San Sebastián Food and Drink Tour Through Old Town

Meet your guide on Ijentea Kalea

Kick off your food adventure in San Sebastián’s lively center. Your guide greets you with a quick intro to Basque cuisine and what makes this region a foodie paradise.

Classic Gilda pintxo

Your first bite is the Gilda, the city’s original pintxo and a staple of Basque bar counters. The skewered combo of a guindilla pepper, salty anchovy, and firm green olive hits you with a sharp, tangy snap that wakes up your palate.

Traditional pintxos with Basque drinks

Next, you duck into a lively bar that mixes old-school recipes with modern twists. Here you sample two or three pintxos (maybe a slow-cooked cheek on toast or a seared prawn brushed with garlic oil) paired with txakoli or Rioja.

Bretxa Market

Stroll over to Bretxa Market, which has anchored the Old Town for more than a century. Even though parts of it have modernized, you still see shops that supply the region’s kitchens. Your guide shares how the market evolved from a traditional food hall into today’s mixed-use space.

Cebo and Bellota Spanish ham

Slide into a specialty shop for a tasting of Iberian ham. The cebo slice feels silky and mild, while the bellota cut, made from acorn-fed pigs, has a deeper, nutty aroma. You learn how curing times and diets shape each flavor as you nibble through the samples.