Pintxos in San Sebastian Private Gastronomic & Cultural Adventure
Overview
Why do Basques eat so much? Why do Basques eat so f ***ing well? Our pintxo tour of the best bars in San Sebastián will help you learn the answer to this question, but if you don’t, well, at least you will have tried, eating as much and as well as a Basque.
Inclusions
- Private guide
- Private group
- Hotel pick up
- 5 pintxos y 5 drinks - enough for a full meal
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Parte Vieja, San Sebastian - Donostia Spain
Txikiteo: The first rule of the txikiteo club is: there are no rules. An approximate definition of ‘txikiteo’ could be: going from bar to bar, eating a pintxo and drinking a glass of something (the usual is a low-alcohol beverage, not cocktails!) in each. The txikiteo is done standing up, in front of the bar full of pintxos and surrounded by people you don't know (but that you could end up meeting.)
And this is precisely what you’ll do with Ikusnahi: pure txikiteo, flying from bar to bar, tasting the most renowned specialty of each in a genuinely Basque environment and surrounded by locals that, y’know, you don't know...but that you could end up meeting.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Pintxo: A piece of miniature cuisine that started off as something simple (a portion of potato omelette, a slice of ham on bread...) and that the bars of the Basque Country improved upon over time, making it more complex in order to attract more customers. The story is exciting and there are as many versions as there are historians. On our tour you’ll get to know some of them, as well as many other curiosities about the cult of the stomach that exists in the Basque Country.
Drinking: This is the other great religion (along with Eating) in the Basque Country. Wine and cider have been favorite drinks of the Basque people for the last five centuries, although beer has been prevailing in recent years. Did you know that in the 16th century, Basque sailors hardly suffered scurvy on long sea voyages, thanks to the cider they drank?
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sarriegi Plaza, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Txakoli: Typically Basque dry and sparkling white wine whose grapes are grown in vineyards near the Cantabrian Sea. It is ideal to accompany fish dishes...or pintxos. Nothing more to add.
Cider: Low-alcohol beverage obtained from fermented apple juice. Slightly sweet, slightly bitter, it has only one danger: it is drunk as easily as water.
Zurito: Short drink of beer (about 20-25 cl.) Ideal to accompany pintxos. The term ‘zurito’ is exclusive to the Basque Country. If you go to Madrid and ask for a 'zurito' no one will understand you (unless the bartender is Basque, of course).
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Calle 31 de Agosto, Calle del Treinta y Uno de Agosto, 20003 San Sebastian - Donostia Spain
San Sebastián Cheesecake: If God were a cake, He would be a San Sebastián Cheesecake. Did you know that San Sebastián Cheesecake is global cheesecake royalty, right up there with New York Cheesecake? Did you know that, as a result of this success, the Thermomix kitchen robot includes the recipe for 'San Sebastián Cheesecake' in its programs? Okay. Today you’ll taste the authentic, the mother of everything, the origin, the Big Bang.
Duration: 30 minutes
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Parte Vieja, San Sebastian - Donostia Spain
Txikiteo: The first rule of the txikiteo club is: there are no rules. An approximate definition of ‘txikiteo’ could be: going from bar to bar, eating a pintxo and drinking a glass of something (the usual is a low-alcohol beverage, not cocktails!) in each. The txikiteo is done standing up, in front of the bar full of pintxos and surrounded by people you don't know (but that you could end up meeting.)
And this is precisely what you’ll do with Ikusnahi: pure txikiteo, flying from bar to bar, tasting the most renowned specialty of each in a genuinely Basque environment and surrounded by locals that, y’know, you don't know...but that you could end up meeting.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Pintxo: A piece of miniature cuisine that started off as something simple (a portion of potato omelette, a slice of ham on bread...) and that the bars of the Basque Country improved upon over time, making it more complex in order to attract more customers. The story is exciting and there are as many versions as there are historians. On our tour you’ll get to know some of them, as well as many other curiosities about the cult of the stomach that exists in the Basque Country.
Drinking: This is the other great religion (along with Eating) in the Basque Country. Wine and cider have been favorite drinks of the Basque people for the last five centuries, although beer has been prevailing in recent years. Did you know that in the 16th century, Basque sailors hardly suffered scurvy on long sea voyages, thanks to the cider they drank?
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sarriegi Plaza, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Txakoli: Typically Basque dry and sparkling white wine whose grapes are grown in vineyards near the Cantabrian Sea. It is ideal to accompany fish dishes...or pintxos. Nothing more to add.
