If you only eat one thing while here in Spain, be sure to make it a thick, gooey slice of tortilla de patatas. And there are many delicious places to enjoy tortilla in San Sebastian.
With an ingredient list you can count on one hand that consists of mere pantry staples, the humble tortilla is quite simple in comparison to some of the other fancy bites youâll find here in San Sebastian. You might even wonder why, in a city full of experimental pintxos and avant-garde Michelin-starred cuisine, such a straightforward dish would be so noteworthy.
But the tortillaâs simplicity is exactly what makes it so delicious. If there were one dish that so perfectly exemplified what we love about Spanish cuisineâfresh ingredients, uncomplicated cooking techniques, tastes like something your grandma would have madeâthis is it. While weâll never say no to a night out pintxos-bar hopping or a reservation at one of the cityâs best restaurants, sometimes all we need is a nice, hearty helping of the best tortilla in San Sebastian. Hereâs where we get our fixâand we think youâll love these spots, too.
Ciaboga
Many visitors to Ciaboga make their way there in order to try their famous platillo: a dish of potatoes sprinkled with garlic, parsley, and a dash of paprika. But while weâre on the topic of potato-based goodness at this timeless spot in the city center, their tortilla de patatas is also worth mentioning. In fact, in our book, itâs one of the best tortillas in San Sebastian.
We canât quite put our finger on what, exactly, makes Ciabogaâs tortilla so delicious. Maybe itâs the local potatoes. Maybe itâs the mouthwatering caramelized onion. Or maybe itâs the touch of green pepper that gives it the slightest kick. Whatever it is, weâre happy to devour it by the slice. And if you canât stick around to enjoy it at the bar itself, good newsâyou can even order one to go.
While the tortilla de patatas is one of the most iconic dishes throughout Spain, here in the Basque Country, itâs at its best. Local cooks tend to give it a perfectly gooey, creamy texture thatâs just hard to come by elsewhere. Bar Zabaleta is an ideal testament to thatâsink your fork into a slice of their famous tortilla, and itâll be love at first bite.
Located just across the Kursaal Bridge from the Old Town in the laid-back Gros neighborhood, this casual spot will make you feel at home from the moment you walk through the door. While just about all of their pintxos are worth trying, the tortilla is the true star of the showâin addition to its marvelously gooey texture, it also features just the slightest hint of sweetness thanks to the meticulously minced onion. Just like at Ciaboga, you can get one to go if you think youâll be craving more later on.
Bar Nestor
Ask any local where to find the best tortilla in San Sebastian, and chances are theyâll point you towards Bar Nestor. An unassuming locale hidden down one of the side streets in the Old Town, it may not look like much from the outside, but trust us when we say that this spot is a verifiable foodie paradiseâand not just for their famous tortilla.
Letâs start with that, though. First of all, they only make tortillas twice a day just in time for the lunch and dinner rushâand youâll have to reserve your slice ahead of time by stopping by earlier in the day to put your name on the list. Then, when mealtime rolls around, come back and order a glass of txakoli to sip on while you wait for your name to be called. From there, thereâs nothing left to do but sink your teeth into one of the most iconic tortillas in the city.
Thatâs not all, though. Bar Nestor only serves three dishesâthe tortilla being one of themâand you wonât want to leave until youâve tried them all. The other two are a refreshing tomato salad and txuleta, a slow-grilled hunk of Basque steak sprinkled with sea salt and served unpretentiously with no other garnishes. Try them all and youâll see why this place is considered by locals to house the âholy trinityâ of Basque cuisine.
Bar Bergara
You wonât just find one of the best tortillas in San Sebastian at Bar Bergaraâyouâll find three of them. Another local classic in the Gros neighborhood, this beloved spot perfectly bridges past and present with their selection of traditional and modern bites. That means that not only do they serve up a fabulous tortilla de patatas, but an equally delicious tortilla de setas (mushroom omelet) and tortilla de anchoas (anchovy omelet) as well. The latter is one of their signature dishesâbe sure to get ready to elbow your way up to the bar through a crowd of hungry locals whenever they put a fresh one out.
Bar Azkena
Thereâs practically no foodie experience we love more than visiting a busy market to shop amongst the locals, then stop for a drink and a bite to eat at the market bar. Whenever we find ourselves at Mercado La Bretxa, one of our favorite spots for the latter is Bar Azkena. What really makes this place stand out is their varietyânot only do they have traditional tortillas, but their omelets also come made with other unique ingredients such as txipiron (baby squid), txistorra (Basque sausage), bacalao (salt cod), and so much more. Try them all and discover your new favorite.
Update Notice: This post was updated on April 22, 2024.
Want to discover the secrets behind San Sebastianâs best-loved recipes, including the trick to flipping a potato omelet like a pro? Join our Authentic Basque Cooking Class in San Sebastian for a small-group, hands-on cooking experience youâll never forget.