San Sebastian: Pintxos Old Town Food Tour with Drinks & Dessert

Summary

San Sebastian pintxos tour tasting Rioja cider sweet bites old town bars

You’ll wander through San Sebastian’s Old Town with a local guide who knows every pintxo bar worth your time. Taste seven pintxos (or six at lunch), sip Rioja wine and local cider, and finish with dessert — all included. Expect laughter, lively crowds, and flavors you’ll remember long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

First thing I noticed was the clatter — plates, glasses, chatter bouncing off the old stone walls in San Sebastian’s Parte Vieja. We’d barely squeezed past a couple of locals deep in debate (football? politics? hard to tell) when our guide Maialen waved us over. She already had a table reserved at this bar that looked too packed for even one more person. I’m still not sure how she managed it. The smell hit me before anything else — grilled prawns, vinegar from the cider splashing into glasses, something fried but not greasy.

Maialen explained pintxos aren’t just snacks; they’re tiny stories on bread. She pointed out which ones were classics and which were “miniature cuisine” — honestly, I thought that was just a fancy way to say small portions until I bit into one with slow-cooked beef cheek and some pickled thing I can’t pronounce (Li laughed when I tried). Rioja wine in hand, we moved from bar to bar; each place felt like its own world. At one stop, an older man nodded at my plate approvingly — apparently I’d chosen well. The cider was sharp and fizzy and made me blink a little.

I liked that nobody rushed us. Even when a drizzle started outside (classic Basque weather), we lingered over our last pintxo and dessert — something creamy with burnt sugar on top. Kids darted between stools while their parents debated which anchovy is best. Our group swapped stories about food allergies and Maialen just rolled with it, making sure everyone got something they could eat without fuss or drama.

It wasn’t fancy or quiet or predictable — but there’s something about sharing food elbow-to-elbow with strangers that sticks with you. Sometimes I still think about the way those first sips of Txakoli tasted after all the noise faded for a second.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Guided pintxos tour in San Sebastian

• Meet local guide in Old Town
• Visit 4-5 top pintxo bars
• Enjoy 7 selected pintxos
• Drink 5 local beverages
• Taste 1 sweet dessert

Top questions

How many bars do you visit on the San Sebastian pintxos tour?

You’ll visit 4-5 top pintxo bars on the standard tour or 3-4 during the midday/lunch option.

Are drinks included on the San Sebastian Old Town food tour?

Yes, drinks are included: up to five per person (including Rioja wine, Txakoli white wine, cider, beer or soft drinks).

Is dessert part of the San Sebastian pintxos tour?

Yes, one sweet dessert is included at the end of your tour.

Is this pintxos tour family friendly?

The midday/lunch option welcomes kids and youths; children join free but their food/drinks are paid separately at each bar.

Can you accommodate food allergies or preferences?

The guide is flexible and will help arrange alternatives for allergies or dietary needs—just mention it at booking or to your guide.

Is the San Sebastian pintxos tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas visited are wheelchair accessible and service animals are allowed.

What’s included

Your day includes reserved seats at some of San Sebastian’s best pintxo bars in the Old Town, seven (or six) top-quality pintxos from traditional to modern styles, five (or four) drinks like Spanish Rioja red wine and local Txakoli white wine plus cider or beer if you want them, water as a courtesy throughout, and one sweet dessert before you finish up—plus guidance from a local who knows every corner of Parte Vieja Donostiarra.