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6 Things to Know about Pintxos in Bilbao

18/07/17 ᛫ 15 Comments

If you’re a self confessed foodie, the Pintxos in Bilbao should be reason enough for you to plan a trip there. It’s one of the things that really stood out on my recent trip to Bilbao, so I thought it was only fair to dedicate an entire blog post to the subject. Pintxos is the Basque Country’s version of tapas and there are age-old traditions that surround it. If you’re new to Bilbao and want to enjoy the foodie delights like a local, there are a few things worth knowing first. Lucky for you, I’ve squeezed them all into this blog post!

pinxtos-ribera-cafe-bilbao

1.You’ll Find the Best Pintxos in the Old Town

Bilbao’s Old Town, known as Casco Viejo, is made up of 7 picturesque streets. This is where you’ll find the most authentic Pintxos in Bilbao and where you should definitely embark on a ‘Pintxos crawl’. Each Pintxos establishment has a selection of small plates spread across the bar and you can choose to eat them hot or cold. It’s perfectly acceptable to just pop in for 1 drink and 1 Pintxos then move swiftly on to the next establishment, hence the birth of the ‘Pintxos crawl’.

pinxtos-bilbao

2.Pintxos is Best Enjoyed for Lunch or as a Pre-Dinner Snack

There’s no wrong time to order Pintxos in Bilbao, but the bars are at the most buzzing between 1pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm. This is the lunchtime and pre-dinner rush and when you’ll find the best atmosphere amongst the bars. The Spanish don’t eat dinner until around 9pm, which may come as a shock to some Brits and other foreigners. Going for a few pre-dinner Pintxos is a great way for tourists to keep hunger pangs at bay and enjoy more of a local scene.

iberico-ham

3.Plaza Nueva is a Hidden Pintxos Gold Mine

Close to the ‘7 streets’ of the Old Town you’ll find the Plaza Nueva, a sheltered plaza lined with around 20-25 bars all selling delicious Pintxos. The Plaza Nueva comes alive at weekends and between 6pm and 8pm every night. You’ll see friends and locals mingling around the outside of each bar or stood inside. Some bars such as Victor Montes here have been around for decades and are somewhat of an institution for locals.

plaza-nueva-bilbao

4.It’s Not Rude to Drop Your Napkins on the Floor

When you arrive in the Pintxos bars in Bilbao you may wonder why there are so many white paper tissues scattered around the bar. It’s tradition for locals to stand at the bar for a quick drink and a Pintxos, clean up with a tissue and then drop it on the floor. I still find it a bizarre custom but my tour guide told me that it’s totally normal and the bar workers try to sweep them up regularly.

pinxtos-tapas-bilbao-plaza-nueva

5.Ribera Market Food Hall is A Pintxos Gem

Another Pintxos gold mine is the food hall within the Ribera Food Market. Located right on the Nervion River and dating back to the 14th century, the Ribera Food Market is a historic and iconic place in Bilbao. Locals come here to buy their meats, cheeses, fish and vegetables but the food hall is a new addition. Pick your Pintxo, take a seat on one of the communal benches and get ready to keep going back for more.

ribera-food-market-pinxtos

6.The Famous ‘Gilda’ Pintxos is Named after A Hollywood Actress

One of the most iconic Pintxos in Bilbao and the wider Basque Country is the ‘Gilda’, consisting of green olives, gherkins, Spanish pickhled green chillies and some salted anchovies. This is all loaded onto a cocktail stick and served cold. Anchovies aren’t my thing, but I couldn’t visit Bilbao without trying the famous Gilda! The dish gets its name from Rita Hayworth’s character in the movie ‘Gilda’ as it’s verde, salado y picante (green, salty and spicy, like the film character). Seems quite a tenuous link but it’s a nickname that has definitely stood the test of time!

gilda-pinxtos


The Best Pintxos Bars in Bilbao

If you’re looking for somewhere specific to start your foodie adventure, here are two great Pintxos bars I visited whilst in Bilbao. My tour guide took me to both of them, so you can rest assured they come with a local’s approval as well as mine.

Restaurant Saibigain
Calle Barrencalle Barrena,16 | Calle Torre, 48005 Bilbao, Spain

Pintxos in Bilbao doesn’t come more authentic than this. Come here for a traditional take on Pinxtos with no-frills service and delicious plates. It’s located on the 7th street of the Casco Viejo and is a local favourite. It was here I tried the Gilda as well as a dish with tempura prawn and wild mushroom on crusty bread and drizzled with olive oil. The cost is around 1.80 per plate. Find more reviews here.

