Head here for Spain’s post-meal drink obsession: the gin and tonic. Under the watch of Txema Huici, owner and bartender, the G&T reaches new heights presented in a fishbowl glass with giant ice cubes and various berries, rinds and other fauna. Choose from nearly 200 gins, which are infused using dry ice before being mixed with premium tonics.

The only thing you should be doing at midday at the weekend in San Sebastián is sipping on sweet red vermouth. Bar Roberto, a tiny hole-in-the-wall in the Gros neighbourhood, offers an extensive menu, heavy with locally produced vermouths as well as international bottles. Merrily does it – the enthusiasm of the owners as they prepare it for you is infectious.

Arguably the best-located bar on the north coast of Spain, GU sits in an former naval clubhouse. From 5PM on it offers premium views of La Concha bay and a contemporary cocktail list. After midnight, a line begins to form as local and regional DJs take to the stage, spinning electronic and house until the wee hours of the morning.

The Victoria Eugenia Theatre is one of San Sebastián’s most emblematic buildings. Built in 1912, today the belle-époque theatre hosts the hottest happenings in town. The basement has been repurposed into a dance club, playing a mix of electronic and Latin music. It’s typically quite crowded on weekends and the line forms after 2AM, so get down early.

¡BE! Club is the latest rendition of what was formerly BeBop, San Sebastián’s eclectic, catch-all club. With roots in jazz and alternative music, this latest rendition maintains the founding club’s aversion to mainstream, but with a cleaned-up look. Now,¡BE! is offering one of the city’s more diverse cocktail menus. That said, it’s still the place to come for an mixed crowd and a music selection from all over.

The “whisky” museum is a misleading moniker for this bar. Still, with a top floor that holds over 3,000 bottles of whiskey (some empty) but most ready to be sampled, its not exactly false advertisement. Head downstairs for a mean gin and tonic, where there is often a chatty piano player pounding out the greatest hits.