View photos

About This Place

Welcome to Bar Zabaleta, a hidden gem located in the heart of Donostia, Gipuzkoa. Situated at Zabaleta Kalea, 51, this delightful bar offers a blend of traditional Basque flavors and a warm, inviting atmosphere. With its commitment to quality food and exceptional service, Bar Zabaleta has quickly become a favorite among locals and tourists alike.

Bar Zabaleta is primarily known for its exquisite pintxos, showcasing a range of artisanal Spanish delicacies that tantalize the palate. One of the standout dishes is the tortilla, praised by many for its rich flavor and perfect texture. Customer Amy O'Shea describes it as "easily one of the best tortillas I’ve ever tried," a sentiment echoed across various reviews. This dish embodies the essence of Basque cuisine—simple yet satisfying, making it a must-try for anyone who visits.

Beyond the tortilla, the bar also serves up delicious albondigas (meatballs) and bacalao (cod), each prepared with care and attention to detail. Halima M's review highlights the brilliance of these favorites, emphasizing the beautiful execution of flavors. Additionally, the generous portions of perfectly cooked squid have received accolades for their tenderness and taste, proving that Bar Zabaleta knows how to highlight seafood like no other.

The ambiance at Bar Zabaleta is casual yet welcoming, making it an ideal spot to relax with friends over a drink or a bite to eat. With a friendly staff always ready to make your experience better, you can expect not only delicious food but also attentive service. As noted by Rudi Paton, the bar can get busy, but the lively atmosphere only adds to its charm. Opt for a seat on the terrace to enjoy the beautiful surroundings while savoring your food and drink.

If you're seeking a genuine taste of Basque culture, visit Bar Zabaleta. Whether you're stopping by for a quick bite or a leisurely meal, you'll undoubtedly leave satisfied and with a newfound love for pintxos. With reasonable prices and a variety of flavors, this bar promises an experience worth cherishing. As Juan Ron Debeza aptly summarizes, this place stands out among the typical tourist traps, welcoming those in search of authentic culinary experiences.

Service options

Service options

  • Outdoor seating
  • Takeaway
  • Dine-in
  • Delivery

Highlights

  • Great wine list

Popular for

  • Solo dining

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible car park

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Food
  • Food at bar
  • Spirits
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Seating

Amenities

  • Toilet

Atmosphere

  • Casual
  • Cosy
  • Quiet
  • Trendy

Crowd

  • Groups
  • Tourists

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments
  • Credit cards

Parking

  • Paid street parking

Locations

Guest Reviews (1767)

Brilliant bar for a drink and a bit of food. Enjoyed the tortilla, albondigas and bacalao. Everything was beautifully done. Service was fantastic too.

Easily one of the best tortillas I’ve ever tried. The coffee was great too. Barman was very nice and friendly

We visited several places to enjoy pintxos, and this one—just outside the typical tourist spots—really stood out. The tortilla was delicious, the squid was generous and perfectly cooked, and the gildas were excellent. Prices were very reasonable, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. A great find!

Highly recommend Zabaleta for pintxos and friendly service. The tortilla is a must order, it’s delicious. The cod and squid were also cooked exceptionally well and very reasonably priced. The staff were really friendly with us. It was busy so may be hard to get a table, there are only a few inside but lots on the terrace.

Tortilla and meatballs worth the stop. Casual but very tasty. You can ask by the slice which isn't seen on the menu.

Great food, service and wine . Our waiter was awesome and his English, faultless. We order pinchos and racions that came in good portions and excellent flavour. Will definitely return

House made Tortilla is a breakfast must for 2 euro (or any time !) delicious Coffee con leche was strong & hot - excellent !

Superb. 2 August 2023. This is definitely my favourite place to eat and drink in Donastia San Sebastián. Excellent food, the tortilla is the best I’ve had in Spain. The squid was fresh and superbly cooked. The beef cheek perfect. And a complimentary dish of grilled peppers. The staff are onto it, friendly and relaxed. The kitchen staff must also receive the best accolades. I have eaten and visited twice. Clearly the locals value this place - during my visits people, especially local women, have come to pick up whole tortillas to go. Beats all those overrated places in the old city. Well priced. All the best to the operators and their team. Highly recommended. Excellent.

Share Your Experience at Bar Zabaleta

Your opinion matters! Help other visitors discover this spot. Your email will stay private. Fields with * are required.

Service & Hospitality
Value for Money
Food & Drinks
Ambience & Location

Similar Places

Bar Cubano

Placa des Pou, 1, 07150 Andratx, Illes Balears, Spain

Mename Tricase Porto

Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 73039 Tricase Porto LE, Italy

Bar Acueducto

C. de Camarena, 280, Latina, 28047 Madrid, Spain

La Bellota Asturiana

C. Fruela, 16, 33007 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain

La Maison Blanche

23-19 Rue de Dunkerque, 75010 Paris, France