La Vina
San Sebastián, Spain
The read// why locals go
La Viña, on Calle 31 de Agosto in San Sebastián's old town, is where the burnt Basque cheesecake was invented — the wobbling, scorched-top tarta de queso that has since been copied onto menus worldwide. Rows of them cool on the counter all day, and they sell out. The rest is a proper Parte Vieja pintxos bar: crammed, loud, txakoli poured from height, and cheerful in the particular way San Sebastián does on a Friday evening. Around €12 a head puts a few bites and a glass in front of you. Come for the cheesecake, stay because the bar is impossible to leave quickly.
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Opening hours
Calle del 31 de Agosto 3, 20003 — San Sebastián
The read// why locals go
La Viña, on Calle 31 de Agosto in San Sebastián's old town, is where the burnt Basque cheesecake was invented — the wobbling, scorched-top tarta de queso that has since been copied onto menus worldwide. Rows of them cool on the counter all day, and they sell out. The rest is a proper Parte Vieja pintxos bar: crammed, loud, txakoli poured from height, and cheerful in the particular way San Sebastián does on a Friday evening. Around €12 a head puts a few bites and a glass in front of you. Come for the cheesecake, stay because the bar is impossible to leave quickly.
