Last Updated on October 29, 2025 by Emma Fajcz | Published: October 25, 2025
In San Sebastián, food is more than sustenance; it’s a way of life that reflects care, knowledge, and deep appreciation for ingredients, whether in restaurants, markets, or home kitchens. Here’s how to experience San Sebastián’s food and flavors like a local in the food capital of Spain!
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Why San Sebastián Is the Food Capital of Spain
Known in Basque as Donostia, San Sebastián has earned its reputation as Spain’s food capital, thanks to its high concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants, inventive Basque cuisine, and vibrant pintxo culture. In this seaside city, tradition and modern creativity coexist naturally, each reflecting a deep respect for local ingredients and the people who bring them to life.
Explore what makes San Sebastián the food capital of Spanish gastronomy, and how to experience it like a local.
Pintxos: The Basque Take on Tapas
Pintxos (pronounced “PEEN-chos”) are the cornerstone of San Sebastián’s culinary identity. Originally, these small tapas served on a skewer or toothpick, were designed as simple accompaniments to a drink.
Today, they take many forms–some still skewered, like the iconic gilda, others plated–but all emphasize well-crafted flavors in just a few satisfying bites.
Pintxo culture is as much about the experience as the food itself. Each bar focuses on its own speciality, and moving between them reveals the diversity that defines Donostia’s culinary scene.
To learn how to pintxo hop the local way, join our San Sebastián Ultimate Pintxos Tour, where one of our expert guides will help you navigate this tradition like a true donostiarra, sampling classics and inventive new creations through Old Town, the best way to experience the city’s vibrant food scene.
Seafood in San Sebastián: The Heart of Spain’s Food Capital
In San Sebastián, seafood lies at the heart of the city’s culinary identity, rooted in traditions that have defined Basque cooking for centuries.
Classic ingredients include:
- Bacalao (salted cod) – Once provided essential preserved protein, it remains a cornerstone of Basque cooking today
- Bonito del norte (white tuna) – Celebrated for its delicate flavor, it became a staple through the region’s rich fishing and canning heritage
These ingredients have sustained generations and continue to inspire the seafood dishes and pintxos that define the city’s cuisine today.
On our Ultimate Pintxos Tour, we get a firsthand look at how this seafood tradition comes alive today in the city’s bars. From simple pintxos like mussels in spicy tomato sauce to more bold combinations like anchovies paired with blueberry jam, we get a taste of San Sebastián’s versatility and creativity, highlighting both tradition and innovation.
Experience San Sebastian Beyond Pintxos
Beyond pintxos, make sure to try classic preparations that celebrate the region’s rich coastal bounty, including:
- Bacalao al pil pil – Salted cod in a garlic and olive oil emulsion
- Marmitako – A hearty tuna and potato stew seasoned with paprika and garlic
- Txipirrones en su tinta – Baby squid cooked in their own ink
- Kokotxas de merluza – Tender hake cheeks in a garlic and parsley sauce
- Lubina a la donostiarra – Sea bass prepared in Donostia style, typically roasted or baked with local herbs, olive oil, and fried garlic
Insider Tip: For seafood with a view, visit Igeldo, a family-run restaurant with over 40 years of experience serving some of San Sebastián’s finest mariscos and pescados. Enjoy your meal on their terrace, which offers sweeping views of the city’s coastline.
There’s place like San Sebastian! Enjoy a view of the city from Monte Igueldo. Photo credit: Jipolo
Basque Meat Traditions: Txuleta, Txistorra, and More
While seafood reigns supreme in San Sebastián, meat holds an equally esteemed place.
Pork: A San Sebastián Staple
Pork is a cornerstone of Basque cuisine, and jamón –beloved across Spain– is no exception here. San Sebastián is home to some of the finest cuts, which guests can sample on our Ultimate Pintxos Tour while learning from one of our expert guides about the distinctions between ibérico and serrano.
Jamón is the perfect gourmet gift for your foodie friends. Photo credit: Z S
Alongside these celebrated hams, regional specialties like txistorra, a thin, spiced sausage from nearby Navarra, also play a central role in Basque tradition.
Another souvenir for the foodies? Txistorra. Photo credit: Tamorlan
Basque Beef and Beyond
Beef is equally celebrated in San Sebastián. The region takes pride in its prized Basque cows, known for their tender, richly marbled meat. Local asadores –including the renowned three-Michelin-starred Asador Etxebarri –showcase these cuts with respect for the ingredient, letting the natural quality of the meat speak for itself.
