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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34 Recommendations
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1. Arzak
$$$$ | Alto de Miracruz |One of the world's great culinary meccas, award-winning Arzak embodies the prestige, novelty, and science-driven creativity of the Basque culinary zeitgeist. The restaurant and its high-tech food lab—both helmed by founder Juan Mari Arzak's daughter Elena these days—are situated in the family's 19th-century home on the outskirts of San Sebastián. The ever-changing dishes (€240 for four courses or €270 for the tasting menu) are downright thrilling for their eye-popping presentations, unexpected flavor combinations, and rare ingredients. The best seats in the house are in the newly renovated upstairs dining room.
Av. Alcalde Jose Elosegui 273, San Sebastián, Basque Country, 20015, Spain94-327--8465Known For
- Scintillating yet unpretentious culinary experience
- Old-school hospitality
- Fresh flavors and striking plating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., June 15–July 2, and 3 wks in early Nov., Reservations essential -
2. Asador Bedua
$$$$ | |This idyllic fourth-generation asador in a centuries-old house draws the crowds with its flawless tortilla de bacalao, txuleta de buey, and local game and fish of all kinds such as besugo a la donostiarra (roast sea bream with garlic-vinegar sauce) and, when in season, becada (Eurasian woodcock) cloaked in meaty wine sauce. Fizzy Txakolí is the standard tipple, but there's also a surprisingly deep list of Champagnes and international bottles to choose from.
Cestona, Barrio Bedua, Cestona, Basque Country, 20750, Spain94-386--0551Known For
- Pristine seafood and home-grown vegetables
- Ancient building overlooking a tidal river
- Warm service in both the stone-wall dining room and glassed-in terrace
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3. Asador Etxebarri
$$$$ | |Of all the three-Michelin-star temples in Spain, Bittor Arginzoniz's Etxebarri is hands down the most exclusive, since it serves only lunch and reservations are limited. Here, grilling is elevated to an art form, with various types of woods, coals, and handmade tools carefully selected for the preparation of each dish. The obligatory €264 tasting menu (no vegetarian option) generally includes Etxebarri classics like homemade chorizo, smoked caviar, and—if you're lucky—baby elvers.
Pl. San Juan 1, Axpe, Basque Country, 48291, Spain94-658--3042Known For
- No. 3 spot on "World's 50 Best" restaurants list
- Temple of open-hearth cuisine
- Unexpectedly unpretentious, laid-back atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner. Closed Aug., Reservations essential -
4. Azurmendi
$$$$ | |The immersive gastro-experience at the envelope-pushing eco-restaurant by renowned Basque chef Eneko Atxa starts with nibbles in the indoor garden, continues on to the kitchen with a quick tour, and culminates in the dining room with a conceptual tasting menu featuring dishes like "dew water" and "essence of the forest."
Legina Auzoa, Bilbao, Basque Country, 48195, Spain94-455--8866Known For
- Three-Michelin-star dining
- Bilbao's most innovative and sustainable restaurant
- A 10-minute drive from town
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., No dinner Tues.–Thu., Reservations essential -
5. Bistró Guggenheim Bilbao
$$ | 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 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. -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Bodega Donostiarra Gros
$$ | Gros |A Gros neighborhood stalwart, the ever-bumping Bodega Donostiarra is famous for its down-home dishes centered on Basque conservas such as oil-packed anchovies, pickled hot peppers (piparrak), and bonito del norte (albacore). All three of these find their way onto the "completo," a locally famous mini-baguette sandwich that's deliciously tart, juicy, and salty all at once.
Calle Peña y Goñi 13, San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain94-301--1380Known For
- Fresh seafood dishes prepared "al minuto"
- Can't-go-wrong menu of Basque classics
- Pleasant outdoor terrace that fills up fast in summer
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7. Casa Rufo
$$ | 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 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 -
8. Casa Urola
$$$ | Parte Vieja |Don't be put off by the slightly outdated decor of this Parte Vieja stalwart—the kitchen at Casa Urola is easily one of the city's most adroit, whether you post up at the informal bar or sit down to a multi-course meal. In the dining room, savor appetizers made with hard-to-find regional vegetables like cardoon, borage, and tiny de lágrima peas before moving onto entrées like seared squab, presented with a pâté of its own liver, and roasted hake loin, served with white wine and clams. Save room for the signature torrija, custardy fried bread crisped in brown butter and dusted with cinnamon sugar.
Calle de Fermín Calbetón 20, San Sebastián, Basque Country, 20003, Spain94-344--1371Known For
- Flawless Basque cuisine
- Restaurant industry favorite
- City's best torrija
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed. -
9. El Mesón
$$ | |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 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. -
10. Ganbara
$$$ | Parte Vieja |This busy bar and sedate downstairs restaurant near Plaza de la Constitución is run by the third generation of the same family. Exquisite minimalist morsels range from white Huelva prawns to homemade foie gras to roast squab and—the house specialty—wild mushrooms topped with an egg yolk.
