DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIÁN - CENTRO - ANTONIO BAR - POST 1

Jan 23, 2023
2 min read

ANTONIO BAR

This is a top modern pintxo bar with a restaurant in San Sebastián. It’s located a few blocks from Parte Vieja (the old town), making it worth the detour.

It’s a fantastic place to visit, whether you’re alone or with friends, and it offers a casual atmosphere for socialising. Many locals stop by to have a bite to eat and catch up with friends before heading home. They serve some of the best tortillas (Spanish omelettes) in town, featuring ultra-caramelised onions, and they are incredibly thick and juicy. They only make a limited number—four in the morning and two in the afternoon—so you need to arrive early. Unfortunately, we missed out this time!

All hot pintxos are prepared to order, which means there might be a wait for them. Alternatively, you can choose from a wide variety of cold pintxos available at the bar.

There is a great selection of fish and seafood. On a previous visit, we tried the kokotxas de merluza (hake cheeks), which were incredible—soft and gelatinous, just as they should be.

Beef cheeks

Solomillo (grilled sirloin steak)

The porcini mushrooms with raw egg yolk and foie gras, where you combine all three ingredients, make this bar a must-visit just for this dish.

Gamba a la gabardina (deep-fried battered prawns).

Txistorra (Basque sausage) with crisps.

Brocheta de gambas (prawn skewer).

Also, recommended pintxos are,

Carpaccio de atún rojo (tuna)

Foie con morcilla y crema de puerros (foie gras with black pudding and Leek cream) Chipirones encebollado (squid with onions)

And one of the very best tortillas de patatas in town.

Everything is delicious, including the beer, wine, and desserts.

If you arrive around 8 pm, you’ll notice that it is a small bar popular with locals. If you look around, you'll see a sign directing you downstairs to the restaurant area, in case you’re looking for a more formal dining experience. At this hour, you will likely be the only ones there. It won’t be until around 9 pm, after some patrons have enjoyed a few pintxos, that other guests will start to come down for dinner.