Start with one or two pintxos, ask the bartender how to order them, and settle the bill before you leave. Pintxos are small bites eaten in bars. In San Sebastián, going for pintxos is a bar-to-bar outing, with a little food and a drink at each stop. You can join in without planning a full meal at any one counter. Basque tourism
Choose your first bar
Use the city tourism office’s pintxo-bar directory to find a starting point. It describes an outing with one or two pintxos per stop, chosen from the counter or a blackboard. That leaves room to try another bar after your first order.
Once inside, look at the display and any written menu. The kitchen may make more than you can see on the counter. If you don’t know where to begin, ask which pintxo the bar specialises in. The tourism office’s May 2025 gastronomic guide recommends seeking out each bar’s speciality and checking the blackboard for hot pintxos.
Order cold and hot pintxos
The city tourism office describes cold pintxos as generally displayed on the bar, where customers can help themselves, while hot pintxos are ordered from staff. Ask how this bar serves them before taking food from the counter. City tourism advice
Point out a displayed bite you want to try, or ask about something on the hot menu. If the name doesn’t tell you what’s in it, ask before you order. A small first order gives you a chance to try something unfamiliar and decide what you’d like next.
For a hot pintxo, ask the bartender what is available now and whether you should wait at the counter for your plate. A general guide cannot tell you the current menu or service arrangement at a particular bar, so check with the staff serving you.
Pay before you move on
Keep track of what you order, including drinks. The May 2025 guide advises remembering the number of pintxos because you may be asked at the end. Check how your bar calculates the bill, since billing systems vary. Gastronomic guide
The city’s advice says payment is generally made before leaving the bar. Ask for the bill when you’re ready to go. If you’re with friends, agree who is paying before anyone starts ordering; taking turns to buy rounds or using a shared pot are options described by the tourism office. Confirm the arrangement with staff and settle what you owe before choosing your next stop. City tourism advice
