Bilbao · Spain
The Bilbao food cheat sheet
One page from Chef Amazing · November 2026
The dish to eat
Salt cod cooked gently in olive oil with garlic and chili, the oil swirled until the fish's gelatin turns it into a pale golden sauce.
Best at Víctor, Plaza Nueva, Casco Viejo. Get: Bacalao al pil-pil in the upstairs dining room
Five places, and what to order
- Río-Ojafor bacalao al pil-pil · Calle Perro, Casco ViejoGet: Bacalao al pil-pil and the stews in clay dishes
- Gure Tokifor bacalao al pil-pil · Plaza Nueva, Casco ViejoGet: The bacalao pintxo
- Restaurante Sua Sanbreakfast · Opposite the GuggenheimGet: Egg breakfast or pancakes
- Café del Arenalbreakfast · ArenalGet: Tortilla and café con leche
- El Tilo de Mami Loubreakfast · Old TownGet: Homemade cake and breakfast toast
The market
Covered market. Basque produce, fish, pintxos
How it works here
Tip: Not expected. Leave the small change or round up, up to 5-10% for a great meal.
Book: Book sit-down dinners a few days out; pintxos and tapas bars are walk-in, so go bar to bar.
When locals eat: Lunch 2-4pm is the big meal; dinner starts at 9pm, 10 on weekends.