Bilbao and the Basque Country Restaurants
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Bilbao and the Basque Country - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.
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78 Recommendations
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1. Antonio Bar
$$ | Centro |Tuna carpaccio with pickled Basque peppers, battered hake cheeks, tripe and pork jowl stew—these are some of the classics you'll find on the menu at...
Tuna carpaccio with pickled Basque peppers, battered hake cheeks, tripe and pork jowl stew—these are some of the classics you'll find on the menu at Antonio, a neighborhood standby that serves unpretentious pintxos at fair prices. Ask about specials, which vary depending on what's in season.
Calle Bergara 3, San Sebastián, Basque Country, SpainKnown For
- No-nonsense pintxo bar
- Packed with locals
- Regional beers and wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. -
2. Arzak
$$$$ | Alto de Miracruz |One of the world's great culinary meccas, award-winning Arzak embodies the prestige, novelty, and science-driven creativity of the Basque culinary zeitgeist. The restaurant and its...
One of the world's great culinary meccas, award-winning Arzak embodies the prestige, novelty, and science-driven creativity of the Basque culinary zeitgeist. The restaurant and its high-tech food lab—both helmed by founder Juan Mari Arzak's daughter Elena these days—are situated in the family's 19th-century home on the outskirts of San Sebastián. The ever-changing dishes (€240 for four courses or €270 for the tasting menu) are downright thrilling for their eye-popping presentations, unexpected flavor combinations, and rare ingredients. The best seats in the house are in the newly renovated upstairs dining room.
Av. Alcalde Jose Elosegui 273, San Sebastián, Basque Country, 20015, Spain94-327--8465Known For
- Scintillating yet unpretentious culinary experience
- Old-school hospitality
- Fresh flavors and striking plating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., June 15–July 2, and 3 wks in early Nov., Reservations essential -
3. Asador Bedua
$$$$ | |This idyllic fourth-generation asador in a centuries-old house draws the crowds with its flawless tortilla de bacalao, txuleta de buey, and local game and fish...
This idyllic fourth-generation asador in a centuries-old house draws the crowds with its flawless tortilla de bacalao, txuleta de buey, and local game and fish of all kinds such as besugo a la donostiarra (roast sea bream with garlic-vinegar sauce) and, when in season, becada (Eurasian woodcock) cloaked in meaty wine sauce. Fizzy Txakolí is the standard tipple, but there's also a surprisingly deep list of Champagnes and international bottles to choose from.
Cestona, Barrio Bedua, Cestona, Basque Country, 20750, Spain94-386--0551Known For
- Pristine seafood and home-grown vegetables
- Ancient building overlooking a tidal river
- Warm service in both the stone-wall dining room and glassed-in terrace
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4. Asador Etxebarri
$$$$ | |Of all the three-Michelin-star temples in Spain, Bittor Arginzoniz's Etxebarri is hands down the most exclusive, since it serves only lunch and reservations are limited....
Of all the three-Michelin-star temples in Spain, Bittor Arginzoniz's Etxebarri is hands down the most exclusive, since it serves only lunch and reservations are limited. Here, grilling is elevated to an art form, with various types of woods, coals, and handmade tools carefully selected for the preparation of each dish. The obligatory €264 tasting menu (no vegetarian option) generally includes Etxebarri classics like homemade chorizo, smoked caviar, and—if you're lucky—baby elvers.
Pl. San Juan 1, Axpe, Basque Country, 48291, Spain94-658--3042Known For
- No. 3 spot on "World's 50 Best" restaurants list
- Temple of open-hearth cuisine
- Unexpectedly unpretentious, laid-back atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner. Closed Aug., Reservations essential -
5. Azurmendi
$$$$ | |The immersive gastro-experience at the envelope-pushing eco-restaurant by renowned Basque chef Eneko Atxa starts with nibbles in the indoor garden, continues on to the kitchen...
