Bilbao’s transformation from an industrial port to a cultural capital is well documented, but for the culinary traveler, the city offers an equally compelling evolution. The soul of Basque gastronomy lives not only in Michelin-starred dining rooms but in the narrow, buzzing streets of the Casco Viejo and the modern boulevards of Ensanche. Here, the ritual of the poteo—the local version of a bar crawl—is a way of life that demands a specific type of cuisine.
Pintxos are more than just food on bread; they are miniature canvases of flavor, representing the Basque Country’s obsession with high-quality ingredients. From the briny depths of the Cantabrian Sea to the lush pastures of the interior, the produce of this region is second to none. Navigating the scene requires local knowledge to distinguish tourist traps from authentic institutions where grandmothers still stir the marmitako.
This guide is designed to steer you toward the bars that define Bilbao’s culinary landscape. We prioritize taste, atmosphere, and authenticity over hype. Whether you are looking for a perfectly seared piece of foie gras, a classic Gilda, or a modern interpretation of a traditional stew, the city delivers.
Understanding the flow of a Bilbao evening is crucial. Locals typically start early with a crisp txakoli wine, moving from bar to bar, eating one or two pintxos at each stop before moving on. It is a social event, a way to catch up with friends while standing at the counter, reading the chalkboard menus, and pointing at the glistening displays.
The bars selected below represent the best of this tradition, from legendary institutions that have been perfecting their craft for decades to innovative newcomers pushing the boundaries of Basque cuisine. Prepare to eat standing up, to order loudly, and to taste the passion that defines this city.
El Globo
| Address | Diputazio Kalea, 8, Abando, 48008 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM Sunday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM |
| Phone | 944 31 38 58 |
The food here is really great. The goat cheese is delicious. I love the texture. The beef and cheddar pintxo was also so tasty. These are probably my favorites. The service was good. The outside seats were all occupied. The inside bar was very crowded. 4.7/5
Although the bar was very busy, we were lucky enough to find a place. The atmosphere was vibrant and authentic, and the staff were friendly despite the crowd. There was an excellent selection of pintxos, including freshly made hot ones. A great place to enjoy local food and soak up the lively atmosphere.
We went on a saturday and it was packed. But if you are patient enough you will be able to get a place. I really liked the vibe and the staff were nice even though they were busy. The prices are also reasonable. Also, I really like that they flash heat the Pinxtos in an oven (vs microwave) so they are warmed through. That makes a big difference to me.
Hello! I had the chance to try pintxos and foie gras at El Globo. The pintxos were absolutely delicious; I had the squid and octopus ones, as well as a mushroom one, and they were all great.
However, the foie gras was incredible. It was so tasty, and at around 6 Euros, it was really reasonably priced.
This place was just okay for me, though admittedly, my expectations might have been a bit too high. It's worth a visit if you're in the mood to try something new, but a word of advice: definitely split the special! I've included pictures of the exact menu items we ordered so you can see for yourself.
Gure Toki
| Address | Pl. Berria, 12, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Phone | 944 15 80 37 |
After wandering through Bilbao’s beautiful Casco Viejo, Gure Toki was the perfect place to stop for pintxos. Located in the heart of Plaza Nueva, the bar has an incredible display of beautifully crafted bites that makes choosing half the fun.
The Gilda was a classic done perfectly, with plump olives, quality anchovies, and tangy pickled peppers. The standout for me was the creamy Idiazabal cheese soup with quail egg, topped with crispy potatoes and crunchy corn. It was rich, comforting, and unlike anything I’d had before.
I also loved the tuna served in a vintage-style sardine tin with roasted red peppers. It was fresh, flavorful, and one of the most creative presentations we came across in Bilbao. We finished with jamón Ibérico on pan con tomate, proving that simple, high-quality ingredients never disappoint.
The atmosphere was lively, service was efficient despite the crowd, and every pintxo we tried was beautifully executed. If you’re visiting Bilbao, Gure Toki is an essential stop for authentic Basque cuisine with a modern twist.
