Pintxos are early evening snacks traditionally served at bars in the Basque country of northern Spain. They’re enjoyed along with cider, beer or wine while standing at a table — if you can grab one. During a recent Global Palate Adventure, I sampled many pintxos in Old Town, San Sebastian. I’ve yet to find one I didn’t like.

First, don’t miss sampling Spain’s indigenous Jamon Iberico, the cured meat from pigs mainly fed acorns. ZaporeJai, C. de San Jerónimo, 21. 


I’d recommend any pintxos at La Mejillonera c/del Puerot, 5. Their fresh calamari was crispy; the potatoes bravo tasty, although I’d have preferred less of the sauces. The succulent steamed mussels came two ways: one covered in a spicy red sauce and the other smothered with marinated onions with instructions to discard them at your feet.

Don’t miss the foie gras at Bar Sport at c/Fermín Calbetón, 10. In our quest for a foie gras pintxos, we stopped in one bar whose owner said, “I’m the best for anchovies. For foie gras, go around the corner to Bar Sport” We did. It was the most amazing of all the pintxos. Also tasty are their beef cheeks.

You might try the juicy shrimp at Goiz-Argi, Ferman Calbeton Kalea, 4, that comes skewered atop bread covered in a fresh tomato sauce. Get the Gilda at Casa Urola Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 20 and the duck at Aste 148 Gostreoleku at c/Iñigo, 1.

We ate most of those mentioned above on our walking pintxos-tasting tour through Old Town with Gorka, our fun and informative Devourtours.com guide.