The immersive gastro-experience at the envelope-pushing eco-restaurant by renowned Basque chef Eneko Atxa starts with nibbles in the indoor garden, continues on to the kitchen with a quick tour, and culminates in the dining room with a conceptual tasting menu featuring dishes like "dew water" and "essence of the forest."
Legina Auzoa, Bilbao, Basque Country, 48195, Spain94-455--8866Known For
- Three-Michelin-star dining
- Bilbao's most innovative and sustainable restaurant
- A 10-minute drive from town
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., No dinner Tues.–Thu., Reservations essential -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Bihotz
$ | Casco Viejo |Rest your legs at this third-wave coffeehouse that uses a sleek La Marzocco machine and is furnished with cushy armchairs and floor lamps. There are...
Rest your legs at this third-wave coffeehouse that uses a sleek La Marzocco machine and is furnished with cushy armchairs and floor lamps. There are also small-production vermouths and local craft beers to try alongside soups, sandwiches, and other snacks.
Calle Arechaga 6, Bilbao, Basque Country, 48003, Spain94-471--9674Known For
- Best café con leche in town
- Excellent craft beer selection
- Homey, inviting ambience
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. -
7. Bistró Guggenheim Bilbao
$$ | El Ensanche |Museum restaurants tend to be underwhelming, overpriced tourist traps, but Bistró—with its exuberantly colorful dining room and meticulously prepared modern Basque cuisine served by a...
Museum restaurants tend to be underwhelming, overpriced tourist traps, but Bistró—with its exuberantly colorful dining room and meticulously prepared modern Basque cuisine served by a knowledgeable waitstaff—is a blissful exception to the rule. Tartares, roast meats, local seasonal vegetables, and top-grade seafood are the building blocks of the three set menus, the most expensive of which is a five-course degustación for a paltry €40.
Abandoibarra Etorbidea 2, Bilbao, Basque Country, 48009, Spain94-423--9333Known For
- River- and museum-side dining on a budget
- Iconic interior design
- Homemade everything, including the bread
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.–Wed. -
8. Bodega Donostiarra Gros
$$ | Gros |A Gros neighborhood stalwart, the ever-bumping Bodega Donostiarra is famous for its down-home dishes centered on Basque conservas such as oil-packed anchovies, pickled hot peppers (piparrak),...
A Gros neighborhood stalwart, the ever-bumping Bodega Donostiarra is famous for its down-home dishes centered on Basque conservas such as oil-packed anchovies, pickled hot peppers (piparrak), and bonito del norte (albacore). All three of these find their way onto the "completo," a locally famous mini-baguette sandwich that's deliciously tart, juicy, and salty all at once.
Calle Peña y Goñi 13, San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain94-301--1380Known For
- Fresh seafood dishes prepared "al minuto"
- Can't-go-wrong menu of Basque classics
- Pleasant outdoor terrace that fills up fast in summer
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9. Café Iruña
$ | El Ensanche |This historical Bilbao haunt (est. 1903) in the Ensanche's most popular garden and square has azulejo-lined walls, dreamy murals of rural scenes, and a painted...
This historical Bilbao haunt (est. 1903) in the Ensanche's most popular garden and square has azulejo-lined walls, dreamy murals of rural scenes, and a painted artesonado ceiling. Stick to tried-and-true classics like Basque steak frites or bacalao al pil pil. The room overlooking the square is the place to be—if they try to stuff you in the back dining room, resist or come back another time.
Calle Berástegui 4, Bilbao, Basque Country, 48001, Spain94-423--7021Known For
- No-nonsense Basque comfort food
- Packed with locals
- Intricate neo-Mudejar dining room
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10. Casa Cámara
$$$$ | |Four generations ago, Pablo Cámara turned this 19th-century fishing wharf on the Pasaia narrows into a first-class seafood restaurant with lovely views over the shipping...
