Bilbao Restaurants

The Basque food in and around Bilbao is considered by many to be the best cuisine in Spain. Bilbao has always been seriously passionate about the excellence of its food and even before the creation of the Guggenheim, the city was considered a bastion of premier restaurants and cafs. The Basque style of food combines the fresh seafood of the Atlantic and the beef, lamb and vegetables of the countryside with an amazing collection of sauces, not often seen in Spanish cooking. New Basque cooking brings the old and the new together, promising a great meal.

Local Specialities

Local specialties reflect the geography and demography of the Basque region. Garlic beefsteak grilled over coals (chuleta de buey), grilled sea bream (besugo ala parrilla), cod jaw nuggets (kokotxas) and the famous fillets of cod slow-cooked in a special white sauce (bacalao al pil-pil) are just a few of the staples. For the top-end experience, try Bermeo, with itsImmaculate and dignified cuisine. This restaurant is considered one of the best Basque restaurants in Spain. Zortziko, next to the Guggenheim, is another formidable Basque establishment. Though many of the finer restaurants in Bilbao are quite expensive, dont overlook the cider houses (sidrerias), where traditional fare is served at local prices.

Tapas in Bilbao

Tapas (pintxos) are ubiquitous in Spain, and Bilbao has some of the best. They come in all styles and flavours, and many locals consider the Calle Licenciado Poza to be the place to eat them. This street contains many well-known tapas bars including Atlanta and Gatz. To wash down all this exquisite food down, be sure to enjoy the locally produced La Rioja wines.