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 Good cuisine in modern atmosphere |
San Vicente, 5 Bilbao 48001 Spain +34 94 423 6900 |
This year the Albatros will be 20 years old. Since it was opened in 1980, it has had a steady clientèle of (mostly office) people obliged to lunch away from home and who are looking for good food and that homey atmosphere their work schedule doesn't allow for. In smart and modern surroundings you can sample the specialities of the house, which are seasonal seafood and fish, although the ox cutlets and delicious meat joints are also very good. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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New Basque cuisine |
Máximo Aguirre, 1 Bilbao 48011 Spain +34 94 423 7150 |
The Ama Lurre restaurant, which opened in 1990, has made a niche for itself, in the city. The classical style prevails in its two dining rooms, one of which is private. It is situated next to the Museo de Bellas Artes, one of the most important museums, along with the Guggenheim, in town. There is no excuse then not to visit the art gallery before or after lunch. The quality of the cooking is also evident in the canapés available at he bar. This is a restaurant which specialises in new Basque cuisine, particularly fish and seafood. The dishes that stand out at the Ama Lurre are Lobster and Avocado Salad with in-season Spinach and Ox Filets with oporto paté. Remelluri, 91 Reserve, is a good wine to go with these dishes. The set menu in this establishment costs 6,500 pesetas. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Classic Basque cuisine in Casco Viejo |
Jardines, 2 Bilbao 48005 Spain +34 94 415 6148 |
Apart from the classic Basque cuisine, this restaurant has two other attractions. The first is that it has been in business now for half a century. The second is that it is situated in the middle of the Old Quarter. The premises is located on a first floor and you can get to it through the bar or the separate doorway. This restaurant is characterised by its generous portions and affordability as well as its high quality. The place has had a faithful clientele for many years. Some recommended dishes are: special hors d'oeuvres of the house, Hake Fillets with Crab Sauce and Steak Fillet with Paté. To drink, try the 87 Barón de Oña or 81 Glorioso. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
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Young restaurant specialising in traditional |
Alameda Recalde, 53 Bilbao 48008 Spain |
Although this is a young restaurant -hardly seven years old - the Arrikibar has already carved a niche for itself among the best. The dining room, decorated in rustic style, is a sign that this restaurant specialises in traditional cooking "always prepared with seasonal ingredients". Fresh fish predominates in the kitchen. It is the ingredient most in demand with the clients, the majority of whom are in the medium to high income bracket. Among our suggestions are the slivers of cod, grilled fish and the sea-bass with lemon. In the cellar, the Crianza wines of the Rioja Alavesa are predominant. In common with many other restaurants in Spain, the establishment does not offer a no smoking area. Meals can be ordered to take away. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Luxury restaurant decorated in English style |
Gran Vía, 63 Bilbao 48011 Spain +34 94 441 5332 |
The dining room's English style decor of wood and beige tones makes for a cosy atmosphere in which to sample the specialities of the house. The restaurant is also conveniently located near one of the best hotels in town. The pictures on the walls, the lamps hanging from the ceiling, the wall lamps and the ceiling mouldings give the dining room, which has a separate entrance from the bar, a rather stately air. The Atlanta's stoves are well acquainted with the "nouvelle" Basque cuisine but traditional Basque cooking is not forgotten. The house recommendations are skewered fillet steak with cheese and lamb barbecued cutlets with mushrooms and baked potatoes. We should not, however, forget the seafood and fresh fish. In fact, the specialties differ depending on the season, and in warm weather the specialties include the crab and lobster salads, or the garden salad and crunchy stuffed peppers. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Walking distance from Basílica de Begoña |
Virgen de Begoña, s/n Bilbao 48006 Spain +34 94 412 7257 |
This restaurant next to the "Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Begoña" started out back in 1970. All those who come here to visit the religious temple can't leave without visiting another temple, the gastronomic one. To get to both the restaurant and the basilica you take the Mallona elevator, which is at the Unamuno exit of Casco Viejo station. Those who are fit enough might want to work up an appetite by climbing the Begoña steps. Here you can enjoy "authentic traditional Basque cooking" and nothing less than the protection of the Begoña virgin, mother of Vizcayans. The star dishes at the Begoña are: spring onions stuffed with lambs' trotters, skewer of crayfish and monkfish, wild mushrooms baked with natural paté and steak fillet with Bordeaux sauce. The restaurant closes for holidays in August and Easter week. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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One of best hotel restaurants |
Ercilla, 37-39 Bilbao 48011 Spain +34 94 410 2000 http://www.hotellopezdeharo.com |