This is a great pintxos bar, probably the one I liked the most in Bilbao. They have larger queues than other bars on the square but in my opinion it’s worth the wait. First of all, they have a solid wine selection and the wines are better than in their bars in my opinion. Secondly, their pintxos are really different from the others. For example, their burger pintxo was really great. The one with a mushroom on top with green salsa was also nice and different from the others. The one with crispy potatoes, Jamon and a small egg was also a highlight. The only one I didn’t like as much was the cod pintxo. Their cheesecake was also quite solid. They add some cookie crumbles on top which is a bit of cheating and probably the cheesecake has a bit more sugar than I would have liked but still the texture was very silky and running and it was among the good cheesecakes I’ve tried in Basque Country, definitely in the top 50%. Overall I highly recommend this bar
After walking around for a long time we decided to sit down literally anywhere ad we were sooo tired. Simple tapas bar, several tables situated at the Casco Viejo with palms etc.
Was very sarcastic when we sat down at the table and didnt except anything lol... BUT..with the first bite i knew it was the best choice of the place! The food is absolutely outstanding, sooo delicious, all selection of pintxos-bacalao pil pil, tuna with vegetables, cheese soup!!!with beautiful decorations of other ingredients on it, tomatoe salad wigh mozzarella cheese and many more were absolutely melting in your mouth.
I can recommend this place more its so so good. On top of this the service, all people who working there recommending their food where amazing. Thank you for the best meal in Bilbao!!!🌺🌺🌺
Such a great little find for us in Bilbao, busy and full of life. We wanted a selection of Pintxos and a few glasses of cider and boy did we enjoy it all. When you go inside to the bar don't be intimidated by how busy it is, slightly chaotic but stick with it and push in. Shout your order, I just order everything and it still was cheaper than anything at a normal sandwich shop. The staff are friendly and helpful if you need to ask what something is. Fantastic food and Fantastic wines. Will definitely be back here.
There’s a good variety of pintxos available - our favourites were the bacalao and mushroom.
The kitchen opened around 8.20pm for hot food orders so just be aware of that if you’re wanting to order anything off their menu. The razor clams were tasty, but we would skip the calamari here if we came back.
Sorgínzulo
| Address | Pl. Berria, 12, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM Thursday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM Friday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Phone | 944 15 05 64 |
A fantastic stop for top-tier pintxos and huge portions, though a bit pricey.
Food & Variety: They offer an extensive selection of pintxos, and everything was genuinely delicious. The cod pintxo with special sauce was a standout hit—rich in flavor and beautifully prepared.
Portion Size: We ordered the Calamares Fritos, and the portion was absolutely massive! It is easily large enough to be shared by at least two people.
Price & Value: Prices are on the higher side, so I wasn't entirely thrilled with the bill, but considering the generous portion sizes and great quality, it’s certainly not outrageously expensive.
Overall, a great place to visit on your last day in Bilbao if you want high-quality pintxos and generous seafood dishes!
Loved this pintxos restaurant at the Plaza Nueva. The place is small with a few tables but the staff were friendly and the gilda and pintxo especials were excellent as were the kalimotxo and mosto grande. We loved it. They also have a nearby restaurant serving cheesecakes and coffee which too we enjoyed.
I loved being able to experience the lively atmosphere of a pintxos bar, although it did feel a bit chaotic at times. The pintxos themselves were fairly ordinary compared to the hype, but still something you have to try at least once if you’re in Bilbao. The calamari we ordered separately, however, was absolutely amazing.
This review is for one of the Sorginzulo locations in Plaza Nueva (the bar one, not the original which is located in the corner). It is often easier to get a pintxo here than at the corner one. I ordered two pintxos. Both good but I especially liked the one in the bao type of bun - it was very tasty..
- Variety of pintxos is at a good level and the one I had was delicious.
- The service was fast and clean.
- The music wasn’t loud.
- It is a touristic place that you can see people from around the world.
- Lucky that it is next to another quality place called Gore Toki, so, you can try both places effortlessly.
- The photos and the prices are from 09.02.2026.
Café Bar Bilbao
| Address | Pl. Berria, 6, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM Tuesday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM Wednesday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM Thursday: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM Friday: 6:30 AM – 11:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Sunday: Closed |
| Phone | 944 15 16 71 |
A deservingly busy and popular pinchos bar in the heart of Bilbao - the striking blue design really makes it stand it too! The staff were very friendly and the food was delicious and reasonably priced given the prime location. Definitely worth a quick visit! They also offer a variety of larger food options that I didn't get a photo of but went down a treat - we had calamari and prawns as two dishes.