Ribera Café
Erribera Kalea, 20, 48005

For a modern and more refined take on Pintxos, head to the contemporary Ribera Café. Connected to the Ribera Food Market, the Ribera café is a stylish haunt with daily live jazz music and carefully curated dishes. Come here for a glass of wine and a few plates directly overlooking the river. It’s a unique spot in Bilbao.

pixtos-basque-country

What did you think about my tips about Pintxos in Bilbao? Are you planning your own trip to Bilbao or have these foodie shots inspired you to head to the Basque Country? Or maybe I’ve just given you some serious food cravings! If you enjoyed this post please leave a comment in the box below.

Want to read more about Bilbao?

  • Check out my 48 Hour Guide to Bilbao, based on everything I got up to in the city
  • Browse this online Bilbao Guide from the UK Spain Tourist Board.

This blog post has been sponsored by the UK Spain Tourist Board as part of the #SpainCities campaign. All views, recommendations and photos are my own.

plaza-nueva-bilbao1

15 Comments

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Comments

  1. CONNY Thiel says

    11th June 2020 at 6:22 am

    I’m learning Spanish and got a video on Bilbao with some excercises to do. Traveling there in my head until possible again to do so for real. Will go to all the places you suggest for pinxtos.

    Reply
    • Jess Gibson says

      22nd June 2020 at 4:16 pm

      Hi Conny. I am so glad I’ve been able to provide some virtual inspiration until you can visit Bilbao in real life 🙂

      Reply
  2. Seetal Savla (SavlaFaire) says

    14th May 2018 at 2:35 pm

    Came across this while researching for my trip in a few weeks’ time – very useful! I loved the pintxos in San Seb last year and can’t wait to see what Bilbao has to offer 🙂

    Reply
  3. Rebecca says

    13th August 2017 at 12:25 am

    Pinxtos are soooo amazing!! Although I’ve only ever tried them in San Sebastian, not in Bilbao. I have a friend there right now and I’m super jealous of all her pinxto Insta stories! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Hayley says

    26th July 2017 at 4:51 pm

    Oooh love this post lady – I’ve never heard or tried Pintxos before, it looks delicious! 🙂

    Hayley xo
    http://www.frockmeimfamous.com

    Reply
  5. Michelle Newby says

    24th July 2017 at 8:48 am

    This is great!! Last year my husband and I did a roadtrip through France and ending in San Sebastian, Spain. This was our first time experiencing Pinxtos! And in San Sebastian on Thursdays (or at least on thursdays last year) they have a “pintxo pote” where selected bars/restaurants will have a special (usually 1 or 2 euros) for a drink and a pintxo! The best part is it becomes a party in the streets. Such an amazing experience! I need to try out Bilbao next! xmichelle

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      26th July 2017 at 10:42 am

      Hi Michelle, thanks for your comment. I love the sound of the Pintxos Pote! Apparently the Pintxos in San Seb are just as good. I really wanted to squeeze in a trip but sadly there wasn’t time. Next time I am in Northern Spain San Seb is at the top of my list! I love how localized the Pintxos is and it does feel quite different to regular tapas. So tasty! xx

      Reply
  6. vdaltonbanks says

    19th July 2017 at 11:50 am

    I love pinxtos so this makes me want to go to Bilbao even more! Have you been to Pix in London? They have a few locations (Soho and off Carnaby St) and they serve traditional pinxtos and there’s always a great atmosphere in there!
    Vicky x
    http://www.dalton-banks.co.uk

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      26th July 2017 at 10:40 am

      Hey Vicky! Thanks for your comment. I have never heard of Pix in London before but Love this recommendation! I will definitely try to visit. Good atmosphere is a must for Pintxos! xx

      Reply
  7. Angie Silver (@SilverSpoonLDN) says

    19th July 2017 at 9:56 am

    OMG this is such a useful guide!! Having been to Spain twice this year I’m getting a bit obsessed with the food!

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      26th July 2017 at 10:38 am

      Thanks Angie, so pleased you think so! I would have loved to read this guide before I went to Bilbao so that’s why I wrote it. Spanish food is the best! x

      Reply
  8. pedmar10 says

    18th July 2017 at 1:40 pm

    but of course casco viejo is it in Bilbo ::)

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      18th July 2017 at 4:04 pm

      Hi! Yes Casco Viejo is in the heart of Bilbao city 🙂

      Reply
  9. LuxeStyle says

    18th July 2017 at 12:42 pm

    This was such an interesting post to read Jess and the food looks absolutely delicious! The tapas at the Ribera market food hall in particular looks fabulous x

    Jenny | LuxeStyle

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      18th July 2017 at 4:10 pm

      Hey Jenny! Thanks for your comment. The Ribera Market had some of the best Pintxos I tried – especially the goats cheese and caramelised onion one! It’s such a foodie destination x

      Reply

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Jess is an an award-winning travel blogger based in Yorkshire, navigating the world as a new Mum to baby Theo. Blogging about adventures both local and global.

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