In keeping with its name, the decor of the dining room of Hotel Ercilla has a strong marine influence. It has not taken the name of a famous Vizcayan coastal location in vain. The walls of this luxurious establishment are decorated with pictures of boats. Considered one of the best hotel restaurants, in the Bermeo you can sample creative cooking where fish is the main star. The dishes most in demand here are: cod salad, baked sea bass with sauce, hake with seafood and cod prepared in two different ways, both of them delicious: "á la pil-pil" or "á la Vizcaína". Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Elegant and exclusively for male |
Navarra, 1 Bilbao 48001 Spain |
Climbing from the the Arenal bridge and walking to the calle Navarra, we come across the distinguished building which has been declared of cultural interest and houses one of the most select private clubs in the Vizcayan capital, created in 1839. In its beginnings, La Sociedad Bilbaína had its headquarters in Plaza Nueva, but in 1913 it moved to its present site. This building with its emblematic facade and large bay windows, was built by Emiliano Amnan. Founded as a place of relaxation and recreation in the purest European style of the time, this magnificent club has one of the most important private libraries in Spain, containing more than 40,000 volumes, including incunabula. This outstanding building is opulently decorated inside, and some of the most important personalities in the areas of economics, finance and culture have passed through its doors. Apart from general club rooms, it has areas for games like chess and billiards. The general public are allowed into its restaurant and English bar. Women cannot become members of the Sociedad Bilbaína. Given the matriarchal nature of Basque society, it is worth respecting the exclusive masculinity of this domain. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
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Unusual restaurant |
Hurtado de Amézaga, 5 Bilbao 48008 Spain +34 94 443 2172 |
Casa Rufo was founded in 1955, but not as a restaurant; it was originally a shop and, although it has been a restaurant for five years, it has not abandoned its original business. Casa Rufo is, then, probably different from any other restaurant. A rustic atmosphere is created by the stone and wood decor. It is the restaurant of choice for 'executives, politicians, artists, foreigners, etc...' The speciality here is meat. The visitor here should try a good Chop or Fillet Steak. The Cod Fillet is also very well prepared, as are the Paté and the Anchovies. They also assure us that the croquettes are a lot of people's favourites. Given that the meat is not exactly cheap, you should come here prepared, though the prices are not too outrageous. What is certain is that not too many students are found eating here. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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You must stop here |
Gran Vía, 59 Bilbao 48011 Spain |
This very elegant, comfortable city-centre cafe has an exclusive clientele. When the weather is good you can enjoy the pavement cafe, from where you can watch the people going backwards and forwards to the Guggenheim, the Feria de Muestras trade show, or the Palacio de Congresos. You can also use its private dining rooms or its catering service, and enjoy seasonal specialities such as creamed gazpacho, a chilled soup, or hake with asparagus, etc. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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One of Vizcaya's most famous |
Avenida de Leioa, 24 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48990 Spain +1 34 94 491 2031 |
This is a luxurious place that offers sophisticated cooking in a chalet-style restaurant surrounded by pretty gardens 15km from Bilbao. You can choose from an informal glass-covered terrace dining room that's ideal for lunch on spring afternoons or a more formal dining room inside for winter evenings. It serves a range of traditional Basque dishes complemented by the chef's own imaginative creations that include sirloin of lamb with sweet onions and peach sauce, baked sea-bass with mushrooms and saffron oil, and sponge cake filled with chocolate for dessert. As for the wines, you'll find stars like a 1992 vintage Marqués de Vargas for 3200 ptas (EUR 19.23) and a superb Val de Reyes for just 1400 ptas (EUR 8.41). Review © 2007, Wcities |
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A Jabugo classic |
Ercilla, 14 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48009 Spain +34 94 423 3914 |
This establishment specializes in one of the most typical ingredients of Spanish gastronomy: Iberian ham, or, more specifically, that of Jabugo. It is probably one of the foods most asked for by foreigners and one that is surprising in being so uncomplicated yet delicious. Because it's a popular food, though, does not mean it should be eaten any old how in any old place. The Mesón Cinco Jotas offers a select and elegant atmosphere in which to sample its other specialties, such as the "chacina", which is a sort of meat salad. The restaurant's products are all home-made, like the acorn-fed pork loin, "morcón", a morcilla made with a very specific piece of the animal's intestine (similar to a black pudding), country style morcilla, and other "gastronomic delicacies from the mountains of Andalusia". It is not just in Bilbao that this restaurant is popular. The Mesón Cinco Jotas is present in other Spanish cities, too. In Madrid, for example, it has several branches, all of which are always packed. Review © 2007, Wcities |
