When it comes to Spanish snack dishes, many people think of tapas, which are typical in southern Spain. But, the Basque Country in the north has its own tradition of small plates, known as pintxos (pronounced ‘peen-chos’). Along with San Sebastián’s reputation for Michelin-starred food, the city is renowned for its pintxos bars. On this shared evening pintxos tasting tour, you’ll head out to sample the best the city has to offer. Along with gaining an insight into the culinary heritage of the city, you’ll visit a wide variety of pintxos bars with your expert guide to sample a range of typical dishes.
After rendezvousing with your guide and the rest of your group, you’ll set off into the old town where the streets are lined with pintxos bars.
The Spanish verb ‘pinchar’ means ‘to pierce’, and these small dishes were traditionally made up of small pieces of bread topped with meat, cheese or other foods and then pierced with a skewer or toothpick to hold it together. Today, the term applies more broadly to any small plate of food and is a signature of Basque Country cuisine.
San Sebastián is known for its exceptional gastronomic scene, whether you’re enjoying fine dining in multi-Michelin-starred restaurants or looking for a more casual experience. On this tour, your guide will escort you to a range of local haunts, choosing the best specialties from the menu and guiding you through the sometimes overwhelming options on offer.
You’ll visit four or five different bars, some traditional spots and others more modern and daring. As you wander from bar to bar, you can try a variety of different pintxos: possibly local prawns or baby squid, charred steak or potato dumplings, young eels or brandy-soaked goose liver.
Each dish is paired with a glass of local cider or wine, so you can get an authentic taste of a typical Basque pintxos night.
When the tour is done, your guide can take you back to where you began or recommend further places to visit in your own time.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Spain specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Basque cooking class
As part of this hands-on half-day cooking class in San Sebastián, you’ll learn about the culinary heritage of the Basque Country. You get an introduction to typical ingredients and dishes from the region, and cook a multi-course meal, paired with local wines.
Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum
Industrial hub turned cultural hothouse, Bilbao is home to Frank Gehry’s groundbreaking Guggenheim as well as a lively cultural and culinary scene. On this tour, you explore the city with a private guide for an insight into its changing fortunes and engineering marvels.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
