Cider houses in San Sebastian

Travelling in winter and early spring is always a great option, apart from the few days of Easter everything is cheaper, there are fewer people and if you come to the Basque Country it is cider season. This means that you can go to one of our cider houses (or sagardotegi in Basque) to taste the traditional menu of cod and steak and drink the cider straight from the barrels. You’ll also be surrounded by locals to socialise with, and in the villages where the cider houses are located there’s a festive atmosphere worthy of the best patron saint festivals.

The cider houses are also usually large and are prepared to host groups of friends or families, making them perfect for meetings or special events with a large number of people. If you come with a large group, going to a sagardotegi may be the best option for lunch or dinner.

But you don’t have to go to a village in the outskirts of San Sebastian to enjoy the food and drink and the cider atmosphere, because in San Sebastian there are also cider houses that are very easy to get to and can be a good idea if you don’t want to take a car or taxi or walk around on public transport.

Of course, the cider houses mentioned here do not produce their own cider, but buy it from some of the best sagardotegis in the province and put it in barrels to make txotx so that we can live the authentic experience of going to a cider house.

Sidrería Salaberria

One of the veterans of the sagardotegis mentioned here, it is located in the Amara neighbourhood, very close to the river and a few minutes’ walk from the Centre. In addition to the typical cider house menu, they also have a children’s menu, making it perfect for families. They also have an à la carte menu, as the Sidrería Salaberria is open all year round.

Sidrería Intxaurrondo

In the same style as the previous one, with a children’s menu and an à la carte menu so you can go all year round; as its name suggests, this cider house is in the Intxaurrondo neighbourhood, in the old part of it, not far from Gros on foot.

Txinparta Sagardotegia

This cider house is somewhat different from the previous ones, with a more refined style, perfect for celebrations with family or friends. It is located in Igara, on the outskirts of the Antiguo neighbourhood. It has different menus, all variants of the cider house menu, as well as a children’s menu and a vegan menu. They also have an à la carte menu, a bar stocked with pintxos, and a nice outdoor terrace for good weather days.

The Txotx Gourmet

While the previously mentioned sagardotegis were in neighbourhoods more or less far from the Centre, The Txotx Gourmet is located right in the heart of San Sebastian, on Reyes Católicos street, behind the Buen Pastor cathedral, surrounded by bars and other restaurants. In addition to the cider house menu, there is also an à la carte menu, and being on a pedestrian street, it has a nice terrace where you can have a drink or a meal.

Txirrita Sagardotegia

Also located in the centre, near the Buen Pastor cathedral, and a stone’s throw from La Concha beach, Txirrita has a cider house menu all year round and a vegan/vegetarian version of the same. It’s also the only one we’ve been to, and we can say that we ate very, very well.

Sidrería Beharri

The only cider house in the Old Town, it is perfect for its location if you want to go out partying, as we locals do after a good meal in a sagardotegi. They have a cider house menu and à la carte menu all year round, and a good pintxo bar.