San Sebastián: Old Town Pintxos Tour with Drinks & Guide

Summary

San Sebastián pintxos crawl old town flavors stories locals

You’ll wander San Sebastián’s Old Town with a local guide who knows every pintxo bar worth visiting. Taste five handpicked pintxos paired with cider or Txakoli wine, learn quirky Basque traditions, and share laughs with locals along the way. It’s more than food—it’s feeling like you belong for an evening.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the smell — grilled peppers, a little sea breeze, and then that warm, yeasty bread scent sneaking out from every doorway in San Sebastián’s Parte Vieja. Our guide Maite waved us over, already laughing about something with the bartender. She handed me a tiny plate piled high with anchovy, green pepper, and this silky aioli I still can’t quite describe. “Eat it in one bite,” she said. I tried. Failed. Got aioli on my chin and didn’t even care.

I’d read about pintxos tours but honestly didn’t expect to feel so welcomed — like we were tagging along with an old friend who just happened to know every secret handshake in town. The bars were packed but not in a touristy way; lots of locals squeezing past, ordering cider (txotx!) or that crisp Txakoli wine I’d never heard of before this day trip in San Sebastián. Maite explained how each bar has its own specialty, so we hopped from one to the next, always something new: smoky beef cheek here, bright cod brandade there. At one point someone started singing behind us and everyone joined in for a second — just a regular Tuesday night apparently.

The light outside kept changing — golden at first, then blueish as evening crept in. We learned bits of Basque history between bites; Maite told us why some pintxos are skewered (something about old tax laws?), but honestly I was too busy savoring the crunch of fried prawns to catch every detail. She teased my pronunciation (“Donostia,” not “Donastia” — oops), but it felt like part of the fun.

By the last stop I’d lost track of which glass belonged to whom and whether this was our fourth or fifth bar (it’s five total, promise). There was no pressure to hurry — just eating and laughing as if we’d lived here forever. I still think about that first anchovy pintxo sometimes when I’m hungry late at night back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore San Sebastián's Old Town and Pintxos

• Meet at the designated meeting point
• Visit San Sebastián Old Town
• Learn about Basque traditions and customs
• Visit finest pintxo bars off tourist trail
• Eat best pintxos with recommended drinks

Top questions

How many bars do we visit on the San Sebastián pintxos tour?

You’ll visit five different pintxo bars during the tour.

Are drinks included on this Old Town food tour?

Yes, each pintxo is paired with a drink—cider, Txakoli wine or red wine are included.

Is there a local guide on this San Sebastián food tour?

Yes, an expert culinary guide leads the entire tour through Old Town.

Does the tour include learning about Basque culture?

Yes, your guide shares Basque traditions and customs as you walk between bars.

Is public transportation nearby for getting to the meeting point?

Yes, public transportation options are available near the meeting point.

Do I need to be fit for this pintxos tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What’s included

Your evening includes five pre-selected pintxos paired with drinks across different Old Town bars—each chosen by your expert culinary guide—plus stories about San Sebastián’s culture and traditions as you stroll together through Parte Vieja before heading off into the night full and happy.