How to Do a Foodie Pintxo Tour of Bilbao
A pintxo tour is an unforgettable experience you must try when you visit the north of Spain.
My very first pintxo tour was a complete failure.
It was the summer of 2019, and we were in beautiful San Sebastian, trying to weave through crowded, narrow, cobblestone streets to try different “typical” pintxos.
But after waiting around at different spots, trying a few less-than-impressive bites, and trying foie for the first (and last) time, we ended the night hungry and disappointed.
That was seven years ago, and this time, for our trip to Bilbao, I was determined to do pintxos right.
What Are Pinxtos?
First things first: If you’ve never heard of pintxos, they’re bite-sized snacks served in bars in the North of Spain (especially popular in cities like Bilbao and San Sebastian). They’re typically eaten for dinner with wine or a drink.
Perhaps you’re familiar with tapas—small appetizers served with drinks in other parts of Spain—well, pintxos are basically the Northern-Spain version of that.
The name “pinxtos” comes from the spanish word pinchar, which means to skewer. That’s because the original pintxos were served on small slices of french bread, and secured in place with a toothpick (skewered right through the center of the pintxo).
How Pintxo Culture Actually Works
From around 7pm to 11pm at night, pintxos bars are brimming with people, chatter, drinks, and flavors. If you go during peak season, it’s especially important to know the unspoken “rules” of the pintxo culture. Here’s what to know:
Try 2-3 pintxos per bar. Don’t fill up on your first stop. We tried a few pintxos per bar, went to about three bars per night, and left satisfied.
Pay at the end (usually). In most places, you’ll order at the bar, and they’ll either warm it up and give you your food right there, or take it to where you’re seated/standing. Then, when you’re ready to leave, you’ll go back to the bar and pay. Just say “¿Me cobras, por favor?” (literally = charge me, please?) and they’ll hand you the receipt.
Eat standing up. The majority of pintxos bars have limited seating, with only small counters that line the walls. The vibe is relaxed, chill, and sociable—eat, drink, chat, and enjoy.
Ask for the specialty. While some places have similar options, I always like to ask what the most popular pintxos are. This gives you a good idea of what the locals are ordering and, most importantly, what’s best.
Why Bilbao Can Confuse Even Experienced Travelers
Even when you know the how-to of pintxo culture, it can be difficult to find the best bars and the best bites. Bilbao can confuse even experienced travelers and foodies because:
There are SO many choices. With 20+ options right in front of you at every bar, it’s hard to know what’s good, better, and best. That’s why having a guide and a plan beforehand can be extremely helpful.
You probably don’t speak Basque. Warning: the names of the pintxos might appear in a different language. And no, it’s not Spanish. It’s not even close to Spanish. It’s Basque—one of the oldest living languages in Europe. Good luck trying to decipher it.
It’s hard to know what’s busy vs. actually worth it. If you go during summer, it’ll be crowded. With so many bars to choose from, it’s really hard to tell which places are authentic and which are tourist traps.
My Hot Take: Every Pintxo Counts
Some people will tell you that pintxos tours are more about quantity than quality. That trying a bunch of different places matters more than finding “the best bar” or “the most amazing pintxo.”
Umm, no.
If I’m paying 3-6 euros per pintxo (yep, they’re more on the expensive side), I want every one of those little bites to be absolutely amazing.
Now, during our self-guided pintxos tour through Bilbao, not every pintxo we tried was unforgettable. But we did find some incredible bites that I highly recommend. (And, I’ll also share my not-favorites so you know which places to maybe avoid.)
Where to Stop and Where to Skip—in Plaza Nueva
Stop #1: Bar El Globo
As I was researching where to eat in Bilbao, this place came up again and again (literally, in almost every single Bilbao guide, YouTube video, and blog post). And yes, it lived up to the hype. So much so, we came here both nights we were in Bilbao!
⭐ Why I liked it: Award-winning. Tons of options to choose from. Amazing pintxos. Large space. Open almost all day (from 11am to 10:30pm).
🍴 What to order: El Globo specializes in pintxos gratinados: bite-size delicacies with a creamy, melted top (created using the French gratin cooking method: baking or broiling with cheese, butter, or breadcrumbs on top).
We tried the three most popular pintxos:
Cremoso de Patata Gratinado con Trufa: Warm creamy potato with a hint of aioli and truffle sauce topped on a slice of french bread.