Amazing Tapas and a lovely location to have a bite, a good drink and a lovely chat. They have vegetarian, fish and meat options and they taste amazing - especially the cheese one 😍
Cafe Bar Bilbao is a great option to grab a bite and has plenty of seating. My fiancé and I arrived late at night, and they stayed open so we could have a meal. Great spot to experience various pintxos.
fantastic Bask restaurant/bar with great atmosphere. Take a table inside, also cooler.
We had mixed 12 pinxtos, sangria and a desert for 56 €
Amazing verity of Pintxos, rich flavours, and good taste. Definitely recommend if you are visiting Bilbao old town.
Bar Santamaría
| Address | Andra Maria Kalea, 18, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM Sunday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM |
| Phone | — |
😁amazing food & wine. Chef cook each Pintxo!! Price& service fast. I can't ask more.
Foie gras, octopus, artichoke, fresh tuna , baccalao 👍👍👍👍
So far One of best bars in our trip since 5 days.
Thank you!
We walked into what looked like a simple pintxos bar and ordered two pintxos. Out of nowhere, we had a fine dining experience.
This was by far the best food I had in Bilbao. The foie with apple was cooked perfectly: tender, rich, and beautifully balanced. The grilled cuttlefish was also full of flavor.
Hats off to the chef. This is now the first place I will recommend to any friend visiting Bilbao. Make time to visit!
Excellent Pintxos bar in the old town. A simple menu of hot Pintxos but they are cooked superbly and the service is great. Fully recommended
Really amazing place - if you’re looking for some cheap grilled fish / meat this is the place to go. The cuttlefish was excellent but everything was really good. Good cheap wine to pair. Can imagine it gets busy in the night but for lunch was perfect.
Unassuming bar and pintxos place. Small pintxos menu, but, boy, the chef can cook. The highlight was the foie, perfectly cooked, with a complimentary apple sauce. Also very good were the monkfish, with lovely sweet peppers and the secreto, with a vinegary sauce, that worked nicely. They also have a list of wines behind the bar, so you can select a particular one - we found the slightly more expensive txakoli to be very good.
Bar BIKIAK berri- Bar de Pintxos
| Address | Jardines K., 7, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM Thursday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 AM Friday: 8:30 AM – 1:00 AM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 AM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Phone | — |
Great pintxos and lively ambiance. The service is great. Positive vibe to start or ti close the day.
I went in here a second time, because the bartender had the most amazing smile when I went in to return my glass the first time I was there. Turns out, they are not only kind in this bar to foreigners having a drink or a snack, they also make the absolute best glass of sangria possible (and I travel a lot and taste them regularly). I came back here a few times because the overall experience is relaxed for a touristy city as Bilbao. Highly recommend. #solofemaletraveler
I had an excellent salad and wine. Great coffee and juice. Friendly service. Only a small place.
This is my first visit to The Basque Country and Bilboa. I am terrible at speaking Spanish with very little vocabulary, let alone my attempts at Euskara. The two gals working the first night were very gracious and helpful. Helping me pick out Pintxos, the beer and just making me feel welcome to The Basque Country. Thank you for the smiles, you both were a true Blessing to me.
Great food, very nice, friendly and helpful personnel, and correspondingly very well visited.
My favorite pintxos: with mushrooms and pesto, with morcilla and egg, with txipirones and caramelized onions and the one with jam, mortadella and walnuts!
You should, however, try all of them.
El pintxito
| Address | Poza Lizentziatuaren Kalea, 24, 1º C, Abando, 48011 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 11:30 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:30 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Phone | 946 24 15 85 |
Pintxito is a great spot if you’re looking to enjoy authentic pintxos in a lively and local atmosphere. The variety is impressive, with plenty of options to choose from, and everything we tried was fresh and full of flavor. It’s the perfect place to stop for a quick bite or to do a proper pintxos crawl.
The vibe is casual and energetic, especially during busy hours, which adds to the experience. The staff are friendly and efficient, even when the place is packed. Service moves quickly, so you don’t have to wait too long to get your food and drinks.
Prices are reasonable considering the quality and location, making it a good value option. It can get quite crowded, so finding a spot might take a bit of patience, but that’s part of the charm of places like this. Overall, a solid choice if you want to experience the local food scene and enjoy some great pintxos in Bilbao.
