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.

One of the most renowned Pintxo houses in Bilboa. Famous for their truffle and spider crab…read moreversions. Both verified delicious. Had a small beer code named "Zurito" and a small vermouth code named "marianito" The play is to order the best pintxo and a small drink and move on. Thus the service is scaled that way. They were helpful and quick. Ambience? You stand on street with 80 other people. Go with the program and drink it in

The restaurant is one I found to be recommended for pinxtos (small, bite-sized snacks often on a…read morepiece of toasted bread). We sat outside and were told to order food inside. The thing about sitting outside is that there are smokers. :/ The pinxtos are premade and just heated up. We tried txangurro (spider crab) gratin, artichoke in tempura, and crispy squid with onion. I was a bit disappointed, because I didn't care for any of them. The bread was quite crusty. I guess pinxtos aren't my thing.

Nice breakfast before setting off to explore. Had a ham and cheese croissants and a delicious…read morecinnamon roll. Good coffee as well.

Lasagna is very very good. Service was slow. The wood benches look cool, but are terrible to sit in.read more

We didn't understand why this shop had the most expensive tapas but yet the longest lines. After…read moretrying their good food, we know why. Many basque speaking locals frequent the store, which is a good sign too. (You can tell when you hear "eta" in every other sentence - it means "and" in basque) The octopus and snails are really great. The other tapas are great too. They heat up the tapas so that its served at the perfect temperature. Loved it!

Just loved it. The Spanish start dinner after 8:30 pm, which is insane for me. That's my bedtime…read more But Larruzz is open all day. Just across the bridge from my hotel, I was so glad I found it here on Yelp. Besides good seating arrangements and nice decorations, the staff is also very friendly , although poorly English speaking. My Spanish is still a bit rusty :) I chose the paella with sea fruit. It was super delicious nom nom nom. Divine. Going back tomorrow scrumptious. Really.

Stopped in to try their Paella due to great reviews and I'm glad we did. It was a rainy day in…read moreBilbao and it was nice to have tasty and delicious paella. We had the vegetable and chicken and it was full of flavor muy delicioso. The service is great (especially with my limited Spanish, thanks for being patient) restaurant is clean and has a very nice atmosphere. Very close to the Guggenheim. I would recommend Larruzz.

Excellent food, incredible service. No visit to Casco Viejo would be complete without several stops…read moreat this lovely place. Frequent enough and the staff will remember your favorite drink!

Baster ended up being my last meal in Bilbao. It's a neat spot but on a Saturday night, the inside…read morewas packed and all the outside seating was packed. I sort of lucked out as I placed my beer and pinxtos order at the outside counter just as a nearby standup table opened up. The Estrella was cold and satisfying. My sandwich took a little while to be headed up in the panini press but worth the wait. Tasty, filling and delicious. It's a neat spot right next to the big church wall. Neat space. Totally would return.

After exploring Bilbao's charming Casco Viejo, we made our way to Gure Toki in Plaza Nueva, and it…read moreended up being one of the highlights of our trip. The pintxos counter alone is worth the visit. Every bite looked like a miniature work of art, making it almost impossible to choose. We started with the Gilda, the iconic Basque pintxo of olives, Cantabrian anchovies, and pickled guindilla peppers. It was bright, salty, and the perfect way to wake up our appetites. The Idiazabal cheese soup with quail egg was one of the most memorable dishes we had in Bilbao. Creamy, silky, and comforting, it was topped with crispy potato sticks, crunchy corn, herbs, edible flowers, and a perfectly cooked quail egg that made every spoonful rich without feeling heavy. Another favorite was the tuna served in a vintage-style sardine tin, topped with roasted red peppers. The presentation was clever, but the quality of the tuna really stood out. It was incredibly fresh, tender, and paired beautifully with the sweet peppers. We also couldn't resist the jamón Ibérico on toasted bread with grated tomato (pan con tomate). Sometimes the simplest pintxos are the best, and this one showcased just how exceptional good Iberian ham can be. Everything was beautifully presented without sacrificing flavor. Even though the bar was busy, service was efficient, and the lively atmosphere made it feel like a place where both locals and visitors come for outstanding pintxos. If you're visiting Bilbao, Gure Toki is a must. It's the perfect place to experience traditional Basque flavors with a modern, creative twist.

Definitely a must visit for pintxos. Presentation, service, and quality were tops. A perfect place…read moreto experience pintxos for the first time.

Spain has 5,000 kilometers of coastline (3,100 miles)! With…read morethat much accumulation of saltwater at your fingertips you have a hell of a lot of choices of what your seafood meal can be. Today, for lunch at Serantes here in Bilbao, Spain, us six had a boat full (excuse the pun) of amazing marine cuisine that was about as good as any food from the ocean I've ever had: Squid, Octopus, Shrimp, Prawns, Urchin, Cuddlefish and any other food that swims. The service was stellar, the ambience was quiet and serene, the wines were delectable and the price for this extravaganza was not New York, L.A. or San Francisco prices. My stay here in Northern Spain has been breathtaking along with delicious. If I'm anywhere near 500 kilometers from Serantes, you better know I'll be back here lickity-split!

Everything is always wonderful. The staff, food, and music, too. Always get rabas, but don't skip…read moreon the tortillas and ensaladilla. A great wine selection, as well!