Pintxo Lunch Tour in San Sebastián: A Unique Culinary Experience

A wonderful tour of the variety of excellent food, found in the old town of San Sebastian led by a great local guide

When planning a visit to San Sebastian everyone advised us that we had to include a Pintxo Tour. Having undertaken some research and liaised with our hotel we were recommended to Discover San Sebastián. The tour is overseen by Eskerne Falcon (a genuine local). She met us as our hotel and explained that we would visit five venues and each of these she would give us a choice of options and that each option came with a glass of wine or in one instance a cider. We visited a variety of locations where our friendly guide was clearly well-known to each of the owners of the establishments. This ensured that we received first class service and the best quality food each of them offers, freshly prepared for you at the time of your arrival. The options varied and the flavours throughout were excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We even arranged to go back to one of the five venues for lunch the following day. I cannot speak highly enough of Eskerne who provided us with some background information and knowledge of the Old Town and shared some local experiences. Overall the food, wine, the company and every aspect of this food tour was of the highest quality (we will definitely be recommending this to others when we know they are visiting San Sebastian)

Response from the operator: Thank you so much, Craige, for such a thoughtful and generous review! I’m truly happy to hear that you enjoyed your pintxo tour in San Sebastián and that the experience felt so special from start to finish. It was a real pleasure to welcome you, share some of my favorite places in the Old Town, and introduce you to the food, wine, cider, and local traditions that make our city so unique. I’m especially glad you enjoyed the variety of venues, the freshly prepared pintxos, and the warm service along the way. Knowing that you even returned to one of the places for lunch the next day makes me very happy; that is exactly the kind of local connection I love guests to take away from the tour. Thank you again for choosing Discover San Sebastián and for recommending the experience to others. I would be delighted to welcome you back anytime for more pintxos, local stories, and another beautiful food tour in San Sebastián. Eskerne Falcón | Discover San Sebastián | Curated Pintxo & Food Tours

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The best food tour in San Sebastian

We (Australian male and female) did a food tour in San Sebastian with the tour company Discover San Sebastian. Well worth your time and money. The Old Town in San Sebastian is a great place for pinchos with about 300 bars competing for your attention,. To be honest the range of choice is bewildering. Our tour guide Erskene cut through all of that and took us to some fantastic places which we would've only found through a lot of trial and error - or not at all. And not only did we visit 5 great places across the Old Town but we had the best food choices in those places. Erskene checked the group's food tastes and allergies at the very beginning of the night and, such is her local knowledge, she tailored the tour and our walking route to suit the group. And to add to the deal Erskene insists in each place that they prepare the food fresh for us. Usually pinchos is premade but not on this tour. Sometimes the food choices are only avaialble to her tour and so are truly unique. You also get a choice of drinks to accompany the food as well. And of course Erskene spoke fluent, clear English the whole night. The tour is all about the food but Erskene also provides a great insight into Spanish and Basque culture and language which was great for a couple like us with few Spanish skills. By the end of the night we called Erskene the unofficial mayor of the Old Town. By the end of the tour (about 3 hours) we were very satisfied with the amount and quality of food and drink but also had recommendations for other places to try in coming days. I can't think of a single thing to improve Erskene's tours. No wonder Erskene and her tour experiences are ranked #1.

Response from the operator: Dear Andrew, Thank you so much for this thoughtful and detailed review! It was such a pleasure having you both on the food tour here in San Sebastián. I'm thrilled to know that the experience exceeded your expectations and that you enjoyed not only the quality of the pintxos but also the cultural insights and personal touches along the way. San Sebastián’s Old Town can be overwhelming with so many pintxo bars, so I’m happy I could guide you through the very best spots and hidden gems that are often only known to locals. Tailoring each tour based on the group’s preferences and dietary needs is something I take great pride in—it’s what makes every tour a unique, personal experience. I especially appreciate your kind words about the fresh preparation and exclusive bites available only to my guests. Sharing the authentic spirit of Basque cuisine and culture is at the heart of what I do. And being called the “unofficial mayor of the Old Town”? What an honor! 😊 Wishing you both more delicious adventures ahead—and of course, you're always welcome back for round two in San Sebastián! Warmest regards from Donostia, Eskerne Founder & Local Guide | Discover San Sebastián San Sebastián Food Tours | Pintxo Tours | Basque Culinary Experiences

