Eating out solo might feel a bit awkward, but eating alone in San Sebastian is not so bad. Regardless, this foodie paradise is just too good to pass up, even if you’re nevous about flying solo.
Given that San Sebastian is a top destination for solo travelers, tips for eating alone in San Sebastian is something on a lot of people’s minds. Read along for our best advice and tips to make the most of it.
Enjoy a solo breakfast
San Sebastian isn’t packed with breakfast, brunch, and coffee corners the way other cities in Spain are (ahem, Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia). But they do have some great options whether you’re looking for a simple Spanish-style breakfast or more of a hearty brunch in San Sebastian. Here are a few places we love to enjoy a little solo morning to ourselves:
If you’re not much of a breakfast person and just want a little caffeine fix to start your day, check out the best coffee in San Sebastian.
Head out for pintxos
San Sebastian is one of the best places in Spain to eat alone.
Why?
Because txikiteo, the local way of jumping from one bar to another and making new friends at each one, was practically created for solo travelers. And enjoying pintxos is a big part of that!
Insider’s Tips:
- Head to the old part of town, which is home to many emblematic pintxos bars. Try mushrooms or crab tartlet in Ganbara, a pintxo of grilled beef sirloin in Gandarias or vegetable tempura in Casa Urola.
- If you want to step off the beaten path, try pintxos-touring in the Gros area where you’ll find the best completo pintxo and several different versions of Spanish omelette in Bodega Donostiarra. Yet another great neighborhood for eating pintxos is the Centro area (and if you’re looking for a break from the bustling city center, consider the Centro Neighborhood Pintxos Tour).
Explore Basque desserts
Basques love their sweets that are prepared with love and care from the very first step. One of the must-try desserts in San Sebastian is the legendary burnt cheesecake at La Viña. La Viña put Basque-style cheesecake on the map!
This place is extremely popular and always crowded, and is a fun place to run into other solo travelers who have come for the life-changing cheesecake.
If you’re looking for something sweet during the afternoon and saving your cheesecake for after dinner, stop by the Loaf bakery (Avenida Zurriola, 18). Here you’ll find options from traditional croissants to matcha green tea flavored brownies.
Try a Michelin star restaurant
In San Sebastian, your options for fantatic food are endless. To take your experience to the next level, book a table in one of the many Michelin-starred restaurants in town. No need to worry about the fact that you’re going alone—in these places, the service is worth every star and the staff is used to solo diners.
The most legendary Michelin star restaurant in San Sebastian is Arzak, the place that forms a big part of the city’s identity. In Arzak, whether you eat with company or alone is completely secondary to the experience of taking an unforgettable deep dive into the art of Basque gastronomy.
Meet other solo travelers on a food or walking tour
While eating alone is great, food is also a fantastic way to connect with other people. Taking a food tour at the beginning of your stay in San Sebastian is a fun way to get to know the local food culture and hidden gems—and meet other foodies, too! Similarly, walking tours are also a great way to explore the city while meeting like-minded explorers. If you’re still worried about eating alone in San Sebastian, this is a great solution!
Update Notice: This post was updated on March 6, 2024.
Want to discover the best of San Sebastian in a single day, and meet other travelers in the process? From historic landmarks and cultural institutions to scenic waterfront vistas and mouthwatering pintxos, you’ll see it all on our Basque Culture and Traditions: Small Group Walking Tour of San Sebastian with Boat Ride & Food Tasting.
San Sebastian’s Old Town is a popular place to visit…but there’s other parts of town that are worth getting to know, too. If you’re looking for an evening out in a less crowded corner of the city, join us for An Evening Out in San Sebastian: Centro Neighborhood Pintxos Tour. You’ll get to try the city’s best tortilla, visit the very first pintxos bar ever, see first-hand where the locals hang out, and more.
Basque desserts is very good.
Couldn’t agree more, John! Thanks for reading!