In San Sebastian you can\u2019t avoid seeing bar counters full of mouthwatering little pintxos<\/a>, the local version of tapas. But it doesn’t end there. Basque people are also famous for creating a unique way of going out for pintxos, called txikiteo <\/em>in the Basque language<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A rough translation for txikiteo<\/em> would be bar hopping or a food crawl. What it means in practice is that we go from bar to bar, eating a pintxo or two and washing them down with a glass of fresh txakoli<\/a><\/em> or local cider at each stop.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But how can you do txikiteo<\/em> like a true donostiarra<\/em>? We\u2019ve collected five insider\u2019s tips to master the art of Basque style bar-hopping:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Ready to start devouring those tasty pintxos? Great, then La Parte Vieja, San Sebastian\u2019s Old Town, is your number one destination.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Fun fact: This part of the city is famous for having the highest concentration of bars and restaurants in the world<\/a>! And that makes it a perfect neighborhood for txikiteo<\/em>. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This is also where our Ultimate San Sebastian Pintxos and Wine Tour<\/a> takes place, visiting some of the best bars and hidden gems of the town.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you have already seen the Old Town and want to step off the beaten path, you can also do your txikiteo<\/em> in one of the authentic, local neighborhoods. We recommend the Gros<\/a> and Centro<\/a> areas\u2014both great places for discovering more pintxo bars!\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n There are two important points that you have to keep in mind when in search of a perfect pintxo bar:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Firstly, we love crowded pintxo bars! When you find a place that looks like it\u2019s absolutely impossible for any more people to enter\u2014that\u2019s THE bar. That\u2019s where we want to be. Remember that in Spain (and in the Basque Country), our concept of personal space (or lack thereof) might be different than what you\u2019re used to, so don\u2019t be afraid to get close to your fellow pintxo devourers.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Secondly, and as weird as it may sound, we want to go to the bars that seem to have the dirtiest floors in town! It\u2019s not uncommon for locals to toss used napkins on the floor. So, dirty floor equals local people and local people equals great pintxos. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When it comes to drinks, we say less is more. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Typically, we only eat a maximum of two pintxos in each bar (every bar has their specialty, and that\u2019s all we\u2019re ordering) and then we continue to the next one. Keeping that in mind, we prefer to order drinks in small sizes\u2014just enough to wash down the tasty bite. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You’ll hear the locals ordering a txikito <\/em>(a small glass) of txakoli<\/a><\/em> or red wine. We also invented the zurito<\/a><\/em>, a tiny glass of draft beer<\/a>, which is the perfect size for txikiteo<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"Txikiteo](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/txikiteo-1.png\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n1. Head to La Parte Vieja for a pintxos tour in San Sebastian<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/responsible-tourism-in-san-sebastian-centro-pintxo-bar-1.jpg\")
2. Don\u2019t be afraid of crowded bars\u2014or litter on the floor<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/assets.devourtours.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/toasting-red-wine-1.jpg\")
3. Order txikitos!<\/em><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n