Bilbao - Eating
Bilbao is the home of Basque cuisine, considered the most inventive cuisine in Spain. Bilbao is famous for a lot of dishes, like delicious tapas-like appetisers called pintxos. Seafood forms the heart of Basque cooking. Bacalao dishes, based on cod, are very popular as is merluza, or hake. Many visitors to Bilbao are known to return again and again for the food alone.
Bermeo
Probably the finest restaurant in Bilbao, and popular with the great and the good of Basque society, from politicians to artists. Enjoy classical Basque dishes, such as fresh thistles sautéed with ham or partridge with glazed shallots. Bermeo’s dessert of truffled figs is simply divine.
Guggenheim Bilbao
For a slightly less pricy taste of Martin Berasategui’s new Basque cuisine, head to "his restaurant" at the Guggenheim Museum. The set menu includes some real finds like tempura hake with sautéed mange-touts and Biscay cheese.
El Viejo Zortzi
El Viejo Zortzi has a modern take on traditional Basque food, such as fillet of cod in pil-pil sauce and fresh hake in garlic sauce. The choice of wine here is exceptional.
Etxanobe
This post-modern restaurant has a great view of the Guggenheim. Top Basque cuisine and creative dishes such as chocolaty oxtail crépinettes and cold anchovy lasagne in tomato soup.
Gaminiz
Located in Zamudio, slightly out of the centre of town is Bilbao’s most famous restaurant. Cod is the main menu item in this restaurant, but don’t forget to try other dishes, like the Squab with peach puree.
