| Guggenheim Restaurant |
$$$$$ | Spanish |
The Guggenheim Restaurant is located inside the world-class
Guggenheim Museum, and it prides itself on being one of the city's
very best eateries. Serving traditional Basque cuisine using the
freshest local produce, diners can enjoy innovative dishes that
have been expertly prepared by chef Josean Martínez, such as
the mouth-watering perfumed 'euskal oiloa' chicken (Basque breed
organic chicken) with rosemary and lime leaves, or the decadent
pure chocolate with coffee ice cream and a hot marzipan sand.
Bookings recommended. Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and
Wednesday to Saturday for dinner.
Address: Avda. Abandoibarra 2
E-mail: info@restauranteguggenheim.com
Telephone: +34 944 23 9333
| Restaurante À Table |
$$$$$ | French |
This stylish restaurant, located in Bilbao's Old Quarter,
specialising in unique and innovative union between classic Basque
and French cuisine is warm and cosy with interesting and quirky
artwork adorning the walls. With an elegant wine list encompassing
local Basque and Spanish wines as well as French imports, diners
can sip on the region's finest harvest while sampling sumptuous
French dishes like duck breast filled with foie-gras and frogs legs
with Dijon mustard before diving into the veal tripe Biscayne
style. Reservations recommended. Open Wednesday to Saturday for
lunch and dinner. Closed the first two weeks of August.
Address: Dos de Mayo 18
E-mail: sugerencias@restauranteatable.com
Telephone: +34 944 15 4766
| Aretxondo Restaurant |
$$$$$ | Spanish |
Located in a quaint and charming country house just outside the
city centre, Bilbao's Aretxondo Restaurant has a unique and
distinctive character with modern and inventive twists on
traditional cuisine. A popular venue for events, weddings and other
special occasions, it boasts and extensive wine list, knowledgeable
waiters simply heavenly food. Try the sautéed prawns with
potato guacamole, tomato and condensed grapefruit, or the log on
entrecote in fine herbs and black pepper, and end off with the
mango cheesecake with mango ice cream and spices - deliciously
light and decadent! Open daily for dinner, lunch on Fridays and
Saturdays. Closed Mondays, the first two weeks in January, Easter
week and the first two weeks in August.
Address: Bº Elexalde, 20. (Galdakao)
E-mail: aretxondo@restaurante-aretxondo.com
Telephone: +34 944 56 7671
| Etxanobe |
$$$$$ | International |
Clean white linen tablecloths juxtaposed by the colourful and
almost garish artwork on one of the walls creates a somewhat
classic meets contemporary feel to this popular Bilbao eatery. Run
by owner and chef, Fernando Canales, Etxanobe is located on the top
floor of the Palacio Euskalduna and delivers innovative and
intelligent dishes that tantalise and haunt the taste buds. Try the
boneless suckling lamb with sweetbread or the Muscavado pudding
with cinnamon and rice. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and
dinner. Bookings recommended.
Address: Avda Abandoibarra, 4
Telephone: +34 944 42 1071
| Zortziko |
$$$$$ | International |
The Michelin-starred Zortziko boasts a formal atmosphere and an
air of grandeur and is, deservedly, one of Bilbao's finest
eateries. Three distinctive and classy dining rooms, each with its
own theme creates the ultimate sophisticated yet contemporary
dining experience. Try the Bisket of rock fish or the Fricadellede
chicken with pistachios, and for those with a sweet tooth, the
chocolate sponge, Malden salt and oil Hojiblanca is pure
indulgence. Reservations recommended. Open Tuesday to Saturday for
lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday and Mondays and the second
fortnight in August and the first two weeks in September.
Address: Calle Alameda Mazarredo, 17
Telephone: +34 944 23 9743