Txikiteo on Calle Mayor – Zarautz Pintxo Crawl
Zarautz punches well above its weight in the pintxo stakes, and Calle Mayor — the main artery of the old town — is the place to do a proper txikiteo, the Basque ritual of bar-hopping from pintxo to pintxo with a small glass of txakoli wine in hand. The street fills every evening from 19:30 onward with locals of all ages.
Where to Start: Bar Txiki-Polit and Neighbours
Bar Txiki-Polit on Calle Mayor is a beloved local institution, its counter piled high with gildas (the iconic olive-anchovy-pepper skewer), salt cod croquetas and mini tortillas that are made fresh throughout the evening. Arrive before 20:00 to claim a spot at the bar before the crowd thickens.
A few doors down, Taberna Getaria and Bar Karrika each have their own signature hot pintxos — look for the mushroom and foie toasts and the prawn brochettes that come out of the kitchen around 20:30. The unwritten rule is one drink and two or three pintxos per bar, then move on.
Txakoli: The Local Wine You Must Try
Zarautz sits at the heart of the Txakoli de Getaria DO, producing the slightly sparkling, bone-dry white wine that is the default drink of the entire Basque coast. Bartenders pour it from a great height to aerate the wine and create a light froth — a theatrical ritual that never gets old.
Look for bottles from Bodega Txomín Extaniz or Ameztoi, both produced just minutes from town. A glass costs €2–3 in most bars and pairs perfectly with anything from the sea.
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