Where to eat in Bilbao: pintxos, bacalao and what to order
Bilbao eats well and for less than San Sebastián. The old town bars lay out pintxos on the counter, the Ribera market feeds the city, and the grills in Abando cook the txuleta over coals. Book dinner; walk in for pintxos.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The Casco Viejo for the classic bars, Abando for grills, and Indautxu for local pintxo runs.
- Order this
- A croqueta or gilda at the bar, bacalao al pil pil at a restaurant, and a glass of txakoli.
- When to eat
- Pintxos from 13:00 and 20:00. Sit-down kitchens open around 13:30 and 20:30.
- Book or walk in
- Walk in at pintxo bars. Book txuleta grills and tasting menus.
- Tipping
- Not expected. Round up or leave a euro or two.
What to eat in Bilbao
- PintxosSmall bites on bread or a stick, laid out on the bar or cooked to order. Take a plate and pay at the end.
- GildaAn olive, an anchovy and a pickled pepper on a skewer. The original pintxo, sharp and eaten in one bite.
- Bacalao al pil pilSalt cod in an emulsion of olive oil, garlic and the fish's own gelatine. A Basque classic.
- Bacalao a la vizcaínaSalt cod in a red sauce made from dried choricero peppers. The Bizkaia way of cooking it.
- TxuletaThick rib steak from an older cow, grilled over coals and sold by weight.
- RabasFried squid rings, crisp and served with lemon. A bar staple.
- TxangurroSpider crab cooked and served in its shell, often gratinated.
- CroquetasCreamy croquettes, usually of ham or cod, fried until crisp.
Where to eat in Bilbao, by neighborhood
Casco Viejo
The old town has the most traditional bars, especially on Calle Jardines, Plaza Nueva and the Siete Calles. It is crowded and loud at weekends.
Abando and the Ensanche
The 19th-century grid has sit-down restaurants, grills and old tapas bars. A calmer place for dinner.
Indautxu
A residential district south of Abando with neighborhood pintxo bars and local crowds. Easier to find a space than in the old town.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Víctor Montes
€€€Bar and restaurant · Casco Viejo
OrderGrilled mushrooms with foie gras
A bar in Plaza Nueva that keeps the spirit of an 1849 grocery, with a cellar of wines. Charcuterie and mushrooms are the draw.
- Book
- Walk in at the bar, book the dining room
Confirmed open: tablejourney.com
-
Berton
€€Pintxo bar · Casco Viejo
OrderRabas at the bar, bacalao in the dining room
A standing pintxo bar on Calle Jardines with a Basque dining room attached. Fried squid and hand-cut Iberian ham are the orders.
- Book
- Walk in at the bar, book the dining room
Confirmed open: tablejourney.com
-
Casa Rufo
€€€Grill · Abando
OrderTxuleta
A grill and deli on Hurtado de Amézaga since 1955, known for the Bilbao style of grilled steak. Bacalao al pil pil and piquillo peppers too.
- Book
- Book through the restaurant's website
Confirmed open: tablejourney.com
-
La Viña del Ensanche
€€Pintxo bar · Abando
OrderJoselito ham on crystal bread, then croquetas
A family bar on Calle Diputación since 1927, now in its third generation. Go for the ham at the counter.
- Book
- Walk in
Confirmed open: tablejourney.com
-
Bar El Globo
€€Pintxo bar · Abando
OrderTxangurro gratin
A busy bar on Calle Diputación, open since 1997. The spider crab gratin is the famous pintxo, with a gilda alongside.
- Book
- Walk in
Confirmed open: tablejourney.com
Food markets in Bilbao
- Mercado de la RiberaA large market hall on the river by the old town. Buy fish, cured meats, cheese and fruit downstairs, and eat pintxos upstairs.Stalls Monday to Saturday in the morning, with longer hours at some bars and a quieter SundaySource: spain-holiday.com
How Bilbao eats
- Pintxo etiquetteOrder a drink first, take plates from the counter, and pay at the end. Do not bring a large group to a small bar.
- Meal timesLunch from about 13:30 to 15:30, dinner from 20:30. Pintxo hours start earlier.
- DrinksA zurito is a small beer, a txikito a small wine, and txakoli is the local white. Cider is for cider houses.
- TippingNot expected. Round up or leave a euro or two.
- ReservationsBook grills and tasting-menu places. Pintxo bars do not take bookings.
Signs of a place to walk past
Menus with photos of the dishes on the door.
A counter of cold pintxos that stays the same all evening.
A tout outside offering a set menu with paella.
Eating in Bilbao: questions people ask
What food is Bilbao known for?
Pintxos, bacalao al pil pil, txuleta and rabas. The Ribera market and the old town bars are the places to start.
Where is the best place to eat pintxos in Bilbao?
The Casco Viejo has the classic bars, and Abando and Indautxu have good local ones. Berton and La Viña del Ensanche are two well-known names.
Do you need to book restaurants in Bilbao?
For grills and tasting menus, yes. For pintxo bars, no.
How does pintxo ordering work?
Take a plate or order hot dishes, and pay at the end. Tell the barman what you ate.
How much do you tip in Bilbao?
Not expected. Round up the bill, or leave a euro or two.
Is Bilbao cheaper than San Sebastián for food?
Usually. Bar food and house wine are good value, and sit-down grills are less dear.
Where can vegetarians eat in Bilbao?
Pintxo bars have tortilla, mushrooms, peppers and croquetas, and many restaurants have a vegetarian dish. Check the menu.