Cider house San Sebastian

Although coming to San Sebastian in winter may not seem like the best idea in the world, as the weather is not the most ideal time to visit anywhere, and many of the pintxo bars are closed for the holidays, the truth is that it is a perfect time for it. It’s less crowded, some of the city’s most important festivals are taking place and it’s cider season. In fact, this is one of the best winter (and spring) plans, going out for cider, so let’s talk about it.

As you probably already know, in the Basque Country we produce our own cider. Its taste and the way it is consumed is totally different from other European ciders. The taste is sour and bitter, and the best way to drink it is to go to a cider house or sagardotegi in Basque. Almost all cider houses are open from mid-January to the end of April or May, although recently some have started to open all year round.

And the cider houses, as well as producing this drink, are also restaurants. In all these restaurants the menu is always the same and cannot be changed, although in many establishments it is possible to have vegetarian and vegan versions of the menu. The basic menu is an appetizer (usually txistorra), cod omelette, cod with onions and peppers (or with some kind of sauce), steak and for dessert cheese, quince jelly and nuts (and sometimes tiles and cigarettes, typical biscuits). All this washed down with the best cider, served directly from the barrel. The price? Between 40 and 50 euros per person.

Cider house in San Sebastian

We know that this plan is very appetising, one of our favourites, in fact. And we’re sure you’re wondering where to go to enjoy it. Unfortunately, there are hardly any authentic cider houses in San Sebastian, i.e. cider houses that produce their own cider. And these are not the best options, with the exception, perhaps, of Txirrita.

This cider house is in the centre of Donosti, in San Bartolomé street, very close to the Buen Pastor and La Concha beach. They have a good menu (their cod in sauce is delicious), with vegetarian and vegan options. And although they don’t produce their own cider, they buy it from some of the best producers in the area and put it in big barrels, as it should be.

A little further away, in the Martutene neighbourhood, and easily reached by bus, is Barkaiztegi. A restaurant and cider house, their cod in sauce (which must be ordered in advance) is also incredible. They do produce their own cider and are in the middle of absolutely nowhere, which gives it a touch of authenticity that other cider houses don’t have.

But if you really want to go to a real sagardotegi, the best thing to do is to leave San Sebastian and go to Astigarraga or Hernani, two nearby towns, the epicentre of the land of cider. Getting here is easy, there are buses every few minutes, and during the cider season the timetable is extended. Hernani also has a local train station. We recommend you go by public transport, as this way you can drink all the cider you want without worrying about the return journey. And another thing we recommend is that you book well in advance, especially if you want to go at the weekend, as the cider houses fill up just the first few days after opening.

And what are the best cider houses in Astigarraga and Hernani? Let’s have a look.

Cider houses in Astigarraga

– Ipintza

– Astarbe

– Lizeaga

– Alorrenea

Cider houses in Hernani

– Altzueta

– Akarregi

– Rufino

– Zelaia

Of course there are many more very good cider houses, but this is a good list to start with, already looking ahead to next year, as we are at the end of the 2025 cider season. However, cider can be enjoyed all year round in bottles, bottles of which can be found in all food shops and, of course, bars. However, we ask you to drink in moderation, because although cider has little alcohol (between 5º and 6º), if you drink a lot of it, it can be very hard the next morning, as we know from experience!