Cider: Low-alcohol beverage obtained from fermented apple juice. Slightly sweet, slightly bitter, it has only one danger: it is drunk as easily as water.
Zurito: Short drink of beer (about 20-25 cl.) Ideal to accompany pintxos. The term ‘zurito’ is exclusive to the Basque Country. If you go to Madrid and ask for a 'zurito' no one will understand you (unless the bartender is Basque, of course).
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Calle 31 de Agosto, Calle del Treinta y Uno de Agosto, 20003 San Sebastian - Donostia Spain
San Sebastián Cheesecake: If God were a cake, He would be a San Sebastián Cheesecake. Did you know that San Sebastián Cheesecake is global cheesecake royalty, right up there with New York Cheesecake? Did you know that, as a result of this success, the Thermomix kitchen robot includes the recipe for 'San Sebastián Cheesecake' in its programs? Okay. Today you’ll taste the authentic, the mother of everything, the origin, the Big Bang.
Duration: 30 minutes
Additional information
- Minimum drinking age is 18 years
- Wheelchair accessible
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Please note that many of the bars don't offer seats
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Our offices and bars we are collaborating with are cleaned and disinfected in accordance with the cleaning and disinfection protocol certified by the Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality (ICTE).
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
dtxusa
March 2020
Our three tours were the high light of our week in San Sebastián. We have so much appreciation for the food and culture thanks to our tours.
Our three tours were the high light of our week in San Sebastián. We have so much appreciation for the food and culture thanks to our tours.Jez_smith1977
April 2022
Do I really need a guide; I know how to go to cafes!!! YES. The experience was lovely from start to finish. We felt as though we have met a friend in town who had all the local know how. You can spend a lot on pintxo in San Sebastián but with guidance you can spend it wisely. We where greeted ...
Do I really need a guide; I know how to go to cafes!!! YES. The experience was lovely from start to finish. We felt as though we have met a friend in town who had all the local know how. You can spend a lot on pintxo in San Sebastián but with guidance you can spend it wisely. We where greeted like old friends at the bar counters. Tried the speciality dish in each bar. Delicious. The drinks pairing was vital. We don’t speak Spanish. We would not have know where to start on the local wines or indeed the cider with its special pour. Thank you Ania. We loved meeting you. You enhanced a lovely trip to San Sebastián.Surreyrestaurant
April 2022
We arrived in San Sebastián and three hours later met Jon to start our Pintxo tour. It was fantastic! Not only did we stop at five different bars, we also had the opportunity to learn so much about the history of the city. We had a pintxo and drink in each bar and tried the local cider and wine -...
We arrived in San Sebastián and three hours later met Jon to start our Pintxo tour. It was fantastic! Not only did we stop at five different bars, we also had the opportunity to learn so much about the history of the city. We had a pintxo and drink in each bar and tried the local cider and wine - Txapoli! Jon took us to bars serving very different food styles, each with their own USP. I would highly recommend this tourEduardo_F
November 2021
Ania provided the most amazing and knowledgeable experience we’ve ever had. This is a must do!!! She truly made our entire trip amazing and all because we started with her on day 1 so we knew EXACTLY what to do and where to go. She doesn’t just focus on food and wine although this is the best par...
Ania provided the most amazing and knowledgeable experience we’ve ever had. This is a must do!!! She truly made our entire trip amazing and all because we started with her on day 1 so we knew EXACTLY what to do and where to go. She doesn’t just focus on food and wine although this is the best part she also dives into the history and true culture of San Sebastián and its true beauty. She even provided us with recommendations for other cities and countries we were going to be traveling to since you will go on to find out she has been EVERYWHERE. What an experience, I would absolutely make this a priority and I can assure you my wife and I love our food.Maria_R
November 2021
We had a super informative guide - Ernest! Apparently he also knows how to cook! So he knows what taste excellent and very knowledgeable. He appeared on time and we enjoyed our San Sebastián food tour!
We had a super informative guide - Ernest! Apparently he also knows how to cook! So he knows what taste excellent and very knowledgeable. He appeared on time and we enjoyed our San Sebastián food tour!John_D
October 2021
Iker was a fabulous guide - so engaging and so knowledgeable - do this trip and you won’t be disappointed
Iker was a fabulous guide - so engaging and so knowledgeable - do this trip and you won’t be disappointed