via Tripadvisor

Best Tour We Did On Our Holiday In Spain

We had such a great time on the Pintxos walking tour with Eski! Eski was incredibly knowledgeable and her passion for San Sebastian and the local food was clear. Eski’s knowledge of the area and all of the Pintxos shops allowed her to tailor the tour to our tastes and preferences. It was so great to hear a bit of history about San Sebastian, the Basque Country, Basque language, and enjoy some incredible local bites and drinks. Of all the tours I did in on our two week vacation in Spain this was by far my favorite and I would honestly go back and do it all over again. I would highly recommend doing this tour.

Response from the operator: Dear Marian, Thank you so much for your amazing review! I'm so happy to hear that the Pintxos walking tour was the highlight of your two-week trip through Spain—what an honor! It’s always a pleasure to share not only San Sebastián’s world-class food scene but also the culture, history, and unique language of the Basque Country. Tailoring each tour to match your tastes is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do, and I’m thrilled you enjoyed the selection of bites, drinks, and stories throughout the evening. Your kind words and high recommendation mean a lot, and I’d absolutely love to welcome you back someday to do it all over again! Warm regards, Eskerne Local Food & Culture Guide | Discover San Sebastián Private Pintxo Tours | Basque Gastronomy | Insider Culinary Experiences

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Walk, eat, talk, eat…yes!

How many city tours have we all done where you wish you could just stop a while and have a snack and a drink with the locals? If this is you then this tour is for you. San Sebastián has a population of 180,000 (I was listening!) and your guide Esky fortunately knows every one of them! We learned about the frustrated protester whose daily rants carved into the sand get washed away by the tide for him to return the next day and start all over again, why you always need a spare pair of swans, why the bull ring is a rectangle and how the pintxos talk to you. That is of course if you have learned to pour the delicious cider from above your head! This tour strikes the perfect balance between quirky info on the town and access to the local bars you would never find simply using Trip Advisor. Go with the flow, go with the recommendations and you will have a great time. Esky is also on hand to generously give advice and recommendations to make your whole stay in San Sebastián a great one, and for that we can only say Scary Costco. (When you know, you know). Don’t miss this tour!

Response from the operator: Dear Charlie, Your review absolutely made my day—thank you so much for sharing your experience with such humor and heart! I'm thrilled you enjoyed the mix of quirky local stories, pintxo bar hopping, and unexpected San Sebastián secrets (yes, even the mysterious spare swans and rectangular bullring 😄). It’s true—this tour is all about slowing down, connecting with the city through its food, people, and stories, and discovering places you'd never find just scrolling TripAdvisor. I'm so glad you trusted the flow and leaned into the full experience (and mastered that cider pour!). “Scary Costco” will now live rent-free in my memory forever—and if you know, you know. 😉 Thank you again for your energy and for recommending the tour so generously. You’re always welcome back for round two—San Sebastián will be waiting! Warmest regards, Eskerne Local Guide & Founder | Discover San Sebastián Cultural Walking Tours | Pintxo Adventures | Hidden Local Stories

via Tripadvisor

Incredible experience

Eskerne goes above and beyond to ensure that everybody on her tours has a great time. She is very knowledgeable about the history and gastronomie of the region, and was able to answer all of our questions with great detail. As someone with many dietary restrictions (vegetarian, no mushrooms, etc.) Eskerne went out of her way to make sure I had a pintxo that I really liked at every single bar we went to- a difficult task that she managed with grace and kindness. I can not recommend discover San Sebastián tours enough! Absolutely great value and an unforgettable experience. Not to mention- Eskerne is a great photographer!

via Tripadvisor