Cheap Eats in San Sebastián

It’s easy to eat cheaply in San Sebastián, when gourmet bites of food cost around $3. But when you’re looking for more bang for your euro and something a bit more filling, try these favorite spots.

De, Balleneros Kalea, 22, 20011 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Hungry? Hungover? Broke? This bar in the back part of town masquerades as just another pintxo spot, but half of the menu is filled with authentic Colombian food. The bandeja de país (frijoles, avocado, fried egg, sausage, chicharron, rice, and salad) is economical, filling and ABSOLUTELY delicious.
Zabaleta Kalea, 17, 20002 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Bar Diz is nothing more and nothing less than a great neighborhood pintxo bar. Open at just the right times, with friendly service and a range of hot pintxos as well as larger portions and sandwiches, it hits the spot. They also have one of Gros’s best pintxo potes, which take place on Thursday nights from 7-10. A drink and a pintxo is two euros. It’s a madhouse.
14 Plaza de Guipúzcoa
Bideluze hits all the right notes. There’s nothing artisan or hoity-toity about it. Just a good, comfortable Irish pub style vibe, with pintxos that are big enough to qualify as sandwiches and a kitchen open all day long. Mornings in Bideluze are the best. The buzzy, warm ambience is the best to enjoy a big cup of Colacao, Spanish hot chocolate, which they make the RIGHT way here. The interior of the mug is coated with the paste before being filled with hot milk and served with four Maria cookies. Perfection.
San Jeronimo Kalea, 3, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
The menú del día is a uniquely Spanish tradition. Who in the rest of the world has time to sit for two hours and drink wine, consume multiple courses, all in the normal workday? If you want to experience a traditional menú del día, food that is not glamorous but is nothing if not fresh and made by hand, Politena is your spot. Centrally located and very fairly priced, it’s a perfect example of a great, classic menú del día. Down to the ‘mi casa’ ambience.
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