Gratinado de Vaca Madurada y Cheddar: Beef gratin with cheddar cheese on top. This was a very unique and interesting flavor (kind of like all the flavors of a hamburger in one, creamy bite).
Txangurro Gratinado: Spider crab au gratin. A basque country favorite, this seafood pintxo was packed with flavor.
And another one that looked fantastic:
Salmon Marinado en Salsa Tartara: Slices of raw salmon marinated in tartar sauce atop a slice of french bread. I love salmon and sushi; this had a fantastic flavor and was different from the other options we tried.
Every pintxo we tried here was fantastic, but my all time favorite was the Gratinado de Vaca Madurada y Cheddar. It was creamy, beefy, and cheesy all at the same time. Truly fantastic.
💸 Price per pintxo: The pintxos here are between €2.50 and €3.00 euros each. Typically, pintxos don’t have prices on them at the bars, but you can always ask the bartender for prices.
☝🏻 Insider tips: We came at 6pm and there were only a few people here. This is one of the few places where you’ll pay at the bar, before you eat.
Stop #2: La Olla de la Plaza Nueva
Right next door is La Olla. This place is more high-end and is pricier than El Globo, but it has some really fantastic specialty pinchos that are made at the moment.
⭐ Why I liked it: Fresh seafood with fantastic flavor. Delicious sauces (I’m all about the sauce).
🍴 What to order: We ordered two seafood pintxos and one other Asian-style pintxo—and they were all fantastic (pictured above from left to right):
Bao Pintxo: Tender, flavorful meat packed into a bao bread with a guacamole sauce and pickled onions, and a teriyaki-style sauce.
Atun Rojo: A marinated slice of fresh tuna paired with a savory tomato sauce and an avocado-flavored green sauce. Complete with chunky sea salt.
Vieira Toro: One perfectly seared scallop atop a creamy sauce. Amazing flavor.
💸 Price per pintxo: The two seafood pintxos came with a few slices of bread and cost €5.50 euros each (very expensive for just a bite of food), but I have to say that it was worth it. The bao pintxo cost €2.95.
☝🏻 Insider tip: This place is also open from 11am to 10:30pm, but in the evening come early to beat the crowds.
Skip #1: Victor Jatatxea
We tried two different bacalao (cod fish) pintxos here, and they just didn’t hit the mark. This bar didn’t have as many options as the others and what they did have was more simplistic than the others.
Skip #2: Zuga
Here, we tried two seafood pintxos, one with octopus and paprika that looked really good and another with a crab-and-egg-salad and shrimp. Unfortunately, the seafood wasn’t as fresh as the ones from the other bars; overall it was just mediocre.
One Last Stop: Where to End the Night
After our pintxos crawl at Plaza Nueva we walked about 15 minutes to Cafe Bilba. They have two famous dishes: tortilla de patata, the famous Spanish potato-and-egg omelet, and torrijas, a Spanish treat that’s similar to cinnamon French toast.
⭐ Why I liked it: Authentic Spanish neighborhood bar. Friendly staff. The best torrijas I’ve ever had.
🍴 What to order: I’m a sweet-treat girlie and those torrijas hit the spot. I know they really don’t look like anything special, but they’re ultra-creamy and absolutely fantastic. Every bite was full of sweet cinnamon, milky, and vanilla-y flavor. If you haven’t tried tortilla de patata, make sure you try that too. This place makes a quality tortilla—we enjoyed the one with ham and cheese.
☝🏻 Insider tip: You can also come in the morning when the tortilla de patata and torrijas are fresh.
Your Unique Bilbao Pintxo Tour
Our self-guided pintxo tour was incredible. We had so much fun getting a taste of Basque gastronomy, and walking around the historic center of Bilbao.
Hopping from bar to bar in the center of Bilbao and trying unique, delicious bites while chatting and laughing with your friends and family is an unforgettable experience—if you choose the right places.
But the truth is, these three must-try spots are just the beginning. There are so many drool-worthy pintxos in Bilbao. When I go back, I can’t wait to continue my pintxos tour (maybe starting at Gure Toki or Víctor Montes).
So, use these recommendations as a guide—but don’t be afraid to explore, try what looks good to you, and ask the bartender what their favorite pintxo is. There are so many mouth-watering pintxos to try in Bilbao.
The best part of a pintxos tour? Finding that favorite pintxo that you’ll go home and rave about for years to come.