Calle San Jerónimo 21, San Sebastián, Basque Country, 20003, Spain94-342--2575Known For
- To-die-for wild mushrooms
- Traditional Basque pintxos
- Lively atmosphere in the bar area
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tue., No dinner Sun. -
11. Gure Toki
$$ | 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 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. -
12. La Bodeguilla Lanciego
$$ | |This inviting white-tablecloth taberna established in 1959 serves soul-satisfying cuisine in a cabinlike dining room decorated with taupe curtains, blond-wood chairs, and original artwork. Steak frites is the go-to here with roast turbot coming in a close second.
Calle Olagibel 60, Vitoria, Basque Country, 01003, Spain94-525--0073Known For
- Subtle, tasteful decor
- Excellent txuletas
- Books up weeks in advance
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. -
13. La Cuchara de San Telmo
$$ | 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 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. -
14. La Viña del Ensanche
$$$ | El Ensanche |Littered with used napkins and furnished with simple wood tables beneath hams hanging from the rafters, this lively, deceptively simple bar attracts locals and tourists alike for its exceptional pintxos and affordable breakfasts. Don't pass up the deconstructed Galician-style octopus on a bed of mashed potatoes laced with pimentón (paprika) or the appetizer of house-made foie gras with three preserves. For a more exclusive (and pricier) fine-dining experience, reserve a table at the abutting El Taller, and be sure to peruse the gourmet food store stocked with local conservas, cured meats, wines, and cheeses.
Diputazio 10, Bilbao, Basque Country, 48008, Spain94-415–5615Known For
- Croquetas flecked with top-shelf Joselito jamón
- Loud, convivial atmosphere
- House-made foie gras
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential -
15. Pentxo
$ | Casco Viejo |Consistently delicious, shockingly affordable, and unapologetically old-school, Pentxo is the sort of restaurant Bilbaínos like to keep to themselves. Whether you pop in for a pintxo at the bar (the flash-fried antxoas rellenas, or stuffed anchovies, are a must) or come for breakfast or a €16 prix-fixe lunch (opt for whatever seafood main is listed), you'll leave wishing you could be a regular.
Calle Belostikale 20, Bilbao, Basque Country, 48005, Spain94-416--9472Known For
- Local crowd
- Outstanding pintxos and coffee drinks
- Unbeatable lunch deal
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. -
16. Segore Etxe-Berri
$$ | |Hidden in the lush, hilly countryside southwest of Tolosa—and many miles off the tourist track—is this idyllic agroturismo comprised of a restaurant and five-room bed-and-breakfast housed in a traditional caserío (Basque farmhouse) perched on a hilltop. After snapping a few pics of the jaw-dropping views, tuck into a soul-satisfying Basque feast of roast chicken (raised on the property), stewed game meats, or fresh fish.
Calle Valle Santa Marina, Albiztur, Basque Country, 20495, Spain94-358--0976Known For
- Culinary gem in the middle of nowhere
- Outdoor playground for kids
- Meats and vegetables from the estate
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues., No dinner Mon.--Thurs. -
17. Zelaia Sagardotegia
$$$ | |This traditional sagardotegi 7 km (4 miles) south of San Sebastián is where the region's top chefs—Juan Mari Arzak, Martín Berasategui, and Pedro Subijana, to name a few—ring in every cider season with a resounding ¡txotx! ("cheers" in Basque). Removed from the tourist track and open from mid-January to late April, Zelaia invites guests into its barrel-lined warehouses to chow down on an à la carte menu of bacalao-centric dishes, thick-cut steaks, and—for dessert—local cheeses with quince preserves and walnuts (vegetarian options are also available).
B0 Martindegi 29, Basque Country, 20120, Spain94-355--5851Known For
- Authentic cider house
- Food that's an echelon above other sagardotegis
- Unlimited cider drinking
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and late Apr.–mid-Jan., Reservations essential -
18. Alameda
$$$$ | |The Txapartegi brothers—Mikel, Kepa, and Gorka—are the decorated chefs behind this restaurant in elegantly restored house with a sunny terrace. Count on seasonally rotated combinations of carefully chosen ingredients, from fish and duck to vegetables.
Calle Minasoroeta 1, Hondarribia, Basque Country, 20280, Spain94-364--2789Known For
- Understated Michelin-starred dining
- Freshest seafood and meats
- Scenic seaside environs
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Tues., No dinner Sun. -
19. Arriaga
$$$ | Casco Viejo |The sagardotegi experience is a must in the Basque Country, but if you can't swing a trip to one of the huge cider houses in the countryside, Arriaga is a fine urban stand-in. Expect unlimited sidra al txotx (cider drawn straight from the barrel), sausage stewed in apple cider, codfish omelets, txuleta de buey, and Idiazabal cheese with quince preserves. Reserving a table is a good idea, especially on weekends.
Calle Santa Maria 13, Bilbao, Basque Country, 48005, Spain94-416--5670Known For
- Unlimited cider from the kupela (enormous barrel)
- Char-grilled rib eyes
- Convivial atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted -
20. Asador Guetaria
$$$$ | El Ensanche |With a wood-paneled dining room awash with antiques, this family operation is a longtime local favorite for top-quality fish and meats cooked over coals. In the open kitchen, wild lubina (sea bass), rodaballo (turbot), and other regional delicacies from land and sea cook to crackly perfection.
Colón de Larreátegui 12, Bilbao, Basque Country, 48001, Spain94-424--3923Known For
- Masterful grilled dishes
- Familial atmosphere
- Homey, old-timey dining room
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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