Must-try restaurants in Bilbao: our top 3

Bilbao, one of the most charming cities in northern Spain, is a city to be discovered with all your senses. Located in western Gipuzkoa, the capital of Biscay is a prime destination for food lovers who appreciate its picturesque streets, art, old town and colorful historic buildings, as well as its local cuisine and famous pintxos. Right in the city center, three restaurants have become must-visits for those who appreciate fine dining, authentic products, and a warm, relaxing atmosphere.

Three ways to appreciate Bilbao : tradition, quality and pleasure

Cover photo of Markina restaurant

Restaurant La Olla de Diputacion in Bilbao

The culinary experience begins in a place renowned for the quality of its ingredients and recipes. Located in the heart of Bilbao, La Olla de Diputación is a restaurant with a large pintxos bar, offering the opportunity to immerse yourself at your own pace in the heart of local gastronomy.

The restaurant La Olla de Diputación

Step into the dining room and discover a welcoming space, captivating with its tranquility and elegant décor. Intimate and warm, it can accommodate around twenty guests who can savor the impeccable dishes and appetizers offered on the menu. A sharing menu is also available, featuring traditional Basque dishes such as T-bone steak or cod, allowing you to discover the refined cuisine of La Olla de Diputación restaurant. Want to soak up the atmosphere of the city center? Take a seat on the terrace and discover one of Bilbao's most charming spots.

The pintxo bar La Olla de Diputación

Lovers of new flavors and local specialties will be captivated by the pintxos bar, a true feast for the eyes and the palate. The concept? Order your favorite pintxos with a glass of wine while enjoying the restaurant's warm atmosphere. From ham and cheese sandwiches to classic and traditional pintxos and gildas, the recipes are crafted from top-quality ingredients, making La Olla de Diputación a gastronomic benchmark for pintxos in Bilbao. While their specialty is acorn-fed Iberian ham and fine wines, they also offer a sharing menu featuring two Basque classics: ribeye steak and cod with pil-pil sauce.

Zurekin Restaurant in Bilbao

The culinary discovery continues a few steps from Markina , at the Zurekin restaurant, the unmissable reference for sandwiches in Bilbao.

The best sandwiches in Bilbao

Specializing in this indulgent recipe of brioche buns filled with your favorite ingredients, Zurekin offers an irresistible menu with nine variations of these delicious rolls. Travel with every bite: let yourself be transported to Maine with succulent shrimp, to Italy with creamy burrata stracciatella, to the Bay of Biscay with melt-in-your-mouth tuna tartare, or even to Connecticut with lobster and coral butter. Prepared to perfection, these melt-in-your-mouth buns offer a magnificent combination of textures and authentic flavors that will delight your taste buds.

A full pintxos bar and varied menus

True to Basque culinary tradition, Zurekin offers a wide selection of pintxos to enjoy throughout the day. A diverse menu, including vegan options, invites you to linger. To accompany its pintxos, the restaurant is renowned for its roulades – brioche buns made to order with a multitude of fillings: beef, octopus, foie gras, and many more. Zurekin also offers an à la carte menu, a delicious daily special, and a tasting menu. The carefully selected meats are cooked to perfection, while the fish dishes reveal the delicate and authentic flavors of the Cantabrian Sea.

Markina Restaurant in Bilbao

Less than a ten-minute walk from your first culinary stop is Markina, a restaurant renowned for its traditional Basque cuisine. Located near the Guggenheim Museum, this welcoming establishment, with its elegantly set tables, invites you to savor the best of local gastronomy, both at lunchtime and in the evening. Its generous dishes are prepared with fresh, local, and seasonal produce: top-quality ingredients that reveal the richness of the region with every bite. Markina offers a diverse menu to satisfy every palate.

• The daily menu is very popular with gourmets looking for a complete culinary experience during the week.
• Pintxos, small portions to share at any time of day
• The Markina tortilla came in second place at the Vizcaya championship in 2023 and 2024.

Their T-bone steaks and fresh fish, house specialties, are also exceptional, not to mention the must-try Markina scrambled eggs, another house specialty. The carefully curated wine list perfectly complements the quality of Markina's cuisine, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience.

Three restaurants, three styles, one same essence : a love of good food and Bilbao.

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