A true gem we stumbled upon while visiting Bilbao for the first time. During our stay we returned here several times to enjoy the pintxos, drinks and very nice seafood snacks. Definitely do recommend!
Mamma miaaaa! We found the best pintxo restaurant in Bilbao at the end of our tour of the Basque Country. As we were walking by, I saw skewers on the grill and decided to go in. They were delicious, and the rest of the food was an absolute dream. The waitress was incredibly helpful, too. Thank you so much❤️😋
Lovely pintxos, best we had in Bilbao. Great and very quick service. Especially loved the fried calamari sandwich and fish sticks.
What an amazing tortilla for such an affordable price. The staff is friendly and I loved the addition of ham and cheese to the tortilla. Made me feel right at home!
Baster
| Address | Posta Kalea, 22, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: Closed Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM Saturday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM Sunday: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Phone | — |
Popped in for drinks and a bite to eat and loved the place! Great vibe, perfect for people watching! We had calamari sandwich, spicy sausage and patatas bravas - all delicious. The Vermouth was incredible. Loved the Latin rock playlist also. Recommended.
Loved our time here. Food, drink, service and location were all spot on. The person who served us was so welcoming and friendly, even with our broken Spanish. Enjoyed the pintxos and marianitos, and they serve really good vermouth recommended by a local here! Highly recommend.
Try house vermouth and you wont be dissapointed. Russian salad is also nice. They reopen the kitchen at 7 pm (for some pinchos including Russian salad)
Amazing place with a great atmosphere, good music and excellent drinks. Mati was honestly the highlight of the night. Super friendly, attentive and always making sure everyone was having a good time. You can tell he really cares about the customers and brings such a positive energy to the bar. Definitely one of the best service experiences I’ve had in a long time. Highly recommend this place, I’ll definitely come back.
Really nice spot for a pintxos and cold one! Right next to the cathedral so offers a nice view and some good grub. Would recommend!
Antxoa Taberna
| Address | Pl. Berria, 1, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM Friday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Saturday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Sunday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM |
| Phone | 944 59 46 31 |
The pintxos here is fairly good but a bit below some other places, I’d say solid 4 stars. The bread here is a bit too stiff in my opinion and they put a bit too much bread compared to the filling. The staff is friendly and welcoming though and the place inside is quite clean. It doesn’t get too crowded compared to some other places. I can recommend if you’ve tired a bunch of other places already in case some new pintxo option from this place will attract you
Super spot on the Place Berria, looks small and unassuming compared to other nearby places but was excellent. They found us a table outside quickly and Irving looked after us very well and efficiently. Very good food, burrata and anchovy salad, cheese croquettes and patatas bravas with chipotle sauce.
Anchovy offerings of pintxos to explore different salt-briny-seafood combinations. Clean facilities, quick and friendly service, wide drink options including non alcoholic ones like juices and sodas. Location is within the plaza which makes it easy to find and makes it a convenient stop in your own pintxos self guided tour.
Went there with the whole family having high expectations on all kinds of Pintxos with the best fresh anchovies but were really disappointed. We selected individual pintxos and also combos. The bread of the pintxos wasn’t really great but very dominant, the pintxos drowned in creamy heavy sauces and it was hard to even recognize the anchovies. The staff was very friendly but would never go there again.
Food is great here! Sure will return for more!
It’s great to see the staff prep the food! Love it
2nd time visit after a week, never disappointed! Will back for more!
