La Gintonería : Now Open

The gintonic craze here in San Sebastián has reached new heights. Enter La Gintonería, a new bar in Gros that, as its name suggests, devotes itself to the preparation of everyone's favorite refreshing cocktail, the gintonic.

Selection: 61 gins, as well as extensive collections of other liqueur, such as all three Balvenie whiskies.

Default tonic: Schweppes premium line.

Location: Gros. The corner of Dunas Kalea y Zabaleta.

Vibe: Definitely a summery place. This small place feels twice as large thanks to its tall ceilings, and feels four times as large when the doors are open. There's a TV over the doors (new tennis viewing spot?) that was tuned to soccer.

Sample clientele: Four of the hipsters behind San Sebastián's coolest furniture studio, three 60-something men finishing their neighborhood route, three nondescript 30-something guys, and a father, mother and daughter.

Price: Our gintonics were 9 euros apiece, but they were made with premium gins.

We tried two new (to me) gins that came at the recommendation of the owner, after I told him my favorite gins: Magellan and Caorunn.  Magellan is a French gin that has iris flower root, he explained, and Caorunn is Scottish(!). Before serving, the owner/bartender dropped a few dots of grapefruit bitters (in both glasses) and allowed us to smell. Then the drinks were garnished with three (!) lime peels and one lemon. Pretty, but a bit too much citrus when I really wanted to taste the different gins. I need to go back to see if the garnishes differ for different gins. They were accompanied with gummies and potato chips, which is always a welcome touch for a neighborhood bar.

Because, did I mention, this place is right below my house. Uh-oh.

365 tuesdays

Cephalopods at Senra

Besides being the pintxo bar in Gros that stays open the latest, Bar Senra has other good points. Amonth them are its cephalopods.  The txopitos, or baby calamari, are the perfect snack: salty, a bit greasy, and accompanied by lemon (and for those who know to ask, aioli).  The fried calamari are also worth ordering. All in all, it's a great place for tentacle lovers.  

Part of 365cities.

365 tuesdays

On the weekends in the old part of San Sebastián, at midday, it's possible to enjoy a vermouth, prepared in house. Which house? Bar Etxeberria, where on Saturdays and Sundays they'll make you a special mix of Rioja vermouth, Campara, Angostura Bitters, London Dry Gin, Fernet, Picon and Amara Saciliano. A classic.

365 Tuesday

 Sirimiri is the newest bar in San Sebastián. In the middle of the old part, they serve up traditional food and pintxos, like bacalao al ajoarriero and callos y morros, done right. The toasts, like the toast of escalivada, are recommendable; they stand out for their simplicity and the use of good product. Vegetables and anchovies, on a thick slice of bread, accompanied by a green salad. The flavor of summer.

Precio.- 8€

365 tuesdays

I love a good post-dinner gin and tonic as much as the next tio. But there are some dinners that deserve a little bit more. After these, I often take my friends to Cote in the old part, where I sneakily order a bottle of the Veuve Clicquot they have, cold and ready to serve. Then I take it over to them, already comfortable on the leather couch. The looks of surprise and ear-to-ear grins are way worth the cost (which seems to me to be quite reasonable at 50 a bottle).

Part of the 365cities project.