Discover San Sebastián’s Best Pintxos on a Unique Culinary Tour
Description
#10 Top Best Food Experience in the World 2022 Our unrivalled experience in the world of gastronomy and our worldwide culinary expertise makes us the perfect guide to show visitors the unique Basque city of San Sebastian, a city loved by its inhabitants and a location without compare for food lovers from all over the world.
Tour Options
Itinerary
San Sebastián (known as Donostia in Basque) is a city renowned worldwide for its gastronomic tradition. Without doubt the unrivalled “Star” and featured in every bar is the Pintxo. The picturesque old town (Parte Vieja) is completely packed with Pintxos bars — so many that knowing where to go and what to order can be completely overwhelming. We will take you to the very finest pintxo bars that visitors are unlikely to discover on their own and we will suggest the best pintxo in each bar and the most suitable drink to accompany it, chosen from Cider, Txakoli (Basque white wine) or red wine. From our meeting point we will visit the Old Town of San Sebastian where you will learn about Basque traditions and customs. You will visit bars off the normal tourist trail, eating and drinking like locals do.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(613)
My wife and I booked a private tour with Eskerne Falcón (Eski) through Discover San Sebastian, and it was hands-down the best food tour we’ve ever taken across multiple cities and countries. The experience was flawless from the start. Eski met us right at our hotel and took the time to truly customize our day. She asked detailed questions about our food and drink preferences, and carefully reviewed where we had already been in town to ensure we wouldn't repeat a single thing. We kicked off the morning with about an hour of exploring the city. I didn't know much about San Sebastián's background and hadn't expected a history lesson, but it was absolutely amazing. Starting at 10:30 AM, we weren't quite hungry yet, so this historical intro was the perfect buffer to build up an appetite. By the time we started eating around 11:30 AM, the timing was immaculate. Everything was fresh out of the kitchen—absolutely nothing microwaved. We bypassed all the usual lines and waiting, starting at a hidden-gem pintxos bar I never would have stepped into on my own. It isn't plastered all over social media, which is clearly why the locals love it. Right out of the gate, we had a seared scallop served on an oyster shell with a green coconut curry sauce that remains our #1 favorite bite of our entire vacation so far. We also had an incredible tomato gazpacho with ice cream, pickled cucumber, and anchovies that was a total "wow" moment. I won’t spoil the entire itinerary, but the exclusive access Eski provides is unmatched. We met multiple owners, tasted off-menu dishes made exclusively for her, and even got to try the highly coveted tortilla from Bar Antonio. What really sets this tour apart, though, is Eski herself. She made us feel completely comfortable, and her genuine passion for showing off her hometown is infectious. Her service didn't end when the tour did, either. She sent us a full recap of everywhere we went and what we ate, along with a treasure trove of additional recommendations for bars we wouldn't have thought to visit. She stayed in touch for the rest of our time in San Sebastián, answering our questions and even pulling strings to secure an "impossible" reservation at a highly coveted restaurant I had been completely unable to book myself. This was a truly unforgettable experience. If you are even contemplating booking with Eski, do it immediately. If we were staying in town longer, we would have booked a second tour without hesitation!
Thank you so much for this incredibly generous and thoughtful review! Reading your words truly touched me. It was such a pleasure to spend the morning with you and your wife, and I’m so happy that the tour felt so personal, comfortable, and different from other food tours you have taken around the world. For me, a private tour in San Sebastián should never feel standard. I love taking the time to understand each guest, what they enjoy, where they have already been, and how to create an experience that feels fresh, authentic, and truly local. I’m so glad you enjoyed the mix of history, hidden pintxo bars, freshly prepared dishes, meeting local owners, and discovering places you may not have found on your own. Your words about my passion for San Sebastián mean so much to me. This city is my home, and sharing its food, culture, people, and small local secrets is something I feel very lucky to do. Thank you again for choosing Discover San Sebastián and for trusting me with such a special part of your trip. I would be absolutely delighted to welcome you both back anytime — and next time, we will find even more delicious corners of the city together! Eskerne Falcón | Discover San Sebastián | Curated Pintxo & Food Tours
Eske was a wonderful tour guide! She was so personable, knowledgeable and offered us a great introduction to the city. Highly recommend booking a tour with her on your first day in San Sebastián for delicious food, great company and a helpful overview of the town.
Thank you so much, Krista, for your wonderful review! I’m so happy you enjoyed the food tour and that it gave you a great introduction to San Sebastián. It was a real pleasure to share the city, its pintxos, local flavors, and stories with you. I completely agree that taking the tour on the first day is a perfect way to understand the town, discover great places, and enjoy the rest of your stay even more. Thank you again for recommending Discover San Sebastián so kindly. Eskerne Falcón | Discover San Sebastián | Curated Pintxo & Food Tours
Eski is a fantastic guide and a wonderful person to spend the evening with. Knows where the freshest pintxos are and has great relationships with the chefs and shop owners. Started the evening as strangers and ended as delightful new friends. It was an outstanding experience, we had a fabulous time with Eski and the entire group.
Dear Paula, It was truly an honor to have you and your family on the tour. I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed your summer evening in San Sebastián, the freshest pintxos, the local stories, and the atmosphere of the places we visited. What I will especially remember is your wonderful smile throughout the whole evening. Your warmth and joy added so much to the experience and helped make the entire group enjoy the night even more. Your words about starting as strangers and ending as new friends mean so much to me. That is exactly what I love most about these tours — sharing not only food and culture, but also genuine, memorable moments together. Eskerne Falcón | Discover San Sebastián | Curated Pintxo & Food Tours
Great experience. I choose this tour because it started later (7pm) than most of the others. Glad I did! Lovely guide and great spots to visit.