Four generations ago, Pablo Cámara turned this 19th-century fishing wharf on the Pasaia narrows into a first-class seafood restaurant with lovely views over the shipping lane. A steaming sopa de pescado (fish soup) is just the ticket on a wet Atlantic day, or try cangrejo del mar (spider crab with vegetable sauce) or the superb hake with salsa verde. A central "live" tank rises and falls with the tide and has lobsters and crayfish that can be hauled up for your inspection.
Calle San Juan 79, Pasai Donibane, Basque Country, 20110, Spain94-352--3699Known For
- Pier-side dining
- Pristine shellfish
- Quaint, old-timey ambience
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., No dinner Sun.–Thu., Reservations essential -
11. Casa Rufo
$$ | El Ensanche |Charming and cozy, this centenarian Bilbao institution is essentially a series of nooks and crannies tucked into a fine food, wine, olive oil, cheese, and...
Charming and cozy, this centenarian Bilbao institution is essentially a series of nooks and crannies tucked into a fine food, wine, olive oil, cheese, and ham emporium. Leave it to the affable owners to recommend specialties such as txuleton (gigantic T-bone steak), which pairs wonderfully with the house Rioja or any number of pours from the 1,000-bottle-strong wine list.
Calle Hurtado de Amézaga 5, Bilbao, Basque Country, 48008, Spain94-443--2172Known For
- Deep wine list with hard-to-find selections
- Delectable txuleton de buey
- Homey dining room
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential -
12. Casa Urola
$$$ | Parte Vieja |Don't be put off by the slightly outdated decor of this Parte Vieja stalwart—the kitchen at Casa Urola is easily one of the city's most...
Don't be put off by the slightly outdated decor of this Parte Vieja stalwart—the kitchen at Casa Urola is easily one of the city's most adroit, whether you post up at the informal bar or sit down to a multi-course meal. In the dining room, savor appetizers made with hard-to-find regional vegetables like cardoon, borage, and tiny de lágrima peas before moving onto entrées like seared squab, presented with a pâté of its own liver, and roasted hake loin, served with white wine and clams. Save room for the signature torrija, custardy fried bread crisped in brown butter and dusted with cinnamon sugar.
Calle de Fermín Calbetón 20, San Sebastián, Basque Country, 20003, Spain94-344--1371Known For
- Flawless Basque cuisine
- Restaurant industry favorite
- City's best torrija
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed. -
13. El Mesón
$$ | |Textbook-perfect Basque classics draw a local crowd at this Ensanche restaurant run by a seasoned husband-and-wife team on the cusp of retirement—so visit while you...
Textbook-perfect Basque classics draw a local crowd at this Ensanche restaurant run by a seasoned husband-and-wife team on the cusp of retirement—so visit while you still can! Seasonal Basque delicacies, like earthy perretxico mushrooms, meaty fresh anchovies, and tender white asparagus, round out a perennial menu whose star dishes include squid braised in its own ink and hake in salsa verde.
Calle Ramon Ortiz de Zarate 5, Vitoria, Basque Country, 01005, Spain94-514--6191Known For
- Over-and-beyond service
- Varied wine list
- Basque restaurant classics done right
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. -
14. Elkano
$$$$ | |Ever since Anthony Bourdain waxed poetic about award-winning Elkano's grilled turbot on Parts Unknown, the dish has become something of a holy grail among in-the-know...
Ever since Anthony Bourdain waxed poetic about award-winning Elkano's grilled turbot on Parts Unknown, the dish has become something of a holy grail among in-the-know foodies. Order the famous flatfish (at its fatty prime in May and June), and you'll receive what Bourdain called an "anatomy lesson" as the maître d' extols the virtues of each separate cut, culminating with the gelatinous fins---which you're encouraged to suck between your fingers, caveman style.
Calle Herrerieta 2, Getaria, Basque Country, 20808, Spain94-314--0024Known For
- Grilled turbot
- Reputation as an Anthony Bourdain favorite
- Impressive Champagne selection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues., No dinner Sun.–Thurs. -
15. Ganbara
$$$ | Parte Vieja |This busy bar and sedate downstairs restaurant near Plaza de la Constitución is run by the third generation of the same family. Exquisite minimalist morsels...
