This place was recommended by the hotel staff where we were staying. We tried to go during lunch…read morefor their Menu del Dia but it was too busy so we ended up going elsewhere. I am glad we had another opportunity to check it out! The night before we left town, we stopped by Las Cepas again but this time for "pintxos" (Basque tapas) around 7 p.m. - early by Spanish standards. We went early on purpose so that we could grab a couple spots at the bar. Between my broken Spanish and the bartender's broken English, we managed to find out what each of the pintxos on display actually were whether it be Spanish tortilla, calamari, tuna, chorizo, mini burger, and more - all served on bread. Meant to be more of snack, my daughter and I had three each and found that they make a nice little meal. Fresh and delicious! It was a surprise that they were only €1.50 each! And the wine was also a bargain!

Good was very good but not special. The ambiance was very good but not special. The service was…read moresurprisingly bellow Bilbao standards... lots of mistakes, slow and nothing about it made the meal feel... well you know special. At this price point there are better options close by

Truly one of the most bizarre and aggressively unpleasant dining experiences I've ever had. If you…read morehaven't been verbally abused in a while, look no further! My family and I came here during our trip to Bilbao. My sister and I ordered the meat medallions and simply did not enjoy them. Instead of forcing ourselves to continue eating meat that tasted like it came out of a prison cafeteria, we politely asked if we could order something else instead. The server or manager, still unclear which, although the ego strongly suggested management, immediately became defensive and hostile. He started lecturing us about how the meat is "supposed" to taste, as if informing us about pre slaughter cattle nutrition was going to magically improve this metal tasting dish. My sister continued patiently repeating that we did not enjoy this meat and asked if we could replace it with something else. At that point this fully grown man, who appeared to be well over 60 years old, aggressively grabbed the plates, slammed them together, and said, "Well I don't like the meat in your country, you Fu***** bi***." My sister is a minor, which makes the entire interaction even more disturbing. After his dramatic exit, loud enough to make the whole room uncomfortable, he shuffled back a minute later to continue explaining the meat to us as though we were lacking the intellectual capacity to understand the flavor profile of tenderloin beef. By then our appetite was gone, the atmosphere was ruined, and we decided not to order anything else. The medallions started it, but he finished the job, completely killing our appetite. The most concerning part is that he appeared to be in a leadership position. If this is how customers are treated for politely sending back a dish, it raises serious questions about basic professionalism in this restaurant. Bilbao has far too many incredible restaurants to waste your money being insulted by a man whose emotional stability clearly isn't suitable for the hospitality business PS: After reading other reviews, it appears there is a recurring pattern of defensiveness and hostility toward criticism rather than any effort to resolve issues professionally. How surprising. Shame on you sir. And shame on the restaurant for being represented by such an unprofessional individual.

This is the best restaurant we have eaten at in Bilbao. When you first enter it looks like a…read morenormal Pintxos bar, but they have a very elegant dining room in back. They open for dinner at 9pm, and you will need reservations. We had our hotel arrange the reservation. They specialize in Ribeye and fresh fish, both grilled. We ordered the Ox Chop Ribeye for two. It weighed over a Kilogram and was prepared to our request of medium-rare. It came with a fantastic amuse bouche of puréed squash soup and a bite of a seafood salad. We split a fresh lettuce, tomato, grated cheese, and olive oil salad. The tomatoes were perfectly ripe and tasty. The steak was the best we have had in Spain. In my younger days I could have finished it all, but no more. The service was very attentive and the staff was very helpful and friendly. We considered ordering grilled octopus as a starter and they said it would be to much. They were right. It was not inexpensive (€171) but worth every euro. Can't recommend it enough.

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.

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.

Spectacularly good. I have some experience with Michelin starred restaurants and I can assure you…read morethat this is the one of the finest I have ever eaten in. Trust me. I'm a doctor. . The epitome of the upper middle class gourmand. And my advice is SPEND THE MONEY and order the 13 course tasting menu. I don't usually even like tasting menus. But this one? 8/13 staggering dishes. Much better than average. And break down and order a bottle of the 2011 Castillo Ygay to go with. Life is short.

It's an honor to be the first. This amazing restaurant inside the hotel Tayko is a true gem…read more Unassuming, unpretentious, perched up on a second-floor, the amazing service starts at the door. A very knowledgeable sommelier provides an endless array of options to complement the beautiful and delctable spectacle of superb creations in the tasting menu. Hands-down, one of the best places, from service to food, a true winner. ¡Felicitaciones!

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.

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.

Incredible meal, fantastic service! The buñuelos and mushrooms were both excellent! That said, the…read moretomato salad was the standout! Excellent, simple ingredients. Be sure to make a reservation when in town !

The hostess asked us to sit outside because we didn't booked and we thought it was fair enough…read moreuntil we realised that the restaurant was empty during all of our stay, i can understand if you are having a bad day but she really made u feel awfull. I would've loved to give a 5 star, as the food was excellent and our waiter was so nice to us.