On tour, we get to taste one of the city’s best classic txuleta (Basque ribeye), grilled to highlight the natural flavor of the meat, alongside inventive pintxos featuring duck or foie that reflect the city’s blend of tradition and modern creativity.
Insider Tip: Stop by Ganbara to try their txistorra puff pastry pintxo– an inventive twist on this beloved Basque sausage. For mushroom fans, their wild porcinis with foie and egg are also not to be missed.
Drinks of Donosti: Txakoli, Cider, and Wine
A visit to Spain’s food capital wouldn’t be complete without exploring its distinctive drink culture. Txakoli, the region’s crisp, lightly sparkling wine, is an essential part of the San Sebastián experience. Produced along the Basque coast, it’s known for its slight effervescence and bright acidity, perfect alongside local seafood and pintxos.
Bring a txakoli to your wine-loving friends and they’ll be forever grateful. Photo credit: Cedric Fauntleroy
Basque cider is another regional favorite, offering a drier, more tart flavor than most European ciders. Traditionally poured from a height to aerate the drink and enhance its aroma, it’s as much a ritual as a refreshment. Get our tips for exploring Basque cider houses if you want to check this out!
San Sebastián’s deep-rooted wine culture also shines through in its bars, where you’ll find bottles from Rioja Alavesa as well as neighboring Navarra.
On our Ultimate Pintxos Tour, guests dive into Donostia’s drink traditions, tasting everything from crisp txakoli to sweet dessert wines from the area. We also have the chance to learn about the custom of txotx, where opening a cider barrel and sharing a fresh pour celebrates both community and flavor.
San Sebastián’s Sweets Scene: Must-Try Basque Desserts
No meal in San Sebastián is truly complete without indulging in the city’s sweet offerings, especially one dessert that has gained international fame in recent years: Basque cheesecake, or tarta de queso vasca. On our San Sebastián Ultimate Pintxos Tour, guests get to try this iconic sweet, known for its perfectly creamy, caramelized top and rich, velvety interior.
This iconic cheesecake is a symbol of Basque cuisine. Photo credit: Kezia Lynn
San Sebastián also offers a variety of other traditional treats that are worth tasting, including:
- Pastel Vasco – A classic Basque cake filled with pastry cream or cherry jam, encased in a tender, buttery crust.
- Goxua – An indulgent layered dessert of sponge cake, cream, and caramel.
- Intxaursalsam – A walnut-based cream often served with sponge cake or as a filling.
For the Basque, eating a slice of traditional pastel vasco brings them right to their childhood. Photo credit: Popo le Chien
The Best Way to Experience Spain’s Food Capital
With so much to taste, San Sebastián’s food scene can be tricky to navigate on your own. Our Ultimate Pintxos Tour lets you sip and savor your way through neighborhood bars and tavernas, discovering the roots of pintxo culture, seasonal Basque dishes, and the blend of traditional and modern flavors, so you can keep enjoying the food capital of Spain long after the tour ends.
To experience it all without the stress, join our Ultimate Pintxos Tour and let us guide you through Donostia’s most delicious traditions. Our expert local guides will lead you to the city’s most delicious bites all while having fun and learning more about the beautiful city of San Sebastián!
Food tours are a great way to dive into local culture and cuisine, and make some new foodie friends!
Featured Review: San Sebastian Ultimate Pintxos & Wine Tour
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “We had a wonderful pintxos tour with Begonia this week! The tour was well curated and timed and it was a fantastic way to learn the history of San Sebastián and eat pintxos as the locals do. Our group of six adults thought it was a really special experience and I would highly recommend it!”
– Krista on Tripadvisor
Eating in San Sebastián FAQs
Why is San Sebastián called the food capital of Spain?
San Sebastián boasts more Michelin stars per square meter than almost anywhere in the world, but its culinary fame goes far beyond fine dining. From bustling pintxo bars to seaside restaurants, the city’s food culture celebrates quality ingredients, creativity, and deep-rooted tradition.
What are the must-try dishes/drinks in San Sebastián?
Every visitor should taste the classics like bacalao al pil-pil and txuleta, as well as at least one innovative pintxo that showcases the city’s creativity. Don’t forget to try a slice of Basque cheesecake, and pair your bites with local drinks such as txakoli or Basque cider.
What’s the difference between tapas and pintxos?
Pintxos are the Basque take on tapas, generally smaller, often served on bread, and ordered individually. Each bar has its own specialty, best enjoyed with a drink in hand.
What’s the best way to experience Basque cuisine in San Sebastián?
Hop from bar to bar through Old Town like a local. Join our San Sebastián Ultimate Pintxos Tour for the full experience.
