Lucky for anyone who loves a good glass of wine and pintxos (and who doesn't?!), Santander has a…read morevery lively pintxos bar scene. Around 8pm, people start to trickle into the bars to have a glass of wine before dinner. Bodega Cigaleña is one of the most memorable of the pintxos bar - first and foremost, the sign at the door declares it is a "museo del vino". As soon as you enter, you very much feel that you are walking through someone's wine collection. Vintages of Rioja that go back as far as the 1920s decorate the shelves and the slate gives the feeling that you are in a cellar. The decor and the way that the bar zig-zags (it is not one long bar) gives the impression of coziness, privacy as you snag your own little nook, and a non-pretentious atmosphere to enjoy wine. Old people and young people alike choose to hang out here. As for the selection of wine, there is tons of it! Each denominación de origen (Spain's terminology for wine appellations) that surrounds Cantabria was well-represented and whether you wanted a red, white, or rose, there were plenty of choices priced under 3 euro. Silly me, I set a goal of wanting to taste every wine on the list; in reality, I tasted three on my two visits here. The bartender seems to have the power to read minds and always knew when me or one of the other clients was ready to try something new. And then there are the pintxos, which are of just of good a quality as the wine served. The tortilla was perfect and made the "Galician way" - just a little bit raw and softer in the middle. After a glass of wine on an empty stomach, the tortilla was all the more satisfying (and prevented me from becoming very drunk). The anchovy pintxo is just three anchovies served over a slice of bread; not overly impressive, but I think that the lack of flavor and texture of the bread was probably to blame. Bodega Cigaleña was definitely one of the most memorable "food and wine" portions of the trip to Santander. The wine, the food, the service - everything is of very high quality.

They have a selection of inexpensive, high quality wine and a selection of expensive high quality…read morewine. The place is small, bit as it is not as popular anymore, there was no issue finding room. It is not a place I would suggest for finding sates, but it is a nice place for wine and snacks.

This is a lovely place to eat tapas. The restaurant inside is decorated with lots of wood and is…read morevery busy. I would normally have looked for a table inside but as it was so sunny and warm, we opted to sit out. We had a delicious dry Rose, along with pulpo, prawns, salad and jamon and coffee at the end. It came to €15 per person- great value. This is located just down from silken colisseum and is definitely worth a look if you're in the area. I really enjoyed out relaxing lunch.

Do you enjoy being shouted at for not understanding that they'd finished serving? Do like when…read morewaiters roar after you while throwing their arms up in the air because you brought your drinks outside and you HAVE TO drink them at the the bar? Are you excited at the prospect of trying to speak your best Spanish to a waiter, only to have him roll his eyes and sigh at you? If so, this is the place for you.

Wonderful tapas bar right in the heart of town. The vino kept on flowing and the atmosphere was…read morefabulous. The pimientos were perfectly salted and wine selection was excellent. But let's face it, you'll get fabulous wine all over Spain, right? That said, this spot was perfect for a snack and great company.

We came here late night, on our last evening in Bilbao…read more Most kitchens close quite early in this area, and Ad Hoc was open at least an hour later than anyplace around. The place is clean and modern looking with a beautiful chalkboard and a friendly waiter who was happy to accommodate our late-night drunken and broken Spanish. We had delicious and piping hot croquettes with a creamy interior spiked with salty ham. Their anchovies were standard but really delicious. Finally, at the bartender's recommendation, we had some Morcilla (blood sausage) with a lovely creamy puree. There is so much amazing food in Bilbao, it's sometimes hard to choose where to go to get your fix. In this case, Ad Hoc's unusually extended hours made the decision for us and i'm really happy they did!!

Excellent wine bar right on the border between Asturias and Cantabria. Great wine selection, lovely…read morepatio, friendly service. Love it!

This is close to 5 star for the experience. It does not appear so on the outside but I loved the…read moreambiance on the inside, and the food and service was outstanding. Living in San Sebastian gives me a very high criterion on what makes 5 star but I probably remember this place more fondly than the 5 stars I have been in. Just a really pleasant lunch in a city that lacks an old town but the feel of stepping back to an age passed was here.

This place was recommended by a local for lunch. It is right on a lovely square. I tried and both…read more(especially tortillas) and the local wines served are great. Price quality is good and location is perfect. The outside seating feels a bit like a take away... But the food totally justifies a high rating.

Wow! The best pintxos I had in Bilbao, maybe in all of my trip. They have cheese - only cheese…read morepintxos. This is the highest quality of cheese, from a crepe with cheese and mushrooms, to idiazabal cheese whipped with honey, other cheeses with Chile pepper jelly, Gorgonzola with quince, and much more. You can have them cold or toasted. They also have a large selection of drinks, but I was more than enough happy with water. Good service, too. This is not in the old town, but about 15 minutes from the Intermodal station.

A cheese pintxo paradise! Wonderful bar where you can eat endless variations of cheese-centric…read morepintxos. Try the crepe with hongos, cheese with garlic, cheese with onions, and so on! Great service and served piping hot!

Delicious & creative cocktails. Great vibes and music. Fast friendly service service.read more

buenisimo, buena calidad, atencion estupenda, los tragos ala medida, la…read morecomida tambien, las croquetas y la burrata fantasticas