Spain · month by month
San Sebastián food calendar
What is in season in San Sebastián, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in San Sebastián
The best of January: Txotx in the sidrerías, Angulas and spring seafood, Tamborrada.
In season
- Angulas and spring seafood
Elvers, kokotxas (hake cheeks) and txangurro (spider crab) at their best in the cold months.
Jan–Apr
Eat it now
- Txotx in the sidrerías
The cider houses open the new barrels from mid-January to April: cod omelette, txuleta steak, cheese and quince, cider from the tap.
Jan–Apr
On the calendar
- Tamborrada19-20 January
The city's drum festival runs for 24 hours; the gastronomic societies cook all day.
- Sagardo Berriaren Eguna (new cider day, Astigarraga)
Expected 14 Jan 2027, opens txotx season, free
- Cider house seasonmid January to April
The txotx ritual in Astigarraga and Hernani, 15 minutes out of town.
Jan–Apr
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in San Sebastián
The best of February: Txotx in the sidrerías, Angulas and spring seafood, Cider house season.
In season
- Angulas and spring seafood
Elvers, kokotxas (hake cheeks) and txangurro (spider crab) at their best in the cold months.
Jan–Apr
Eat it now
- Txotx in the sidrerías
The cider houses open the new barrels from mid-January to April: cod omelette, txuleta steak, cheese and quince, cider from the tap.
Jan–Apr
On the calendar
- Cider house seasonmid January to April
The txotx ritual in Astigarraga and Hernani, 15 minutes out of town.
Jan–Apr
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in San Sebastián
Shoulder seasonThe best of March: Txotx in the sidrerías, Cantabrian anchovy and Cider house season.
In season
- Cantabrian anchovyMar–May
- Angulas and spring seafood
Elvers, kokotxas (hake cheeks) and txangurro (spider crab) at their best in the cold months.
Jan–Apr
Eat it now
- Txotx in the sidrerías
The cider houses open the new barrels from mid-January to April: cod omelette, txuleta steak, cheese and quince, cider from the tap.
Jan–Apr
On the calendar
- Cider house seasonmid January to April
The txotx ritual in Astigarraga and Hernani, 15 minutes out of town.
Jan–Apr
Plan around
- Closures
Mugaritz closes in December and March for prototyping (Restaurants for Kings)
Mar, Dec
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in San Sebastián
Shoulder seasonThe best of April: Txotx in the sidrerías, Perretxikos and Cider house season.
In season
- Perretxikos (St George's mushrooms)Apr–May
- Peas and spring vegetables from Tolosa
The tiny guisantes lágrima, and white asparagus from Navarra.
Apr–Jun - Cantabrian anchovyMar–May
- Angulas and spring seafood
Elvers, kokotxas (hake cheeks) and txangurro (spider crab) at their best in the cold months.
Jan–Apr
Eat it now
- Txotx in the sidrerías
The cider houses open the new barrels from mid-January to April: cod omelette, txuleta steak, cheese and quince, cider from the tap.
Jan–Apr
On the calendar
- Cider house seasonmid January to April
The txotx ritual in Astigarraga and Hernani, 15 minutes out of town.
Jan–Apr
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in San Sebastián
Shoulder seasonThe best of May: Perretxikos, Peas and spring vegetables from Tolosa.
In season
- Perretxikos (St George's mushrooms)Apr–May
- Peas and spring vegetables from Tolosa
The tiny guisantes lágrima, and white asparagus from Navarra.
Apr–Jun - Cantabrian anchovyMar–May
- Anchovies and bonito
Fresh Cantabrian anchovies in spring and bonito tuna in summer.
May–Aug
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in San Sebastián
Shoulder seasonThe best of June: Peas and spring vegetables from Tolosa, Anchovies and bonito.
In season
- Peas and spring vegetables from Tolosa
The tiny guisantes lágrima, and white asparagus from Navarra.
Apr–Jun - Anchovies and bonito
Fresh Cantabrian anchovies in spring and bonito tuna in summer.
May–Aug - Bonito del norte (marmitako)
Landed from early June; end month not stated
Jun–Sep
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in San Sebastián
A hard monthThe best of July: Anchovies and bonito, Bonito del norte, Jazzaldia.
In season
- Anchovies and bonito
Fresh Cantabrian anchovies in spring and bonito tuna in summer.
May–Aug - Bonito del norte (marmitako)
Landed from early June; end month not stated
Jun–Sep
On the calendar
- Jazzaldialate July
The jazz festival; pintxo bars are packed.
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in San Sebastián
A hard monthThe best of August: Anchovies and bonito, Bonito del norte, Semana Grande.
In season
- Anchovies and bonito
Fresh Cantabrian anchovies in spring and bonito tuna in summer.
May–Aug - Bonito del norte (marmitako)
Landed from early June; end month not stated
Jun–Sep
On the calendar
- Semana Grande (Aste Nagusia)
Eight-day festival; 2026 ran 8-15 Aug; food trucks on Kursaal terraces
Plan around
- Semana Grandemid August
A week of fireworks and crowds; book tables early.
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in San Sebastián
Peak seasonThe best of September: Wild mushrooms and Tolosa beans, Bonito del norte, Culinary Zinema.
In season
- Wild mushrooms and Tolosa beans
Hongos and alubias de Tolosa stews.
Sep–Nov - Bonito del norte (marmitako)
Landed from early June; end month not stated
Jun–Sep
On the calendar
- Culinary Zinema
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in San Sebastián
Shoulder seasonThe best of October: Wild mushrooms and Tolosa beans, San Sebastián Gastronomika.
In season
- Wild mushrooms and Tolosa beans
Hongos and alubias de Tolosa stews.
Sep–Nov
On the calendar
- One of the world’s 100 best food eventsSan Sebastián GastronomikaUsually three days in October · next dates not announced yet (checked Oct 24, 2026) · 2027 is listed as pending confirmation
The Basque chef congress, held in the Kursaal, with a market of producers.
How to go: Pair it with pintxo nights in the Parte Vieja and a cider house lunch.
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in San Sebastián
Shoulder seasonThe best of November: Wild mushrooms and Tolosa beans.
In season
- Wild mushrooms and Tolosa beans
Hongos and alubias de Tolosa stews.
Sep–Nov
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in San Sebastián
The best of December: Santo Tomás txistorra and Santo Tomás fair.
Eat it now
- Santo Tomás txistorra21 December
The St Thomas fair fills the old town with talo bread and txistorra sausage.
On the calendar
- Santo Tomás fair21 December
Farmers' market of the Basque country in the old town.
Plan around
- Closures
Mugaritz closes in December and March for prototyping (Restaurants for Kings)
Mar, Dec
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.