Bar El Globo (Plaza Nueva)
| Address | Pl. Berria, 1, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:30 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:30 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Phone | 944 31 38 58 |
Overcrowded, indifferent bordering on rude service but probably the food here is so good that it transcends all of that and how crowded it is. We came here to try based on how popular and hyped it is and was surprised to find that we just wanted to try everything because it was good. I’m sure the people who work here are over worked and stressed because of the sheer volume of people that come here but still leaves a bad taste in your mouth when they hurry you along or act annoyed. But putting all that aside , every pintxo is amazing but pretty much tried everything and then repeated some because it was so good. Definitely go here and try the different dishes and enjoy the interplay between textures, tastes, temperature in these small bites of crispy, creamy, savory & delightful combinations
Their pintxos are a bit different from the others in the square - they have a lot of warm ones with mayo-like sauce on top. The one with beef tastes like minced meatballs and is interesting. The one with crab is good. There is also a fairly good one with black pudding. They also have a good pintxo with Jamon and Parmesan. Another one that was good was with wakame salad served on a scallop shell. A couple of other ones were not as good - the one with mayo and crab sticks, the ones with salted anchovy on top (anchovy and tartare sauce; was too acidic). The one with mushrooms was okay but nothing special. Their wine selection is not the best in the square. In general, this spot is probably for one time and I’d only recommend it for their warm tapas, not cold ones with the only exception of Jamon-Parmesan. Tapas-wise I’d say it’s 4 stars despite a very wide selection. The service is not too welcoming, they do the job and that’s it. What’s nice about this place though is that it’s very spacious inside and reasonably clean.
What puts my review to 2 stars is the customer treatment - we popped into this place as our last pintxos on our way out of Bilbao. We were returning customers, going there for the third time. We had our suitcases with us so were pretty packed and in a rush. we ordered 7 pintxos in this place and 2 glasses of wine and 3 pintxos in another place and they did not allow us to stay inside of their place because we had those 3 pintxos from another place. This made us have to go outside with all the plates, glasses and suitcases and look for a place to eat this all. It left a big stain on their reputation and I don’t want to be back because of that.
Our favourite for the day! We enjoyed the beef and cheese gratin so much we came back for seconds.
Good gratin choices, great value for money.
Spacious, space for pintxos. Could do with a few more chairs- I think more people will stay.
Love a bit of people watching and if they cannot find a seat they did not stay.
Asked if we could sit in the terrace having pintxos and drinks and it was a blunt no!
I think they are missing a trick - make people comfortable, make them feel valued and they are yours for life.
Come for the gratinados. The spider crab and the beef options deserve their recommendations. The squid option was also really good. All of these plus 1 lemon bear = 11 euros- can’t complain!
The place was very busy and loud, which made us think it had to be good - and we were right. All of the tapas were delicious, but the dessert, a local cheesecake, is an absolute must-try.
Víctor Montes
| Address | Pl. Berria, 8, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Phone | 944 15 70 67 |
Had the best pintxos of my trip here! Super yummy, creative flavour pairings, and you get a lot of wine choices as well. To order: smoked ham pintxos, the oozy cheese pintxos, and the classic anchovy with olive ones.
I am loving Bilbao! Sorry Barcelona Madrid! Smaller scale city yet full of life and community and good food! Plus the GGNHM! And if you get to come here during Astia Nagusia…. You lucky you!
1) the foie gras tasted fresh, it was interesting the meringue topping and the sauces to go with it was complimenting the foie gras quite well.
2) the artichokes was well seasoned and tasted really nice and the foie gras was delicious.
3) the ox meat stew was good, sauce tasted delicious and it was good portion, there was radish slices with it that had no taste (it was recommended in their menu) it was good not brilliant.
4) the ibérico pork grilled was cooked perfectly but it lacked in seasoning, the purée had the texture and taste of baby food the sauce was plain and did nothing for the plate.
service was great, the ambient was nice and it was great to eat in such a nice historic place.
7/10
We had our first true pintxos experience at Víctor Montes, and it could not have been a better introduction to Basque cuisine.
•
Located right on Plaza Nueva in the heart of Bilbao’s old town, this place has a lively, authentic atmosphere that immediately draws you in. The bar is beautifully lined with a wide variety of pintxos, all carefully presented and almost too tempting to choose from.
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We grabbed a spot at the bar and ordered glasses of Txakoli, the local Basque white wine, which was crisp, and incredibly refreshing. From there, we did what everyone should do here: point, pick, and try a bit of everything. We ended up sampling around fourteen different pintxos between the four of us, and each one was packed with flavour.
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What makes Víctor Montes stand out is not just the quality and variety of the food, but also the experience itself. It is a historic spot, known for combining traditional Basque flavours with more modern, creative touches. The energy is vibrant, the service is efficient despite the crowds, and it feels like a place where both locals and visitors come together.
•
If you are in Bilbao and want an authentic, fun, and delicious pintxos experience, this is absolutely a must-visit.