Dear Nola, Thank you so much for your lovely review! I’m so happy to hear that you had a great experience and that the 7:00 PM start time worked well for you. It was a pleasure to share the evening atmosphere of San Sebastián, the local pintxo spots, and some of my favorite places with you. Thank you again for choosing Discover San Sebastián. Eskerne Falcón | Discover San Sebastián | Curated Pintxo & Food Tours
Our friends recommended Esky's tour and they said how fantastic she was three years ago. They weren't wrong. We booked for our second night in San Sebastian. A wonderful tour of the old town, best local bars (the real pintxos, not just for tourists) and eateries, local history, suugestions on further things to do and see in the area. A very generous and knowledgeable host for the evening and a super lovely group too. Huge thank you Esky, you were amazing!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I’m truly happy to hear that your friends recommended the tour after joining me three years ago, and that the experience was just as special for you. That kind of recommendation means so much to me. It was a real pleasure to share the Old Town, authentic local pintxos bars, local history, and some of my favorite suggestions for the rest of your time in San Sebastián. I’m so glad you enjoyed the evening, the food, and the lovely group too. Thank you again for your kind words. I would be delighted to welcome you back anytime for more pintxos, stories, and local discoveries. Eskerne Falcón | Discover San Sebastián | Curated Pintxo & Food Tours
Eskarne was our tour guide for three separate days and all were amazing. She is so excited to share her beautiful city and that enthusiasm Carrie’s over to whatever you are doing! Pintxos, hiking or seeing the beauty of the city-you can’t go wrong with this tour!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was a real pleasure to meet both of you! I’m truly happy to hear that your first time in San Sebastián was so special and that you enjoyed all three days with Discover San Sebastián. It was a real pleasure to share different sides of my city with you — from pintxos and local food culture to hiking, beautiful views, stories, and everyday life here. Your words mean a lot to me, because I truly love showing San Sebastián and the Basque Country in a personal and authentic way. Thank you again for choosing me for three separate experiences during your trip. I would be delighted to welcome you back anytime for more pintxos, walks, and local discoveries. Eskerne Falcón | Discover San Sebastián | Curated Pintxo & Food Tours
What a truly amazing tour with one of the best guides ever! Highly recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy the best local secrets with your soon to be best friend!
Dear Sylvain, Thank you so much for your beautiful review! I’m so happy you enjoyed the tour and felt that warm, local connection. Sharing San Sebastián’s best local secrets, pintxos, stories, and favorite spots with guests who feel like new friends is exactly what makes this experience so special for me. Thank you for recommending Discover San Sebastián so kindly. Eskerne Falcón | Discover San Sebastián | Curated Pintxo & Food Tours
We enjoy taking food tours wherever we go and find it a great way to peek into the culture of a given place through their food. Eskerne's tour was one of the best food related tours we have ever taken. One part walking tour through the old town, with insights into life in San Sebastián, and an amazing introduction to Pintxos at some great places. We highly recommend her tour and suggest you take it early in your trip so that you can go back and taste more during the rest of your time in San Sebastián. Eskerne is such fun and you can tell she fully enjoys introducing visitors to her town.
Thank you so much, Lorraine, for your wonderful review! I’m truly happy to hear that, as food tour lovers, you felt this was one of the best food-related tours you have ever taken. That means a lot to me. For me, a pintxo tour in San Sebastián is not only about tasting delicious food, but also about sharing the culture, the Old Town, the local way of life, and the stories behind the places we visit. I’m so glad you enjoyed that mix of walking tour, pintxos, and local insights. Thank you also for recommending taking the tour early in the trip; I completely agree! It is a great way to discover favorite spots and then return to enjoy more during your stay in San Sebastián. It was a real pleasure to introduce you to my town, and I would love to welcome you back anytime. Eskerne Falcón | Discover San Sebastián | Curated Pintxo & Food Tours
Very enjoyable evening experiencing the culinary delights of San Sebastián with Eske. Eske took us to some very interesting bars, we sampled great food and drank lovely wine. The information on the City and the bars was also great. We’d definitely recommend to others.
Dear Alastair, Thank you so much for your lovely review . I’m so happy you enjoyed discovering the food, wine, and culture of San Sebastián with me 😊 Sharing our local pintxo bars, Basque gastronomy, and the stories behind each place is one of my favorite parts of these San Sebastián food tours. Thank you for your recommendation and for spending such a special evening exploring the culinary delights of San Sebastián with me. Until then, I’ll be waiting with more pintxos and local wines in San Sebastián ✨ Eskerne Falcón | Discover San Sebastián | Curated Pintxo & Food Tours
Great experience all round …👌
Dear Adam, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! ✨ It was truly a pleasure to host you during our “Discover San Sebastián’s Best Pintxos” culinary tour. I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed the evening and discovered some amazing local spots along the way. Sharing the authentic food culture, history, and hidden gastronomic gems of San Sebastián with guests from around the world is what I’m most passionate about. Creating memorable experiences through Basque cuisine and local traditions is always my goal. Thank you again for choosing Discover San Sebastian and for taking the time to share your experience. I hope to welcome you back to the Basque Country again very soon for more unforgettable pintxos, wines, and stories! Warm regards, Eskerne Falcón Food Tour Host & Basque Gastronomy Expert Discover San Sebastian
