サン・セバスティアン・ピンチョス体験 : バスクの味を味わう

We scheduled our tour with Mikel on the first night of a 3-week self-scheduled foodie tour of northern Spain, and this was the best introduction to Basque cuisine! Our friends had visited San Sebastián about a month before we did and spoke so highly of their food tour with Mikel that we had to try it ourselves. As a native son of San Sebastián, Mikel’s extensive knowledge of the food and drink of the region, coupled with his relationships with restaurateurs and maître d’s and his storyteller’s energy, made for an unforgettable evening we’ll be talking about for years. His command of English is astounding! Mikel somehow also managed to take photos of our group along the way, an additional detail that will enhance our memories. Mikel’s tailored experience even took the weather into account. Given the heat wave, instead of the prearranged pintxo-hopping, he started our evening (with the sun still prevalent) at an air-conditioned restaurant, where we lingered over a multi-course meal while the outdoor temps retreated. Mikel was highly communicative throughout the scheduling process and arranged for us to meet at an easy-to-find pub. The whole experience was a perfect way to kick off our 3-week road trip across northern Spain, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone—especially if experiencing a culture through its food is high on your priority list.

We were a family of 5 with a 1 year old baby traveling for 4 days to San Sebastián . We had a phenomenal, once in a lifetime experience with Mikel at Basque Roots. He worked with us over months to customize our itinerary according to our preferences and interests, and got us a comfortable large van with a car seat. He was so considerate with our baby and helped us get around the city and the surrounding region. He treated us like his own family, working with his friends and contacts to find unique experiences such as a boat ride across the bay with a private boat, and a designer experience for custom dresses. Being a local, he knows all the best local pintxo places without getting stuck in tourist traps. Overall this is one of the best tours we have ever been on and we strongly recommend going with Basque Roots!

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We were three sisters visiting San Sebastián for the very first time, with only a glimpse of what to expect from travel shows and online research. Booking a private gourmet/pintxos experience with Basque Roots turned out to be the absolute highlight of our trip; truly the best decision we made. We cannot recommend Basque Roots enough. Mikel is an incredible guide: knowledgeable, passionate, energetic, and genuinely proud of sharing the culture, history, and food of San Sebastián and the Basque Country. From the moment we met him, it felt less like a tour and more like being shown around by an old friend. Mikel went above and beyond to create a personalized and authentic pintxos experience, taking us far away from the tourist crowds and into places we never would have discovered on our own. Thanks to his connections and generosity, we even got to visit another restaurant that had been on our wish list, something that wouldn’t have happened without him. What stood out most was his warmth and kindness. He made us feel so welcome and completely at ease throughout the evening. Eskerrik asko Mikel, for making our first trip to San Sebastián so unforgettable. We already can’t wait to come back. The Chicas (Sam, Ann & Maria)

Basque roots is the best tour company in San Sebastián, and our tour guide Mikel is definitely one of the best people I’ve ever met. He showed me what life is like for locals there, taught me all about the history of San Sebastián then we went on a signature gastronomical tour of the best pinxos and basque cuisine. Life changing stuff! Thanks Mikel.

Best experience. Mikel will take you to the best gems in the city. If you’re looking for good times. We strongly recommend

Mikel is such a wonderful guide! Local knowledge, good vibes, very generous and kind. Takes about 2 minutes to think this is already one of your best friends ever. Such a good experience i could come Back every month. Shame that the plane tickets don’t allow me to. Eskerrik asko Mikel! Aupa!

Simply one of the best places to eat in San Sebastián, we were there for my dads birthday and Mikel looked after us so well! Would definitely recommend to anyone that is travelling, near the area as it is definitely worth the trip!

Mikel is a fabulous host, relaxed and attentive. He recommended a number of brilliant spots off the beaten track in Gros. They included Gerald’s Bar for a fabulous dinner, Curdelon for a few wines on route and some pintxos on route from Curdelon to Gerald’s. During the evening my 15 yo daughter mentioned she loved horse riding and Mikel organised a trip to the stables in the hills outside San Seb for the next day. Everyone can google places to eat and have pintxos in the old town, With Basque Roots you get the real Donosti!! Can’t recommend him highly enough!!

Although I am from Donostia–San Sebastian, we decided to try an experience with Basque Roots® as a family and it was an incredible surprise. We did a horseback riding activity in nature and it was spectacular, especially for the kids. Mikel has a very authentic knowledge of culture and territory, and makes everything feel close and special, nothing touristic or artificial. You can tell there's a lot of passion behind what he does. Even as locals we discovered places and landscapes that we did not know. A highly recommended experience for both visitors and people here who want to rediscover the Basque Country in a different way. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

We had such a great time with Mikel on our visit to the city. He took us to all the best spots, he knew everyone, was interested in our favourite dishes to make sure we got to try them and was incredibly knowledgeable about the region and its wealth of ingredients. The pacing was great - we left the night full and happy. Mikel organised a friendly, warm and generous tour of San Sebastian and I'd recommend friends book with Basque Roots for a rich, cultural experience. I feel like I've made a friend in the town and it made our time there better. eskerrik asko!