Great food and vibes here! For reference my parents and I just got a standing table by the door and would order some pintxos at the counter. Everything we ordered was delicious. Definitely a spot to visit when pintxos hopping!
Irrintzi
| Address | Andra Maria Kalea, 8, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 – 10:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 – 11:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 – 11:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM |
| Phone | 944 16 76 16 |
Tasty pinxtos with dedicated gluten free menu. Regular pinxtos are on the bar and will be heated up in the microwave while the gluten free ones will be made upon ordering. The gluten free bread is basic . Not a fan of the falafel since it's not crispy at all and the sauce seemed a bit odd. But 39 euros for 8 pinxtos and 4 drinks for lunch between two people seems like good value for money!
An iconic place for authentic Pintxos.
The service is fast, the food is good, the atmosphere is simple and local.
Our favorites: the pulled pork with a slice of apple, and the spicy chicken.
Only place I found which had a dedicated gluten free menu, had plenty of choice on there too. Had a few of them, good food and good value.
Staff were nice and accommodating to my poor Spanish. Service good. Venue itself nothing special, but def worth a visit if after gluten free food in Bilbao.
Walk in, didn’t need to book.
The reviews are accurate but if you know what to expect, you can cham her into a smirk. The food is excellent. Have a sense of humor and enjoy the whole thing. Especially if you're celiac, this place is a gem and so is the blue haired señora.
A nice place full of locals which is always a good sign. They are very creative with their pintxos as I'd never seen such flavours.
La Olla de la Plaza Nueva
| Address | Pl. Berria, 2, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:30 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:30 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Phone | 946 63 00 12 |
A nice stop along the way. It is placed inside a square, so absolutely no cars around, which is nice. The food was good. There are different area to choose where to sit, and for the summer it is better to sit underground. But maybe a reservation is needed here.
The bathroom is quite interesting.
The owner gatekeeped the wifi, so that was a bit weird 😅
Wow! What wonderful food we found here. It was so close to our hotel and we really enjoyed the pintxos of the moment. Our favorites were the crab, the secret Iberico pork and the scallop. Don’t miss the dessert which was like the best French toast you’ve ever had. The service at the bar was excellent.
Overall great experience. The staff was really helpful and welcoming. I wasn’t sure which options to get and was recommended some delicious ones featured in the photo. These were tasteful in my opinion compared to the place I went next to this. Would go back again!
A Lively Pintxos Stop Worth the Buzz
A fantastic spot for a quick bite and drinks, with an impressive selection of pintxos that were all thoroughly enjoyable. Even for vegetarians.
The place was buzzing even on a Sunday, though the energy of the busy service did mean the tables weren’t as well-kept as they could be.. a small gripe in an otherwise great experience.
Well worth a visit.
Tapas oaky, burger had this crazy green sauce which looked completely unnatural. Scallop was okay but was undercooked making it not great. The artichoke was the best dish - still under seasoned.
Pretty much the experience - it’s a shame.
We were lucky to get a table large food tour took over the place with a loud and bossy leader making the atmosphere for everyone else unpleasant.
Thought it was expensive for what it was.
Txintxirri
| Address | Calle Juan Ajuriaguerra Kalea, 3, Abando, 48009 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: Closed Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:30 – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:30 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, 6:30 – 10:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM Sunday: 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Phone | 648 82 82 15 |
The croquettas are these very delicate square shaped and that was very interesting in a form factor way. These were the first pintxos we got in Bilbao so we were mind blown anyway. We also loved the cheesecake and the tortillas. Very busy but lively.
Very local and nice atmosphere. Not the best tortilla de patatas I've ever had but still very tasty.
Best tortilla I’ve had in all of Spain and I’ve been living here two years. Brought a tear to my eye- it was that delicious
One of the best tortillas I’ve had in my life. Loads of locals come here to eat, and many order the spicy tortilla / tortilla picante and I can see why. Flavorful, deliciously yummy and with a tiny spicy kick. The little slice of bread that they give you is great too. Cañas and cheesecake were good too. I don’t usually repeat places when I travel but this place was so good I visited twice. If you have a dog you can stand outside comfortably in one of the standing tables.
Busy place in the center of Bilbao, which probably deserve it’s „busyness“ due to the great tortillas they serve. Especially the spicy tortilla was amazing in my opinion. Great consistency and flavor, fast and friendly service, and spectacular scenery once the little bar gets full of life and people get served with pintxos and drinks.
