats available for those hot summer nights where a seat is greatly appreciated. Order the spicy potatoes for a trustworthy taste of original Spanish culture. Additionally, the servers at this bar love tourists and encourage all customers to try their innovative combinations of ham, egg, and whatever the fresh catch of the day is.

La Cepa de Bernardo

Last is the local favorite of the street, La Cepa. Walking into this bar can be intimidating because of the sheer number of locals, but the staff quickly makes you feel at home by serving you bread right as you get to the bar. Unfortunately, nabbing a spot to stand at this bar can be quite tricky, so most opt to stand outside to eat their fried pork belly and traditional Spanish ham. It truly doesn’t get more Spanish than this exceptional pintxos bar, except maybe the connected restaurant run by the same chefs!

No matter where you eat on a pintxos night out, any of these bars on 31 de Agosto are worth your while. Just remember to be prepared to stand and catch the attention of the busy but friendly servers! One more pro-tip: ask the servers what their favorite pintxos dish is if you can’t decide! With these 4 bars and endless food options, you will be sure to experience a glimpse of Basque culture in every bite.

Paloma visited San Sebastian for two weeks.