Bar Txakoli is cool.I saw a poster for a gig there and went up (and up!) on a whim.A EUR10 taxi…read moreride (the driver got lost) took me to the venue.There was a punk band playing outside (Los Envidiosos) and a very relaxed gathering of geriatrics down to toddlers clapping,dancing and playing round a simple rustic setting.Excellent.I drank some very generous screwdrivers which at EUR3 was a steal and listened to the band outside.There's a stunning view of the city from here too.The interior decor dates from every era between 1930 and 1985 and it's very much a local bar with internet access and the owner playing wicked goth and punk from a massive database.I stayed late and had fun with the band.I'm delighted I went to Bar Txakoli and would recommend a vist if you'd like an authentic taste of Bilbao with a punk twist.

They have an English menu, but the counter guy wanted me to try Spanish and bring from Cali I can…read moreget by. Glad I stopped as the brocheta de gambas and Mari Juli were excellent. Ordered a small beer so I can possibly hit another spot, but don't think it's happening as I'm full. Couple of things I've learned while here are order from the Caliente (hot) menu, usually the top 1 or 2 are that restaurants specialty pintxos, order a small beer so you can try several places. It's small inside with mostly standing room the service counter.

Wish I was back in the quaint seaside town of San Sebastián/Donostia in the Basque country. Goiz…read moreArgi is a little place serving pintxos, located in the middle of the busy San Sebastián center of town. Came here on the recommendations of some locals and it did not disappoint. No bells or whistles here, just great local tapas made fresh in front of you. The workers spoke limited English but you simply point to what you want.

Incredible jazz bar that actually. Not touristy and continually has amazing musicians come through…read moreit every Saturday and Sunday.

Was there on re-opening day. What a great crowd with so much…read moreenergy. Musicians were fantastic, a number of younger guys from Barcelona. After the first set, it was open to a jam and some great sax players got on stage. Drinks and wine were very reasonable and there's some snack type food, too. All in all, a great experience with very welcoming people.

Ostadar is literally my favorite bar of all time. This is due to the many, many nights I spent…read morebellied up to the bar here during my study abroad time in San Sebastian. If you like U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Muse and other great bands, this is the place to be. It has an unrivaled laid back vibe. The mix of traveling surfers, locals, vacationers and students makes this place one of a kind. It will always have a place in my heart, and I can't wait to return.

Hondarribia is an extraordinary town with a gastronomic explosion…read more Few tourists (contrast with Saint Jean de Luz). Little urban blight (contrast with Donastia) Picturesque everywhere. (The ugly stuff was foisted off on the neighboring town of Irun.) And magnificent restaurants everywhere. Ironically - Cafe Exteberria is NOT one of the famous restaurants. If you want the places the New York Times or the food critics love - go down to the waterfront. The critics say - probably correctly - you will eat like a king. Cafe Exteberria is a neighborhood joint. It is in the old city within the ancient city walls. An unusual (and highly desirable) feature of the old city is that there is VERY LITTLE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT anywhere in the old city. There are not only few tourist stores. There are no stores period stop the end. In the Middle Ages, walled cities had the houses people lived in, a castle and nothing else. If you did business, you did it in the streets. Hondarribia has kept things exactly that way. Not a single house has been knocked down or cleared out for modern business. The houses have been upgraded for modern comforts. (They now have flush toilets instead of people dumping their bedpans in the street.) Everything else has been maintained. So if you want to eat, there are only two choices. There are some tavernas off of the central square. In the southern part of the old city far from the central square, there is Cafe Exteberria. It pretty much only takes care of the locals. It is a wonderful establishment. It carries a small but wonderful assortments of global microbrews. (None from the U.S.. but intriguing examples of Mexican, Danish and Scotch artisanal beers.) There is plenty of Spanish/Basque food and drink. They keep a local red vermouth in a barrel and serve it with fruit and ice. That is a fine fine beverage and I endorse it heartily. They have a nice little menu of sandwiches and pinxtos. We went with the omelet with tuna and the deep fried hot peppers. Fine dishes both. Two additional marks of class. a) The television was set to the Mainland Chinese channel (with Spanish subtitles.) While we ate we watched Chinese telenovelas. The middle aged owner of a business was scheming against his brothers and being morally corrected by the rest of his family. b) The owner has a first rate jazz collection - mostly in vinyl - which she plays as the background music. Great vermouth, fine basque food, Chinese telenovelas, and late fifties jazz vocals. What's not to like?

Digital music makes singles accessible, but the art of writing an album you could listen to in its…read moreentirety is fading. Thankfully there's a rock band keen on keeping the tradition alive. La Oreja de Van Gogh, or Van Gogh's Ear for Eglish speakers, or LODVG for txt speakers, are five musicians giving life to the practice of crafting a record you can listen to from cover to cover. Experts at shaping sonnets into soundtracks, their skill has won them MTV's Best Spanish Artist and a Latin Grammy for Best Pop Album. Their career has spun over 20 years and succeeded in selling over 10 million albums, but that doesn't mean the band is stopping anytime soon. Catch them on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/4U7lXyKdSf1JbM1aXvsodC