Kapikua Casco Viejo
| Address | Posta Kalea, 12, Ibaiondo, 48005 Bilbao, Bizkaia |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 8:30 AM – 11:00 PM Saturday: 8:30 AM – 11:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Phone | 944 16 75 89 |
First bar we got that first night in Bilbao and it did not disappoint.
Sure, the service is spotty because it is very busy but it was never unpleasant and quite friendly actually.
All the taps we ate there were above average. Only after tasting other places did we realize that we preferred here so when we are back in Bilbao, this will be the place we come back to. Lively bar with a lovely clientele that wants to have a good time.
Probably could be a little cleaner but they are a clearly understaffed. Don’t let that stop you, this is is the real deal. Oh and prices are very competitive also for drinks and tapas.
Highly recommended. Go.
P.S.: if this review was helpful, please leave a 👍, thank you 🙏
We were passing by and decided to come inside for a glass of wine.
We had already eaten before but couldn’t resist their good looking pintxos.
So, Gildas didn’t not make to the picture, they vanished immediately 😅 I love this version with a few spicy peppers.
The fish pintxo was very very rich in flavour. And the sausage one had some interesting sauce.
We enjoyed this experience very much. It is Much more comfortable to seat at the bar than just standing up compare to others “old looking” bars.
Very good selection of pintxo’s. The local dark beer was excellent
Tasty pintxos stop in the old town . Friendly service. Great calamari. What’s not to dislike !
Good tapas bar. Service is alright, tapas good as well. Prices are quite low: one beer, one wine and one tapa for 8€. Could be a little cleaner, but you can’t go wrong here.
Essential Tips for a Perfect Pintxos Crawl in Bilbao
To truly enjoy Bilbao’s food scene like a local, a little preparation goes a long way. The etiquette, timing, and ordering process can be intimidating for first-time visitors, but mastering these nuances elevates the experience from a simple meal to a cultural immersion. Here are the key strategies to ensure you eat well and navigate the bars with confidence.
1. Know the Difference Between Cold and Hot Pintxos
The displays on the bar counter are beautiful, but they are often just the opening act. While cold pintxos are ready to grab, the real magic is often on the chalkboard menu behind the bar. These are pintxos calientes—hot dishes made to order. Always ask what is "recién hecho" (freshly made) and order from the kitchen.
2. Master the Art of Ordering
Do not be shy. The bar staff are busy, but they respect a confident customer. Point at what you want, state your drink clearly, and move aside to let others order. If you want a specific hot dish, flag down a server and order directly. They will often bring it to you, or call your name when it is ready.
3. Embrace the Txakoli Pour
Txakoli is the slightly sparkling, dry white wine of the Basque Country. Watching a skilled bartender pour it from a height is part of the theater. It is the perfect pairing for seafood pintxos. If you prefer red, ask for a Rioja Alavesa or a young red from the region.
4. Time Your Visit Strategically
The lunch rush (1:30 PM to 3:30 PM) and the evening rush (8:00 PM to 10:30 PM) are vibrant but crowded. If you want to take your time and chat with the bartender, go slightly off-peak, such as noon or 7:00 PM. Many bars in the Casco Viejo are closed on Mondays, so plan your crawl for Tuesday through Sunday.
5. Pay at the End (Usually)
In most traditional bars, you keep a mental note of what you have eaten and tell the bartender when you are ready to close your tab. Honesty is expected. In busier, modern spots, you might pay as you go. Watch what the locals do; if they are holding cash and paying immediately, follow suit.
The beauty of Bilbao is that a pintxos crawl is not a static museum tour; it is a living, breathing tradition. You might start your evening with a classic Gilda in a bar that has not changed its decor since 1950, only to finish the night with a deconstructed cheesecake in a sleek, modern gastrobar. The contrast is what makes the city so exciting for food lovers.
As you wander from the narrow, rain-slicked streets of the old town to the wide avenues of the Ensanche, let your palate guide you. Do not be afraid to try something unfamiliar, whether it is mollejas (sweetbreads) or percebes (goose barnacles). Trust the hands of the chefs behind the counter, and you will understand why the Basque Country is considered one of the culinary capitals of the world.
