Pintxos
Aritz
Calle zugastinobia 4 48012 bilbao. was once one of the best pintxos bars in bilbao, quite out of the way almost hidden really in a very small, one way street away from the main thoroughfares. ask for it and you will be given directions. it is worth the walk since they have won the local pintxo contests for ages. closed as of feb. 2008 and as the summer of 2008 reopened with what appears to be new management with less emphasis on its prize-winning pintxos. it's worth going to this street though because there are dozens other pintxos bars.
The local custom is to call what are known in Spanish as tapas by the Basque name, Pintxos, probably much more elaborated than their Spanish cousins due to the Basque love of gastronomy.
Fri and Sat night are most popular time for eating pintxos--as it is for going to bars.
Restaurants
à table
Cozy place in the old quarter of Bilbao.Is an authentic Basque-French restaurant offering a true flavour of that traditional cuisine.Good cellar.Reservation required.Service in English.
Agape
Antzokia
Creative non-touristic cuisine in an untraditional setting of a large theater hall and its stage. Full of local knowledge workers. Great value-for-money menu del dia. Very prompt service.
Casa Vasca
traditional Basque cuisine
Harrobia
modern basque cooking
Matxinbenta
Basque food, specialities include fresh tuna in piquant tomato sauce and piperada. Reservations required.
Zortziko
Traditional Basque dishes such as pigeon breast or marinated sea bass. Formal environment with late Victorian style furnishing, frequently booked days in advance. Ask about reservations to dine in the wine cellar.
Guggenheim Museum
has a fine restaurant with a decent value set lunch menu for less than â¬20 each. The restaurant is run by famous Basque chef Martin Berasategui. Make sure to book in advance, easily done before you visit the museum in the morning.