This busy bar and sedate downstairs restaurant near Plaza de la Constitución is run by the third generation of the same family. Exquisite minimalist morsels range from white Huelva prawns to homemade foie gras to roast squab and—the house specialty—wild mushrooms topped with an egg yolk.
Calle San Jerónimo 21, San Sebastián, Basque Country, 20003, Spain94-342--2575Known For
- To-die-for wild mushrooms
- Traditional Basque pintxos
- Lively atmosphere in the bar area
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tue., No dinner Sun. -
16. Gaucho
$ | |This legendary tavern (est. 1968), which remains surprisingly calm even during San Fermín, serves some of the city's best tapas. Choose between classics like garlicky...
This legendary tavern (est. 1968), which remains surprisingly calm even during San Fermín, serves some of the city's best tapas. Choose between classics like garlicky mushroom brochettes and jamón-filled croquetas, or spring for more modern creations such as seared goose liver toasts or almond-encrusted morcilla. It opens at 9 am.
Calle Espoz y Mina 7, Pamplona, Navarre, 31001, Spain94-822--5073Known For
- Delectable foie gras
- Delicious tapas for all budgets
- Old-timey atmosphere
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17. Gure Toki
$$ | Casco Viejo |You'd be hard-pressed to find a more pleasant outdoor lunch in Bilbao than at this chic little pintxo bar with sunlit tables smack on the...
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more pleasant outdoor lunch in Bilbao than at this chic little pintxo bar with sunlit tables smack on the charming Plaza Nueva. Fried rabas (squid strips), croquetas, and locally made txistorra (smoky chorizo sausage) never come off the menu for good reason.
Plaza Nueva 12, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain94-415--8037Known For
- Unbeatable location for people-watching
- Knockout pintxos
- Efficient service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed. -
18. Hermandad de Pescadores
$$$ | |Presided over by a legendary Basque fishermen's guild, this central restaurant serves the freshest fish money can buy at fair prices. At simple wooden tables...
Presided over by a legendary Basque fishermen's guild, this central restaurant serves the freshest fish money can buy at fair prices. At simple wooden tables and a handsome mahogany bar, locals dig into local comfort food—think sopa de pescado, steamed mussels, and clams a la marinera (in a thick, garlicky sauce).
Calle Zuloaga 12, Hondarribia, Basque Country, 20280, Spain94-364--2738Known For
- Affordable dayboat fish
- Booking up weeks in advance
- Homey, unfussy dining room
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun. -
19. La Bodeguilla Lanciego
$$ | |This inviting white-tablecloth taberna established in 1959 serves soul-satisfying cuisine in a cabinlike dining room decorated with taupe curtains, blond-wood chairs, and original artwork. Steak...
This inviting white-tablecloth taberna established in 1959 serves soul-satisfying cuisine in a cabinlike dining room decorated with taupe curtains, blond-wood chairs, and original artwork. Steak frites is the go-to here with roast turbot coming in a close second.
Calle Olagibel 60, Vitoria, Basque Country, 01003, Spain94-525--0073Known For
- Subtle, tasteful decor
- Excellent txuletas
- Books up weeks in advance
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. -
20. La Cuchara de San Telmo
$$ | Parte Vieja |For pintxos that deftly toe the line between traditional and experimental, there is no better bar than this Parte Vieja cubbyhole renowned for its seared...
For pintxos that deftly toe the line between traditional and experimental, there is no better bar than this Parte Vieja cubbyhole renowned for its seared foie gras, braised veal cheeks, and garlicky razor clams a la plancha. Throw a few elbows, order a couple glasses of txakoli, and get ready for pintxo paradise.
Calle Santa Korda 4, San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain94-344--1655Known For
- Dependably tasty—and well-portioned—pintxos
- Sardine-can digs
- Parte Vieja standby
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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