Bilbao

5 real restaurants, cafés, bars, markets and food experiences, from inexpensive to special occasion.

5 places to eat and drink in Bilbao

Pintxos on a bar counter (illustrative photo)
Illustrative photo

Mercado de la Ribera

Market · Casco Viejo

££ Mid-range

A huge, restored market building on the riverside, one of Europe’s largest covered markets, with pintxo bars upstairs.

Known for: Fresh produce and pintxos

About £14–30 per person

Local favourite Good for Families · Groups

Pintxos on a bar counter (illustrative photo)
Illustrative photo

Café Iruña

Café · Indautxu

££ Mid-range

A Moorish-style café with ornate tilework, opened in 1903, known for its pinchos morunos, skewers of spiced pork.

Known for: Pinchos morunos

About £14–30 per person

Local favourite Good for Couples · Families

Pintxos on a bar counter (illustrative photo)
Illustrative photo

Gure Toki

Restaurant · Plaza Nueva

££ Mid-range

A popular pintxo bar in the Plaza Nueva, known for its pintxos and long counters.

Known for: Pintxos

About £14–30 per person

Local favourite Good for Families · Groups

A selection of tapas (illustrative photo)
Illustrative photo

Casa Rufo

Restaurant · Hurtado de Amézaga

££ Mid-range

A traditional delicatessen and restaurant known for its cured meats and old-school Basque cooking.

Known for: Cured meats, traditional dishes

About £14–30 per person

Local favourite Good for Families · Groups

Pintxos on a bar counter (illustrative photo)
Illustrative photo

Bar Basaras

Restaurant · Casco Viejo

££ Mid-range

A cosy bar known for its inventive, creative pintxos.

Known for: Pintxos

About £14–30 per person

Local favourite Good for Families · Groups

£ to ££££ is an approximate guide to price level and the per-person range is an estimate, not live pricing. “Good for” is a rule of thumb. Opening times and menus change: check with the venue before you go.

Local dishes to try in Bilbao 3
  • Pintxos

    Bar-top snacks on bread; take a toothpick and settle up at the end

  • Bacalao al pil-pil

    Salt cod in a silky garlic-and-oil emulsion

  • Txakoli

    A crisp, lightly sparkling Basque white poured from height

Food markets & tastings in Things to Do 2