This private experience goes beyond eating pintxos. It is a curated journey into the heart of Basque culinary culture, designed for travellers who want depth, context, and access.
Together with your local expert guide, you will explore seven handpicked stops across San Sebastián’s Old Town and nearby areas, mixing legendary institutions with places locals truly love. Along the way, you will discover why this city became one of the world’s great culinary capitals.
We begin with a visit to a small artisan cheese shop beloved by locals. With more than 50 handcrafted cheeses behind the counter, each with its own storey, we select a tasting box to enjoy later in the tour.
Our next stop introduces modern Basque creativity. In a contemporary bar run by a young, innovative team, we enjoy the cheese tasting paired with natural wine, followed by one of the city’s iconic pintxos, bold and freshly prepared.
From there, we step into one of San Sebastián’s most iconic pintxo bars, where classic Basque ingredients are reinterpreted with technical skill and imagination. As we walk the surrounding streets, your guide shares stories of the chefs and traditions that shaped the local food scene.
Inside a century-old wine shop, we pause for a glass of Patxaran, the traditional Basque sloe-berry liqueur, served with a delicate local pastry. A quiet moment that connects food, history, and everyday life.
The pace then choices up with hot pintxos cooked to order, straight from the kitchen. Depending on the day, you might taste slow-cooked egg, pan-fried squid with different sauces, or rich Basque-style pork.
We continue to a small, women-run bar known for its seasonal cooking and welcoming atmosphere. It is a true local gem, rarely found by visitors but deeply rooted in area life.
The experience ends with a sweet finale at a historic pastry shop famous for pantxineta, a classic Basque dessert made with puff pastry and custard cream, freshly baked and indulgent.
This private format allows flexibility, deeper storytelling, and a relaxed pace tailored to your interests.