San Sebastian Pintxos experience: Taste the Best of Basque

We scheduled our tour with Mikel on the first night of a 3-week self-scheduled foodie tour of northern Spain, and this was the best introduction to Basque cuisine! Our friends had visited San Sebastián about a month before we did and spoke so highly of their food tour with Mikel that we had to try it ourselves. As a native son of San Sebastián, Mikel’s extensive knowledge of the food and drink of the region, coupled with his relationships with restaurateurs and maître d’s and his storyteller’s energy, made for an unforgettable evening we’ll be talking about for years. His command of English is astounding! Mikel somehow also managed to take photos of our group along the way, an additional detail that will enhance our memories. Mikel’s tailored experience even took the weather into account. Given the heat wave, instead of the prearranged pintxo-hopping, he started our evening (with the sun still prevalent) at an air-conditioned restaurant, where we lingered over a multi-course meal while the outdoor temps retreated. Mikel was highly communicative throughout the scheduling process and arranged for us to meet at an easy-to-find pub. The whole experience was a perfect way to kick off our 3-week road trip across northern Spain, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone—especially if experiencing a culture through its food is high on your priority list.

We were a family of 5 with a 1 year old baby traveling for 4 days to San Sebastián . We had a phenomenal, once in a lifetime experience with Mikel at Basque Roots. He worked with us over months to customize our itinerary according to our preferences and interests, and got us a comfortable large van with a car seat. He was so considerate with our baby and helped us get around the city and the surrounding region. He treated us like his own family, working with his friends and contacts to find unique experiences such as a boat ride across the bay with a private boat, and a designer experience for custom dresses. Being a local, he knows all the best local pintxo places without getting stuck in tourist traps. Overall this is one of the best tours we have ever been on and we strongly recommend going with Basque Roots!

We were three sisters visiting San Sebastián for the very first time, with only a glimpse of what to expect from travel shows and online research. Booking a private gourmet/pintxos experience with Basque Roots turned out to be the absolute highlight of our trip; truly the best decision we made. We cannot recommend Basque Roots enough. Mikel is an incredible guide: knowledgeable, passionate, energetic, and genuinely proud of sharing the culture, history, and food of San Sebastián and the Basque Country. From the moment we met him, it felt less like a tour and more like being shown around by an old friend. Mikel went above and beyond to create a personalized and authentic pintxos experience, taking us far away from the tourist crowds and into places we never would have discovered on our own. Thanks to his connections and generosity, we even got to visit another restaurant that had been on our wish list, something that wouldn’t have happened without him. What stood out most was his warmth and kindness. He made us feel so welcome and completely at ease throughout the evening. Eskerrik asko Mikel, for making our first trip to San Sebastián so unforgettable. We already can’t wait to come back. The Chicas (Sam, Ann & Maria)