Bars & Nightlife in Bilbao

Bilbao is a city that truly lives up to the Basque reputation for bars, with more than 3.15 bars for every thousand inhabitants. The Old Town, or Casco Viejo, is the heart of the action, especially around Plaza Nueva, while central streets like Calle Ledesma and Licenciado Poza are perfect for bar-hopping and sampling local favourites. Beer tends to be the drink of choice for young locals, but traditional options, such as red Rioja wine, crisp txakoli, or the playful kalimotxo (a mix of cola and red wine), are easy to find. For something a bit different and traditional, head to a Basque cider house, or sagardotegi, where you can tuck into char-grilled meats and enjoy cider straight from the barrel.