Pintxos With a Chef, San Sebastián

Dive into the culinary heart of the Basque Country on this one-of-a-kind culinary tour led by a professional chef. Everything's included on this four-hour walking tour of San Sebastián's Old Town—the birthplace of pintxos, the Basque version of tapas. Taste your way through the city, stopping at five taverns to sample this famous snack and sip traditional drinks like sidra (cider) and Txakoli wine.

San Sebastián is known as the Basque Country's culinary heart, where the famous pintxos dish originated, and is a city now home to eight Michelin-star restaurants. Many visitors stop in the Old Town to discover its gastronomy, which is why a culinary walk is a perfect way to get to know San Sebastián. 

You'll start by meeting your guide in the city's historic center, where you'll start your walk. As you stroll to your first tavern to taste pintxos, learn how this dish came to be. In the Basque language, it's spelled pintxo, though you might see it as pincho in Spanish. The word means "spike," which is fitting; the goodies piled high atop a slice of bread are secured with a skewer or toothpick. At your first stop, enjoy your first pintxo, learning more about traditional versions of the dish and how new-wave chefs are putting a gourmet spin on the Basque favorite.

Before you move on to your next tavern, do as the locals do and pair your bites with regional drinks. Sidra is northern Spain's cider, which servers traditionally pour (or "throw," as they say) into a glass from above (often keeping the glass near their leg and pouring high above their head—sometimes behind their back). This technique adds fizz and opens up the flavors and aromas in sidra natural, which has zero additives (no carbonation). You can also try Txakoli wine, a slightly effervescent white varietal made from green grapes. Of course, you can opt for other wines, beer, water, and soda, too. 

Throughout the evenings, you'll genuinely follow the traditions of the locals: hopping from one tavern to the next and eating pintxos paired with drinks. In total, you'll visit five bars and enjoy five drinks with your food. In between, walk the streets of beautiful San Sebastián and learn a bit about the city through a chef's eyes. At the end of the excursion, say goodbye to your host and continue with more pintxos on your own or head back to your accommodation.