If you are in Pamplona on a Thursday, you already have a plan for the evening. The Juevintxo, from jueves (Thursday) and pintxo, is a local tradition: many bars offer a pintxo and a drink at a reduced price, and the streets of the old town fill with people going from bar to bar.
How the Juevintxo works
On Thursday evenings, from around 20:00, the participating bars serve a pintxo together with a small drink for a reduced price, usually just a few euros. Prices and the pintxos on offer depend on each bar, so ask for the “juevintxo” when you order.
The idea is not to stay in one place. You have a pintxo and a drink, chat for a while and move on to the next bar. That is how locals do it, and it is the best way to try several of Navarre’s specialities in one evening.
Where to go
The main Juevintxo area is the old town, especially these streets:
- Calle San Nicolás and Calle San Gregorio, two parallel streets lined with bars.
- Calle Estafeta, famous for the Running of the Bulls and just as busy on Thursday nights.
- Plaza del Castillo and the surrounding streets.
The Iturrama neighbourhood, right next to our apartments, also has several good pintxo bars. Some of them have won prizes in local pintxo competitions, so you don’t even need to go downtown.
What to order
Each bar has its own specialities, and the pintxos change with the season. In Navarre, look out for anything made with local vegetables, such as piquillo peppers, artichokes or white asparagus, as well as txistorra (a thin, spicy sausage), croquettes and mini sandwiches with cured ham or anchovies. If you are not sure, ask the bar staff which pintxo is their best: they will be proud to tell you.
Tips for your first Juevintxo
- Go early. Between 20:00 and 21:00 the bars are lively but you can still reach the counter.
- Order at the bar and pay as you go.
- Learn three words: a zurito is a small beer, a caña a regular one, and a crianza a red wine aged in oak.
- Don’t over-order. One pintxo per bar leaves room for three or four stops.
- Check the season. The Juevintxo runs for most of the year, but some bars take a break in summer and during San Fermín.
More pintxos and food in Pamplona
If you enjoy the Juevintxo, you will love the Pamplona Pintxo Week, when bars compete with their most creative pintxos. For restaurants and traditional dishes, read our guide to where to eat in Pamplona.
Your base in Pamplona
After a night of pintxos, it is good to have a home to come back to. Our apartments in Pamplona are in a quiet area next to Yamaguchi Park and the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, close to the bars of Iturrama and about a 15–20 minute walk from the old town. Check availability and book online.
