The medieval seven-streets quarter east of the Nervion, anchored by Plaza Nueva's 1849 arcade and the Mercado de la Ribera, where the canonical pintxo crawl still runs nightly.
Ola Martin Berasategui in the Tayko hotel by the Nervion in Bilbao holds one Michelin star for Raul Cabrera's reading of the Berasategui canon.
Signature: Martin Berasategui tasting menu, La Bodega de Ola, Seasonal grill
Order: The Martin Berasategui tasting menu; La Bodega de Ola for the wine-pairing service.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays plus Sunday dinner; book two weeks out.
Berton on Calle Jardines in Bilbao's Casco Viejo runs a standing pintxo bar and a Basque dining room with rabas and hand-cut Iberian ham daily.
Signature: Rabas, Iberian ham, Bacalao
Order: The rabas (fried squid) at the bar; the bacalao at the table.
Tip: Open continuously from 09:00 to 23:00; jam-packed at txikiteo hour, calmer after 21:30 in the dining room.
Anboto Gastroleku on Jardines in Bilbao runs a Casco Viejo pintxo bar downstairs and 110-cover Basque restaurant with menu del dia upstairs.
Signature: Bacalao, Pintxos selection, Tasting menu
Order: The 26-euro menu del dia for lunch; the bacalao if you order a la carte.
Tip: Book ahead for the upstairs dining room; the downstairs pintxo bar accepts walk-up custom from open until close.
Berton on Calle Jardines in Bilbao's Casco Viejo runs a standing pintxo bar and a Basque dining room with rabas and hand-cut Iberian ham daily.
Signature: Rabas, Iberian ham, Bacalao
Order: The rabas (fried squid) at the bar; the bacalao at the table.
Tip: Open continuously from 09:00 to 23:00; jam-packed at txikiteo hour, calmer after 21:30 in the dining room.
Anboto Gastroleku on Jardines in Bilbao runs a Casco Viejo pintxo bar downstairs and 110-cover Basque restaurant with menu del dia upstairs.
Signature: Bacalao, Menu del dia, Grilled meats
Order: The 26-euro menu del dia for lunch; the bacalao if you order a la carte.
Tip: Book ahead for the upstairs dining room; the downstairs pintxo bar accepts walk-up custom from open until close.
Victor Montes on Plaza Nueva in Bilbao keeps the spirit of the 1849 grocery, with grilled mushrooms with foie, charcuterie and a deep wine cellar.
Signature: Grilled mushrooms with foie, Iberian charcuterie, Old wines
Order: The grilled mushrooms with foie gras; a glass of old wine from the cellar.
Tip: The terrace facing Plaza Nueva is the spot in summer; the back dining room takes reservations.