"A Neighborhood Spot with the Best Pintxo Pote 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."

"A Bar for the Basque Youth If authenticity is what you're searching for, look no further than Rekalde Taberna. It's an Old Town spot without Old Town prices, with a menu that is tailored toward the younger Basque patriots (typical food mixed with vegan and vegetarian options). It's a fine spot for tortillas (they have several varieties), and they also have filling plates for cheap, with authentic Basque ambience to boot."

"San Sebastián's Favorite Sandwich Campero's special flat sandwich bread and their proximity to the surfer side of San Sebastián 's hippest beach have made it a local staple. Fast, easy, and pretty delicious, it's a great place to grab a beach picnic lunch."

"The Bocadillo par Excellence The bocadillo is an art form. Crusty bread encloses fillings of your choice: usually tortilla española or thinly sliced cured meats. It's also a patriotic symbol and staple of daily life. What else would you carry to the Real Sociedad soccer game? The beach? Your pre-party on the port? Juantxo is widely accepted as the Old Town favorite for bocadillo consumption. Its prices are quite cheap and portions generous."

"The City's Best Colacao 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."

"Hamburger Number 13, Any Time of Day Va Bene has a couple things going for it. They know how to cook a beef hamburger patty, leaving it reddish on the inside. They have an endless variety of sandwiches, numbered on their simple menus. My favorite is number 13, two patties with bacon, caramelized onion, cheese and fried egg. Most importantly, Va Bene is well-priced and open all day (and all night) long."

"The Epitome of the Menú del Día 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."

"Vegetarian Menú del Día Vegetarianism and veganism are still regarded as slightly crazy around these parts, but there are a handful of places that cater to the meat-free. Landare is the one with the most varied, generous helpings. It's best to reserve, as this restaurant is usually full of the underserved vegetarian population. And with two plates, dessert, and wine for 12 euros, it's easy to see why."