Some of the tastiest pintxos in Bilbao! They offer a great…read morevariety of classics, but each has a unique twist. I recommend the squid, crab gratin, and chorizo. The service was a bit of a mess lol people everywhere trying to get into the queue to order. However, the staff did their best and delivered everything as quickly as possible. I recommend going at off-peak hours... Unless you want to experience ordering like the locals XD

Right in Plaza Nueva this restaurant doubles as a tapas par and patio as well. There's dine-in,…read moreinside and outside, as well as bar tables and ledges inside for those here for tapas. The space is very clean, and plenty of space for large groups as well. Pretty generous portions too for their paella and they have an English menu as well.

Small, easy breezy bar that is perfect for meeting up with friends to chat about nothing. Since we…read morewere doing an impromptu walking culinary tour of the city, our time at Irrintzi was very short (eg one beer and pintxo). However, we did enjoy our time at the pub, and I hope to return whenever I make a trip to Bilbao. The bartender was great and very patient with the time it took us to decide on a yummy treat.

4.5 stars Irrintzi in the old city of Bilbao is all about…read more"pintxos&friends," and this casual bar sports some unique creations. First, I tried the classic pil-pil, a chunk of cod topped with a creamy sauce made of the cod skin along with garlic and oil. Then there was a pork "taco" made of breaded chunks of honey-glazed pork (it definitely reminded me of an Asian preparation), served along with seaweed salad in a "taco" shell made of nori on the inside and a crispy cornmeal coating on the outside--truly one of the most unique bites of food I've ever had! Finally, I had the octopus carpaccio topped with a dollop of mashed potato, all topped with a piece of crispy jamon. The creaminess of the mashed potato went perfectly with the tender octopus, and the umami, savory piece of jamon brought all the flavors together!

Best food!!! Warm welcome; good price. We had excellent wine, awesome mushrooms to start, delicious…read morecod and hake for dinner and a wonderful dessert. Service was excellent; ambiance was relaxed and comfy.,If in Balboa, you must go here!!! You will be have a great meal!

This place was very nice. We were seated and given suggestions for appetizers. We selected the…read moretomato plate, which is tomatoes chopped with olive oil and onions. Enough for 4 people. I wish they would have mentioned it, but it was good. Mushrooms sautéed in olive oil. Another good dish, but again enough for more than two. I ordered the clams, which was just clams. And my husband had a codfish dish that was delicious. The service was good.

This place is nearly impossible to get a reservation and it's understandable. Their dishes are out…read moreof this world. No surprise that several alums have gone on to open highly rated restaurants of their own (Firedoor, Burnt Ends, etc). If you can't get a reservation but are in the area in Sunday you can still go at lunch to get tapas. And the real bonus was getting to order a few grilled dishes like their lamb chops and steak along with cod. These were amazing. But if you can get a resy definitely go that route first so you can get Viktor's entire tasting menu

Amazing meal. Came to basque country to dine here and it was worth the trip if you can snag a…read morereservation. Restaurant is located in the beautiful and peaceful hills of axpe,bizkaia 40 mins from bilbao. Asador is the mecca and founder of grilled foods. Dave pynt from burnt ends and even eneko trained here at one point of their careers. We went with the tasting and added a lobster. A choice we did not regret. Everything was done masterfully. Don't expect caviar and good here. This place is about the raw ingredients cooked perfectly. No frills, just flames. This is an absolute must and bucket list place to experience once.

This review is for an event catered for our World Open Innovation Conference group at the…read moreGuggenheim Museum in Bilbao. We were gathered in the forum and tried various dishes brought out to us by servers. Having a social event at the Guggenheim was special in itself but I want to keep this review focused on the food. Some of my favorites are listed below: Savories: I was pleased to try one of the most traditional and basic pintxos, the Gilda. It consisted of green peppers in vinegar, anchovies in brine, and green olives. I could not stop eating them! Marinated cod in garlic oil was another winner, especially when paired with a glass of Rioja. I also enjoyed Beef steak tartar with anchovy, and Grisini of Iberic ham. Sweets: Both the desserts were superb. The Mini Carolina lemon and meringue tartlet was a feast for the eyes, but the caramelized French toast was so good I had two! Bilbao continues to exceed expectations - can't wait to see what comes next!

The food was as uninspired as the decor. I've eaten in…read morecountless Michelin restaurants and this was a major disappointment. Other than the Cherry Tomatoes in herb sauce and the Brioche with butter ice cream, every other course had the same bland taste. While the lack of any interior decoration could be attributed to an attempt to mimic an art gallery (I'm hoping that's what you were going for) with the single window as the "art", at least in a gallery, everyone has an opportunity to view the art from different angles; not so here. Disappointed and not recommending.

Great job and super good food in Barcelona... definitely will highly recommend…read moreWill return in the future

Another great experience and overall service was excellent. Had the premium steak which was…read morephenomenal and others enjoyed the fish special.

Try everything. From the fish and chips, to the jamón, to the caldo. Don't miss out on the revuelto…read morecon jamón. The eggs are perfect. It's an institution for a reason.

Really excellent spot for pintxos but also super upscale dinner in Bilbao. Had foie gras and also…read morethe cod which both were incredible. Excellent service and a super fun vibe even late on a Wednesday night.

This place is super popular. Lunch service starts a bit later, I think at 1:00? So make sure to get…read morehere right on the dot since this place fills up quickly. They have a set menu with Basque cuisine which runs about 20 Euros or so for lunch. If you want to add a half bottle of wine (per person!!!) it's only 4 Euros. Great for a boozy lunch. I ordered the squid ink croquettes and they were delicious! Crispy on the outside with a side of aioli. Markina reminds me of the old school restaurants in SF close to Union Square. There is counter service, tables along the sides and in the middle. There's also a seating area downstairs by the restrooms for larger groups. It's bustling, lots of locals, efficient and fast service. Would totally come here again.

We came to Markina for a family dinner and enjoyed one of our best meals in Bilbao. The menu…read morecelebrates classic Basque cuisine, and the quality of the ingredients really shines through. We shared the Cantabrian anchovies, grilled scallop, heirloom tomato salad, grilled red prawns, baby squid in its own ink, grilled whole fish with potatoes, and the Basque chuleton. Every savory dish was excellent. The heirloom tomato salad was incredibly fresh, sweet, and juicy, showing just how good simple ingredients can be. The grilled scallop was tender and flavorful, served in its shell with a rich buttery sauce. The baby squid in its own ink was rich without being overwhelming, the grilled fish was moist and perfectly cooked, and the chuleton was everything you'd expect from a great Basque steak, beautifully cooked and full of flavor. The gambas were also wonderfully fresh and sweet. We finished with the Basque cheesecake and torrija, both of which made for a satisfying end to the meal. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, making it a lovely place for a family dinner. The only downside was the service. It wasn't terrible, but it lacked attentiveness. We ordered a drink that never arrived, and no one seemed to notice until we followed it up ourselves. Small details like that kept the experience from matching the high standard of the food. Even so, Markina is a restaurant I'd gladly recommend. The kitchen clearly knows what it's's doing, and if you appreciate traditional Basque cooking made with quality ingredients, this place deserves a spot on your Bilbao itinerary.