I loved this teeny tiny little cafe/bar/tapas place. They still do what you'd expect every bar in…read moreSpain to do: serve a small plate (tapas) with every drink. So your Euro doesn't only buy you a small beer or wine but also a small plate of chorizo, some cheese or fried potatoes. They have good coffee for a Euro (cortado) and some cocktails (the classics) too. Very friendly service and a modern, clean interior should have people queueing out the door.

As good as it gets for raw oysters within a 3-mile radius! Coming from Boston, we have oysters ALL…read morethe time but these delicious bivalves made my heart flutter. We shared a few of every variation of oyster they had that day: Cantabra, Gillardeau, Hihna and Tia Maraa. If you're lucky enough to have the Gillardeau available the day you're there, order these. They're meaty, sweet and just perrrrrfect. The local Cantabra ones were quite a surprise. They were unique in that they were super salty in a different way but if you're like me, you need to order at least 1 as it would be a total shame not to try the local version when you're there. The Hihna and Tia Maraa varieties came in as a close second to the Gillardeau - Large, sweet and slightly briny. Highly recommended! Now for the dark horse - The smoked cod (bacalao ahumado) was amazing and NOT to be missed. These flavorful pieces of heaven were accompanied with a mustard and a horseradish cream sauce with a bottle of red pepper flakes. The combo of the sauces, pepper and the cod was divine and elevated it to the next echelon. We wished we still had room to order another smoked fish and at this point regretted that we stuffed ourselves with so many pinchos before ending up here ha! Overall, worth the trip and worth the splurge!

Great place to get a small taste of Santander…read more I came here on the way to another restaurant to get some oysters and a couple of drinks. Well . . . we really came here to get drinks on the way to the other restaurant, but the oysters were a great addition. This place is not as crowded as some of the other places on Calle Pena, which worked well for us because the service was very prompt. Also, this makes the dining experience quite nice, quiet get together. Plus, the waiters/bartenders were really chatty and friendly. As someone from the states, I was really surprised to see that La Mar carried Tabasco sauce as a condiment for the oysters. I do not think that I saw a single bottle of Tabasco at any other point during my trip. The oysters were super cheap and super fresh. Also, the bar carries Tanqueray Rangpur, which is my FAVORITE gin and I was ecstatic to see it because I cannot find it anyway in the NYC.

Diego and Esti are incredibly talented and amazing people. They were very hospitable and I was…read morereally impressed with how much care they put into every drink. Extensive knowledge of all sorts of cocktails and can put them together with the best flair I've ever seen! Huge shout out to Pietro as well who was asked to come help for the night and was incredible! Thanks again for an awesome night and helping this first time tourist to Bilbao have a fantastic time! Much love guys and I'll see you again soon!

If you've spent any time in Bilbao, you've come to learn that while the food is excellent, they are…read morenot known for their cocktails. BUT, enter Gin Fizz. This appears to be a one man operation and labor of love. Trained mixologist, Diego, brings heart to every concoction. Well versed in flavor profiles, his drinks are complex, subtle and flavorful. Plus, Diego is just a really sweet guy. If you are in need of something other than the Basque region's fine wines, stop by Gin Fizz. Worth a trip.

Incredible cocktail bar, beyond friendly proprietor. Stopped in a few times, had some nice chats,…read moreand the best vermut preparados in town. Adore this spot! Make sure to have some drinks here when in town.

I had mo idea a place like this existed in Bilbao. Mostly classic cocktails to a wise ranging crowd…read moreold and young. It's a deranged railway cars spaces with multi levels and bars. The mist surprising thing is the vast collection of rare Japanese whiskey . Hibiki 30 anyone? It's only 1100€! We stuck with the mow ubiquitous Spanish styled gin & tonics. Next thing we know it's 4am and some chick is way passed out across from us and a dude with a cerveza is surely inter dimensionally traveling based on how he's wobbling around the room

What a fantastic place to enjoy craft beer in Santander! The selection was wide and service was…read moreattentive. Loved the decor and attention to detail, too. You're in a spot full of locals, so you'll definitely get a good feel of the people and overall vibe of the city. Vale!

Wonderful bartender and open during the siesta hours. Insane selection of spirits. Vending for…read moresmokes. Lots of in door seating and outdoor too. I'm a huge fan.

Really fun pub that we were recommended by our hotel bartender. It's surprisingly pretty spacious…read moreand comfy inside, with multiple couches and some tables. I love the cozy, intimate pub atmosphere, and they serve a pretty good gin and tonic. Bathrooms are located upstairs, and there's a vending machine selling cigarettes for those who need a quick fix.

This cocktail bar/pub is fantastic to start, spend, end your night. Great service, and amazing…read moreselection of drinks (alcohol), let alone a very impressive wine selection. Very hard to find both at same location.. Food was the big surprise. We found ourselves coming to eat here. The pitu caleyu dorados (think Mexican flautas) are a MUST. I had these every time I had my gin tonic - which was almost nightly! Fun atmosphere, with a patio on the front (main restaurant/plaza view) and private patio in back (covered, lit). Tables inside also can be at the bar area, or more private in the back. Fantastic location to relax and enjoy a drink or meal.

I'm visiting my daughter who lives in Santander. This was the end of my stay, so the two of us…read moredecided to go out for a nice dinner. This is a fantastic location with great views, but I recommend staying away from the restaurant side. Before our meal, the server walked around with an enormous tray of warm bread and said, "We start with bread here. Would you like some?" We had bread plates in front of us, and we accepted. The meal was delicious. When she brought the bill, it was hidden inside a closed book, and she also stood waiting for payment with the card payment machine in hand. I usually look over my bill, but due to it being higher end and inside the book, with her standing ready for payment, I would've felt awkward, so I paid. I later realized why they did that: once I saw my bill, I discovered we'd been charged for the chunks of bread (€5 each), and for an additional glass of wine. I've been to high end and very high end restaurants around the world, and I've never seen this before at such an establishment.

Our stop here, was pretty special, our tour group picked for us this restaurant for lunch at…read moreSantander. It is located near Queen Victoria Blvd. The location is right on the beach. Was a beautiful view on this beautiful day! They have 2 restrooms, one in the dining room and one in the tavern (one person each). But the staff, saw the women group lining up, came by to let me know, there's more in the tavern side. Our food: Cesar Salad. Was so good! It also came Fresh Hake from Santander, served with tomato sauce, but instead olive oil. (I was given lots of oil on my plate, but the lady - well known world traveler - decided to exchange with mine Hake. We got the Local Cantebrian Dessert. See photos.

Vermuteka was awesome! Yeah, a bit pricey compared to other places in the city, but it was right in…read morethe mercado and provided a great place to relax and enjoy the vermut. They offered a wide array of vermut cocktails, straight up vermut, and eats. What more could you ask for? While you're at it, step outside and take in the view of the Nervion.