Delights in small bites

It’s typical to go into a bar in the Basque Country and find the entire counter lined with plates of assorted pintxos (like small tapas). They range from traditional pintxos of tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette of potato and onion) to mini haute cuisine experiments such as a grilled foie gras with a cream of white beans and a fruity sauce.

It can be difficult sometimes not to sample every pintxo in a given bar. But you should try to resist because around the corner is another place with an even more amazing selection. Locals will usually eat one or two pintxos with a glass of txakoli (local wine), red wine, or zurito (small beer) before moving on to the next bar. Rather than a bar crawl, this is a pintxo crawl!

The pintxo crawl is a serious sport in the Basque Country. And it is very competitive. The bars and taverns fight over coveted trophies that are awarded annually for the best pintxos in their respective village or city. The bars are constantly trying to one-up the competition and in doing so, come up with avant-garde specialties to satisfy the demanding public. Pintxos in San Sebastian are said to be the best in the Basque Country. They too have the canape type treats on the counter, but many bars in San Sebastian also have an a-la-carte menu. We take you to San Sebastian to enjoy these delightful pintxos.