San Sebastian is officially known as Donostia-San Sebastian, located in the autonomous community of the Basque country of Northern Spain. The city, which is blessed to be located on the magnificent Bay of Biscay, boasts miles of amazing shoreline, was a favourite summer retreat for the Spanish royal family, and speaks an ancient and completely distinct language (Basque or Euskara).
Visitors swarm to the city to stroll through and eat in the quaint Old Town, see the historically significant museums, swim at La Concha Beach, and try to surf, but the San Sebastian food culture and superb gastronomy are really what everyone is raving about. Donostiarras take pride in its stunning landscapes and world-class cuisines. We recommend visiting the Pearl of the Cantabrian Sea during the months of May-July to enjoy the destination in its most pleasurable form.
We have critically accumulated a guide to present to our readers on how to explore every nook and crook of San Sebastian’s food paradise.
- San Sebastian Pintxos Crawl
- San Sebastian Michelin Star restaurants
- San Sebastian Food Tour
- Coffee and Pastries in San Sebastian
- Basque Cooking class
- Lunch in local Gros Neighborhood
Indulge in a Pintxos Crawl
Smaller amounts of food called pintxos, or pintxos in Spanish, can be bought in Pintxos Bars and are almost like an aperitif. The Basque Country and Northern Spain are the main locations for this gastronomic phenomenon.
The Old Town of San Sebastian is where pintxos are most frequently consumed. It would be hard to dine at every option given the abundance of choices.
While visitors spend their days and nights eating and socialising in Old Town, more traditional pintxos establishments are frequently found in nearby communities and peaceful side lanes.
While eating pintxos in San Sebastian’s Old Town is unquestionably a must, don’t miss the chance to venture outside of La Parte Vieja to find your own San Sebastian food treasure.
Treat yourself to a Michelin Starred restaurant
Since 1926, Michelin, the tyre company, has been giving restaurant reviews. Today, it is among the greatest accolades and achievements a restaurant can achieve.
The second-highest number of Michelin-star restaurants per square metre is located in San Sebastian. Within a 25-kilometre radius of San Sebastian, including several neighbouring settlements, there are more than 19 Michelin Stars.
The majority of San Sebastian’s Michelin-starred restaurants require reservations well in advance—at least one or two months—in advance. The Basque Country restaurants provide menus for about €90 and cost about €300 for three stars, in contrast to many Michelin Star Restaurants throughout the world that have a high price tag.
Take a Food Tour around the city
Book a guided food tour if you’re short on time or simply want to learn more about the San Sebastian food scene. Many of the San Sebastian food tours stop at renowned pintxo bars and give an introduction to the history of Basque cuisine. This might be the perfect solution for you if you want to explore the city along with food experience under supervised guidance.
Enjoy a refreshing cup of Coffee alongside a Pastry
San Sebastian has no shortage of tasty bakeries selling handcrafted treats, cafes, and coffee shops. Discover coffee shops inside museums, such as the San Telmo Museum’s Basque Cultural Museum. Alternately, have coffee in a magnificent cultural institution that was once a tobacco factory (Tabakalera). There are cafes lining cobblestone alleys, spilling into plazas, and offering views of La Concha Beach, the perfect spot for a refreshing evening.
Basque Cooking Class
Did you or did you not fall in love with Basque cuisine, Well take up a cooking class and delve deep into the secrets of the globally renowned cuisine. This might be the perfect way to bond together with your partner, as they say, Good Food= Good Mood.
Catch a ‘Menu del Dia’ in Gros Neighborhood
The Gros area of San Sebastian is just over the Urumea River, but it feels like entering another village. This area has many typical Basque restaurants and pintxo bars, as well as a wonderful beach and a charming plaza.
You might be ready for a big plate of meals after eating so many pintxos. A large number of Gros restaurants provide a three-course menu del día, or menu of the day, which also includes a beverage. The place where local folks eat is called Gros.
The lunch menu at Casa Galicia is remarkable and scrumptious in addition to being satisfying. Additionally, the plain food dishes are lovely. Consider ordering the almost flawless Pantxineta, a well-known Basque dessert.