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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 |
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Prestigious venue |
Paseo del Arenal, 3 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48005 Spain +1 34 94 415 3128 |
An atmospheric 19th century cafe that was later refurbished in Art Deco style, it's become a meeting place for literary discussion groups on Tuesdays. It's popular with the general public as well and you'll find it opposite Arriaga Theatre. It serves excellent tapas, or pinchos, of things like potato omelette and peppers stuffed with cod along with sandwiches and ham and cheese on toast to eat with your drinks. You have to book the restaurant and arrange a menu in advance if you want to eat a proper sit-down meal here. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Thomas Cloer |
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Stews among classical and Basque music |
Euskalduna, 4 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48008 Spain +34 94421 3125 |
This is a restaurant in which the decor pays homage to the Basque classics of music. The establishment is decorated with mementos that evoke the opera and Basque musicians. Following the music analogy, we have to say that the cooking in the Euskaldena interprets the classic Basque repertoire perfectly. Nothing jars, there are no false notes. This is the place for those who know how to appreciate their music, which comes free with good cooking. The two arts complement one another perfectly here. To whet the appetite, here are a few suggestions: Vegetable Stew, Baked Sea-bass, Prime Rib, and Peaches with Walnuts and Cream. As for wines, there is a 92 Lan or an Imperial, Gran Reserva. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Sergio Rodríguez |
 Photo: Josu Orbe  |
 Photo: Javier Royo Gutiérrez |
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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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Watch your meat grill |
Iparraguirre, 56 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48010 Spain +1 34 94 422 0089 |
You can be sure you're getting fresh food here because you can watch the chefs prepare everything in the open-plan kitchen. Grilled meats and fish are the specialities and they're best accompanied by fine wines like Viña Vallabona, very reasonably priced at 1000 ptas (EUR 6.01) a bottle. The interior perfectly evokes the style and atmosphere of an authentic old tavern, with bare stone walls lit by old-fashioned wrought-iron lamps. The lunchtime clientele tend to be office workers, but on weekends it's a much more varied crowd. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Open all hours |
Barrenkale Barrena, 7 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48005 Spain +1 34 94 415 9642 |
It's a venue that changes functions throughout the day to suit its clients. You can come for a late breakfast snack, pop in at lunchtime for tapas or come in the evening for serious drinking and music. You'll see displays of work by 'alternative' painters on the walls and you can entertain yourself chatting with friends or playing board games. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Luxury and quality in Casco Viejo |
Perro, 3 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48005 Spain +34 94 415 0228 |
This restaurant is situated in one of the most popular streets of Bilbao's Casco Viejo (Old Quarter). It is a luxurious establishment with a decor that has been thought out down to the last detail. It also professes to offer "unbeatable service". Up-dated traditional Basque cuisine is the specialty. One of the dishes not to be missed at the Mandoya is the lobster, which comes from the restaurant's own nursery. But apart from the lobster, here are a few other suggestions: seafood and smoked fish salad, charcoal-grilled sea-bass or "chuletón" (steak) with garnish. There is also a large selection of home-made desserts. Mandoya normally closes from the end of July through the first week in August. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
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Multi-cultural |
Luchana, 1 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48008 Spain +1 34 94 416 8181 |
A busy restaurant with a kitchen that shows culinary influences from all over the world, you'll find a wide range of imaginative dishes on the menu like endives stuffed with monkfish, prawns and country-style omelette with cod. It's so popular during the week you can't make reservations at lunchtime. You just have to turn up and hope you're lucky. The management organizes regular exhibitions of travel photography (to complement the exotic artifacts decorating the mahogany dining room walls) and other cultural activities. There's another branch on Calle Simón Bolívar, 17 (tel: 441 3523). Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Modernist facade |
Plaza Nueva, 8 Bilbao, Vizcaya 48008 Spain +1 34 94 415 5603 |
The best place in town to sit down and try cured Iberian meats, fresh fish and free-range beef. You can also buy all these products to take-away from the delicatessen counter. The bar offers a delicious selection of tapas, or pintxos, to savour with a glass of fine wine, like the house Paternina or a 1994 vintage Rioja. The huge range of spirits (including brandies and whiskies) behind the counter looks like a museum exhibition. You'll recognize it by its outstanding modernist facade coloured black with gold trimming, hidden behind one of the arches on Plaza Nueva, in the heart of the Casco Viejo (Old Town). You can sit out on the terrace in summer, if you can find a space. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Scott Bushnell |
 Photo: -ko-ko- |