Food is how we say hello
TOPA! was born from a simple idea: discovering a city shouldn’t feel like ticking boxes, but like being welcomed in — guided by locals, shaped by stories, and rooted in the Basque Country.
Small-group food tours in Donostia-San Sebastian and Bilbao, led by locals, unhurried, and deeply connected to the city around you. No rushing, no guessing, no tourist traps — just good food, thoughtful context, and the kind of experiences that stay with you long after the last glass of wine.
For us, hospitality is about welcoming you into a place we call home — and doing so in a way that respects the culture, the people behind the bars, and the communities that make this food culture possible.
OUR
STORY
TOPA is a women-led food tour company in the Basque Country.
Hi, I’m CRISTINA
I moved to the Basque Country in 2011 with a clear intention: to become a chef.
I fell in love with San Sebastian almost immediately — the food, the culture, the sea, the wine, the way daily life revolves around the table. I studied at the Basque Culinary Center, specializing in food entrepreneurship, and deepened my passion for food, wine, and chocolate.
Along the way, I became a certified chocolate taster and an advocate for ethical, bean-to-bar chocolate. But what truly stayed with me was food’s ability to connect people.
Hi, I’m maider
I was born and raised in the Basque Country, but I spent years living and working abroad, looking for new ways of seeing the world. From being a teacher in a school of my hometown for years to living in Bali working on a local women empowerment project. Curiosity never stopped and led me to travel for a year with my backpack in Central America, where I ended up making my divemaster in Panama. I am a true lover of the sea.
Coming home during these years has been rediscovering San Sebastian with fresh eyes not just as the place I grew up, but as a city full of stories and great culinary tradition. Eating gluten-free made me more aware of what I eat and pushed me to discover new places in the city with curiosity.
“Travel creates empathy. Sitting at a table together breaks down barriers, softens bias, and opens space for understanding. Creating TOPA! became our way of bringing all of that together — food, travel, and positive social impact — in a way that feels generous, thoughtful, and deeply human.
“We didn’t create Topa to show people around. We created it to welcome them in.Topa Food Tours was born from a simple belief: food is one of the most honest ways to understand a place and the people who live there. Around a table, barriers soften, conversations flow, and curiosity replaces assumptions.”
Planning a trip comes with questions.
We woman our inbox Monday to Friday and we’re happy to help. Send us your message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
