Bilbao Restaurants and Dining

(Bilbao, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain)

The restaurant and dining scene in Bilbao has expanded greatly over recent years and gained a true cosmopolitan flavour. Although traditional Spanish restaurants and Tapas bars are well represented in Bilbao, serving authentic Basque-style cuisine, plenty of international restaurants are available and cater for Bilbao's increasing number of visitors.

Opening Hours

Tapas bars in Bilbao have long been a popular place to head for lunch and serve a variety of savoury snacks, which accompany wine. Bilbao's Tapas bars and restaurants are particularly concentrated in and around the city centre and the main types of Tapas served includes local cheeses, potato chips, seafood and fish-based nibbles, cold meats and olives. Wine is often served in small glasses (potes) at these bars, so that you can visit a number of bar and sample the food and drink, without becoming overly full or tipsy.


The capital of the Biscay region, many of the restaurants and dining venues in Bilbao specialise in seafood and fish dishes, due to its closeness to the Atlantic Ocean. Local specialities at Bilbao's restaurants include fried fish, seafood stews, lobsters, paella, tortillas (omelettes) and codfish (bacalao).

Bilbao's university district, around the campus of the Universidad de Deusto, is a particularly lively part of the city, known for its nightlife, restaurants and bars, which often stay open until gone midnight. The Mazarredo area of Bilbao also comes alive at night time approaches and contains a number of notable restaurants.

The Casco Viejo area of Bilbao is a particularly historic and charming spot, home to the city's famous Santiago Cathedral. This district is also known for its narrow streets, friendly restaurants, al fresco dining and street entertainers. Many of the best restaurants in Bilbao can be found around the Plaza Nueva in the Pais Vasco area, close to the Bilbao River, which is a busy square.

For those looking for restaurants with the best views, consider taking the funicular railway to the top of the steep Archanda Hill, where a number of popular restaurants reside. Apart from Spanish-style restaurants, central Bilbao is also home to a range of popular dining alternatives, such as Chinese, German, Mexican and more English-style restaurants, where evening entertainment is often on offer.

Close to the city of Bilbao, many nearby towns and resorts feature restaurants with impressive coastal and beachfront views. Within easy reach of Bilbao, gastronomic delights are plentiful at restaurants in Artatza (11 km / 7 miles), Portugalete (13 km / 8 miles), and Santurtzi (18 km / 11 miles).