What is the difference between a cider bar and a cider house?

Cider bar vs cider house at a glance

	Cider bar	Cider house (Basque sagardotegi)
Who makes the cider	Many makers	The house itself [1]
When	Usually all year	Cider season, January to May [1]
How it's served	Draught or bottle	Straight from the barrel (kupela) [1]
Food	Varies	A typical cider-house meal [1]

What is a Basque cider house?

• A place where cider is made. Tourism Euskadi describes the sagardotegi as a cider house that is "part of a whole sagardo (cider) tradition handed down from generation to generation". [1]
• Seasonal. The best time to visit is the cider season, from January to May, when the houses open and the new harvest is tasted from the barrel. [1]
• The txotx ritual. In mid-January, "Txotx!" announces the start of the season; each time a barrel is opened, the call goes up and guests go to fill their glasses. [2]

Other meanings of "cider house"

In English, "cider house" can also simply mean a place where cider is made, and often sold and tasted; Cider Radar's glossary uses it that way. Some places call themselves a cider house even when they work like a bar, so check how the venue describes itself. To find one near you, see where to find cider bars.

Related answers: where to find a cider bar · what a cidery is · how to pour Spanish cider

Find it on Cider Radar

• Cider bars and restaurants: 89 listed in 7 countries (as of 2026-10-02).
• Basque Country: 41 cider makers listed (as of 2026-10-02).
• Glossary: sagardotegi
• Open the map: app.ciderradar.com · iPhone · Android

Dates in this answer were checked on 2 October 2026 and are due for review by December 2026.

Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.