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!

The food was spectacular. Truly one of the most superlative meals I've ever had. The service was…read morelovely. The waiter and chef made sure the vegetarian member of our party had all he needed for a similarly wonderful meal, occasionally adding onto the vegetarian menu with items from the menu the rest of the party had chosen. The setting is gorgeous. We had our after lunch coffee on the patio with view of mountains and fields. Really once in a lifetime experience.

Our Basque exchange students family treated us to this wonderful meal in the hills of…read moreAmorebieta-Etxano. Absolute beautiful setting and phenomenal dining experience.

A friend passed along some recommended places from a local, and thankfully, Kapikua was among them…read more A group of 6 of us had a splendid time, taking turns adding to our order by returning to the bar and pointing at whatever looked good. Happily, it all looked good. Some items are reheated upon ordering, and others, like small bocadillos, are served at room temperature. It's a small place, and the sound system was loud enough that most of the orders placed seem to be done by gesturing, so it's not just a convenient way for foreigners to find food. Having no idea what things are called adds to the experience, and when you start off with food that is universally terrific, you end up with a memorable meal.

Right by the Catedral, ready to quench your thirst, and eat your weight of pintxos? Then park…read moreyourself here. Order a few rounds of Txakoli, position yourself at the bar, and enjoy yourself.Everything was delightful, clean, and the drinks just kept flowing. And yes, there was even a lovely patio out front. Idyllic!

Sukalde was a very interesting dinner passed in Bilbao. The local Is little but a cozy one! The…read moreentrance Is a tipical "pintxos" bar of the city but there Is a little corner with few tables with the wall with street paint. Nice view... We ordered a "filettos of the cow" with potatoes and fried pepper, well served and tasty in all parts! Even the bread was warm (even the price! It costs 1,5€ per piece so be carefull!). The bottle of Wine was finished soon like the evening passed there! It Was seems like few minutes. The only bad note Is the price a bit expensive.

Great food. The calamari is so good, the cows stomach is what is popular here, that's good too. And…read morethe smoked salmon is served as a fillet, really good. And their beef is good too. You gotta reserve your spot to sit and dine here, it's always busy.

One of the most colorful layouts of pintxos awaits at Zurekin, a tapas bar in the new city of…read moreBilbao! The classic tortilla made with egg, sliced potatoes, and lots of olive oil was juicy and succulent. The taco bonito was a rather dry but meaty chunk of tuna topped with chopped onions, tomatoes, and peppers, and plenty of olive oil. But the most unique pintxo I had came with two thick slices of creamy, melty brie cheese topped with a compote of mixed berries, and skewered with a mint leaf and a raspberry. Such a colorful melange of ingredients, and the sweetness of the berries had a nice contrast to the unctuous cheese!

We ordered the 'boletos salteados, huevo a baja temperatura y jamón' but they forgot the ham...It…read morewas a dish of mushrooms with a loose egg in the middle. We then ordered the entrecot which was pretty good. Bread was great, there seemed to only be one waiter around so no ordering extra drinks. Would've been easier to just get pintxos and drinks at El Globo next door.

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.

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.

Pintxo bar experience…read more When walking into a busy pintxo bar, the recommended strategy is to find a stool at the bar and try whatever takes your fancy that's within reach, but do leave some room for the next stop! Sorginzulo is located in one of the corners of Plaza Nueva in Bilbao and is very small. Calamari is their specialty, but it is only served during the weekends. If you are there during the week, no worries! Almost every item is delicious! There were six in our group and all six ordered a couple of pinxos each. No one complained!

Sorginzulo is the place to go for fresh fried calamari, which they proudly explain is available all…read morehours of the day. The place is located in the Plaza Nueva and is surprisingly NOT touristy. This is the first time that I can ever remember having bread that has been colored with squid ink, so that's a thing. I didn't notice any taste difference but black bread that's not pumpernickel? Very different. The fresh fried calamari sandwich with a spicy mayo aioli was amazing. A truly excellent pinxtos. We also enjoyed a bottle of Basque cidre that contrasts well with the fried seafood. Tip: This is where you'll find "the frog" if you're on a scavenger hunt.