Jolastoki

Jolastoki Review

This graceful mansion, the setting for one of Bilbao's finest restaurants, is 20 minutes from downtown (and then a seven-minute walk) on the city's Norman Foster subway. At Jolastoki ("place to play" in Euskera), wild salmon from the Cares River; dark, red Bresse pigeon roasted in balsamic vinegar; lubina al vapor (steamed sea bass) as light as a soufflé; becada estofada a los nabos o flambeada al Armagnac (woodcock stuffed with turnips or flambéed in Armagnac); and encyclopedic salads are all done to perfection. The red-fruit dessert includes 11 varieties with sorbet in raspberry coulis. Afterward, take a walk through the fishing quarter or a swim at the beach.