Chef-Led San Sebastián Pintxos Tour: 5 Bars, Food & Wine
Description
San Sebastián has hundreds of pintxos bars — knowing where to go, what to order, and how to combine everything can be overwhelming. Join me, Erich, a chef and gastronomic researcher, for an evening through five carefully selected bars. You'll taste 7–10 pintxos and enjoy five drinks, creating a complete dinner rather than a few small samples. This isn't a bar crawl. You'll learn how locals decide where to eat and what to order — and by the end of the evening, you'll know how to explore San Sebastián's pintxos bars with confidence for the rest of your trip. The experience is designed for small groups, leaving room for questions and personal recommendations based on your interests and dietary needs. Afterward, you'll receive a personalized list of places to explore on your own. Book near the start of your trip: you'll leave with a full dinner and the confidence to keep eating well.
Tour Options
Itinerary
A good local market in which to buy Basque products.
You'll learn some historic anecdotes around La Concha Beach. La Concha is referenced in Ernest Hemingway's classic "The Sun Also Rises"; the main character Jake Barnes briefly swims and dives in the Beach of La Concha at the end. It is a sandy beach and shallow substrate, in which the tide fluctuation greatly affects the area available for use. It can be considered an urban beach in widespread use.
Park created in 1880 on an old military maneuvering ground next to the bay of La Concha. Its first objective was that of a place of recreation and attractions, for which reason a circus, a velodrome and a theater of puppets were located in its enclosure. However, in 1887 a casino was built —the work of Luis Aladrén Mendivil and Adolfo Morales de los Ríos—, which later became the seat of the San Sebastián City Council, for which the entire area was reformed.
The City Council building was built up in 1887 at the Gardens of Alderdi-Eder of San Sebastián, next to the Nautical Royal Club, to house the main casino. The opening ceremony was attended by the Queen Maria Christina of Austria. However, it closed as a casino after the ban on gambling in 1924. On April 14, 1928, an agreement was reached to open in this building the Center of Attraction and Tourism, later this moving to a building next to the Hotel María Cristina. On January 20, 1945, the council moved to this building. The architects Alday and Arizmendi amended the initial project in 1943 and turned the former casino into council. Until then, the City Hall was located in the Constitution Square (Parte Vieja), now headquarters of the Municipal Library.
We will see it from far, I will tell you a few stories.
A baroque Roman Catholic parish church and minor basilica completed in 1774.
We will see it from far and I will tell you an anecdote.
We will see it from far. I will tell you how the napoleonic troops established the most important day of the city.
An iconic sight of the city with some hidden secrets in it.
The Church of San Vicente is probably the oldest monument in the city of Donostia-San Sebastián. Construction of this temple began in 1507, under the direction of the master stonemasons Miguel de Santa Celay and Juan de Urrutia.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(3)
Erich was an incredible guide - not only taking us to five different spots and exposing us to a variety of pintxos, but sharing history of Basque country cuisine in the process. He was also super responsive on Whatsapp after the fact when we were looking for shops to buy specific foods to take home.
Thank you so much, Colleen! It was a real pleasure spending the day with you. I'm so glad you enjoyed not only the pintxos, but also learning a bit about Basque food culture and history along the way—that's always one of my favorite parts of the tour. And of course, I'm always happy to help after the tour too. Finding those special local products to take home is all part of keeping the experience going. Thanks again for your kind words, and I hope to welcome you back to San Sebastián someday. Safe travels!
Erich took our family group of 8 on a fabulous Pintxos tour, carefully catering to all the various food and drinks requirements throughout the evening. It was fun, informative, and a great way to spend a sociable time with friends and family eating delicious and varied foods. Thank you. Would highly recommend
Erich Eichstetter was a terrific guide. He tailored the tour to satisfy our taste and as a result it was a personal and wonderful experience.i strongly recommend using Eric as a guide. Best regards Suzanne
