Cafe Boulevard
On the arenal, across from teatro arriaga.
Otxoa
C/lersundi, 8 tel. 94-424-1848
Lamiak
Comfortable coffee house, with chocolate cake to die for: c/de la pelota casco viejo
Galeon
Alda. mazarredo, 25, 94-423-1462 maritime motif a mermaid statue at the entrance and decoratoion resembleing the inside of a ship.
Cafe Iruña
C/ colon de larreategui 13. with its arabesque motifs and antique mouldings it is a sight to behold. if you go at night, you can also get some nice shikabobs - some of the only ones you'll find in bilbao.
Cafe La Granja
In plaza circular, across from the bbva tower.
Cafe Nervión
Wonderful views of the river: c/la naja 7.
Bar Juantxu
C/ licenciado poza, 39.
Dakar
C/ heros, 13 tel. 94-424-9756 nightly karaoke and spanish dance music.
Three spectacularly decorated bars which are owned by the same people are:
Gran Casino Nervión
C/ navarra, 1 tel. 94-424-0007 two bars, on-site restaurant. formal/semi-formal dress required.
La Mutua
C/ercilla, 2 tel. 94-423-1154 serving breakfast during the day, and reopening at 11:30pm for the night.
Tap water is safe to drink, also from the outdoor taps. On weekend nights a lot of people gather in the bar area in eastern Casco Viejo, get their drinks from any of the bars and hang around on the streets before heading to nightclubs.