Here are the current 15 best pintxos in Bilbao as voted for in the 2025 Bizkaia Pintxos Championships.
There’s a wide range of sophisticated pintxos using local ingredients. We’ll take you through them all and provide information on where to find them in Bilbao.
The Best 15 Pintxos in Bilbao
Bilbao-based bar La Bodeguita del 12 won the 2025 Bizkaia Pintxo championships for best traditional pintxo, with ‘Delicia de Tierra Roja’ (Red Earth Delicacy).
A further 15 pintxos from Bilbao bars and restaurants were nominated for the award.
La Bodeguita del 12
Red Earth Delicacy – Delicia de tierra roja
The only Bilbao nominee among 2025’s final four. Red Earth Delicacy features a slither of red pepper and locally-produced black pudding on a slice of cornbread, topped with crunchy Idiazabal cheese and green apple. Absolutely delicious.
Address: Juan Ajuriaguerra Kalea, 12, Abando
Website: labodeguitadel12.com
Instagram: @labodeguitadel12
Antxoa Taberna
Tuna with spring onion – Bonito con cebolleta
Based in Casco Viejo‘s Plaza Nueva, Antxoa Taberna is an iconic Bilbao-bar known for specialising in seafood products, especially anchovies.
Take a look at our article on bars which offer specialty pintxos.
Address: Plaza Nueva 1, Casco Viejo
Website: antxoataberna.com
Instagram: antxoataberna
Egaña Bar Restaurante
The Ear of Egaña – La oreja del Egaña
A battered pig’s ear with a touch of paprika and a slight drizzle of extra virgen olive oil.
Address: Egaña Kalea, 14, Abando
Website: baregana.com
Instagram: bar_restaurante_egana
El Globo de Diputación
Idiazabal cheese, caramelised apple and crunchy havarti on toasted bread – Tosta de queso idiazabal, crema de manzana and crujiente de havarti
The description is in the title of this beauty. El Globo in Diputación is a well-established Bilbao pintxo bar that has been knocking out world-class food since 1997.
Plaza Diputación has several fantastic pintxo bars and restaurants. Check out our guide to the square here.
Address: Diputazio Kalea, 8, Abando
Website: barelglobo.es/en
Instagram: elglobo.bilbao
El Globo de Plaza Nueva
Squid Au Gratin – Txipiron Gratinado
An iconic Bilbao pintxo and one of El Globo’s must-tries. Squid in ink au gratin on toasted bread, topped with grilled cheese.
El Globo’s Plaza Nueva bar is a relatively new venture having opened only in 2025.
Address: Plaza Nueva, 1, Casco Viejo
Website: barelglobo.es/en
Instagram: elglobo.bilbao
Bar Fermín
Fermín Cod – Bacalao Fermín
A bitesize portion of cod with pil-pil sauce on top of a green pepper, garnished with dried onion and garlic. A classic Bilbao pintxo.
Address: Iturribide Kalea, 6
Iturriza Taberna
Pil-pil Cod – Bacalao al pil-pil
Another no-nonsense traditional Basque pintxo. Cod, cooked to perfection, in pil-pil sauce. You can’t go wrong.
Address: Plaza Nueva, 5, Casco Viejo
Instagram: iturrizataberna
Bar La Muga
Nape of the neck – Cogote
Definitely one of the more spectacular pintxos on this year’s list, and another take on Bilbao’s beloved cod. La Muga’s ‘Cogote’ combines god au gratin and a pil-pil mousse on top of slice of portobello mushrooms.
Besides their fantastic pintxos, La Muga also have a small selection of local craft beers on tap.
Take a look at our guide more information about where to try craft beers in Bilbao.
Address: Maria Muñoz Kalea 8, Casco Viejo
Website: lamuga.eus
Instagram: lamugabilbao
La Olla de Diputación
Iberian Cream Tart – Torta de crema Ibérica
Iberian ham bits and cream cheese on a crunch bread base, topped with parmesan cheese, a dripping of quince jelly and a walnut.
Address: Diputazio Kalea, 12, Abando
Website: barlaolla.com/en
Instagram: laolladiputacion
La Olla de Plaza Nueva
Truffled Potato Ball with Foie Gras – Bola de Patata Trufada con Foie Gras
Heaven in one bite. Crunchy potato ball which is creamy on the inside combined with high-quality foie gras that melts in the mouth. A sensational pintxo.
Address: Plaza Nueva 2, Casco Viejo
Website: barlaolla.com/en
Instagram: laolladebilbao
Bar El Ledesma
Crunchy Black Pudding Skewer – Brocheta de Crujiente de Morcilla
Local black pudding coated in breadcrumbs skewered on top of a slice of baguette and confit red peppers.
Bar El Ledesma is a classic Bilbao bar serving up some of the best grub in the city. Take a look at our guide to learn more about what’s on offer down Calle Ledesma, a pedestrian road full of pintxo bars.
Address: Ledesma Kalea 14, Abando
Website: barledesma.es
Instagram: ledesmabilbao
Markina Jatetxea
Bonito Tuna Bite – Taco de Bonito
One of Bilbao’s most renowned restaurants, Markina serves up some of the best dishes you can find in the city. So, it’s no surprise one of their pintxos is also up there with the best in Bilbao.
Bonito tuna gives cod a close run when it comes to Bilbao’s favourite fish. This bitesize pintxo combines brined tuna skewered with guindilla peppers and an olive.
Address: Henao Kalea, 31, Abando
Website: restaurantemarkina.com
Instagram: markinajatetxea
Sorginzulo
Kresala
We won’t lie – Sorginzulo is easily one of our favourite spots in Bilbao. The pintxos are always on point.
Kresala is a delight. Fried bread stuffed with green Gernika peppers, a hake and crab mousse together with a crispy rice cake and a squid ink sauce.
Address: Plaza Nueva 12, Casco Viejo
Website: sorginzulo.com
Instagram: sorginzulo_bilbao
Víctor Montes Jatetxea
Panceta
One of Bilbao’s oldest and most beloved restaurants, Victor Montes is a classic.
This pintxo is to die for. Slow-cooked panceta, coated in a barbecue glaze, accompanied with some pickled onions for balance and texture.
Address: Plaza Nueva 8, Casco Viejo
Website: victormontes.com
Instagram: victormontesbilbao
Zalea Gastrobar
Artichoke with a vegetable cream – Alcachofa con crema de verduras
A simple pintxo that packs a lot of flavour, the stylish Zalea Gastrobar is quickly gaining a reputation for dishing up irresistible, vegetable-based pintxos.
Address: Juan Ajuriaguerra Kalea, 3, Abando,
Instagram: gastrobarzalea2021
Zurekin Restaurant
Zurekin Potato Salad – Ensaladilla Zurekin
Another iconic Bilbao restaurant and another representative from Diputación. Zurekin’s nomination is classic creamy potato salad (called a Russian salad in Spanish) topped with an anchovy and an olive.
Address: Diputazio Kalea, 8, Abando
Website: zurekin.es
Instagram: zurekinbilbao
Guided pintxo tours in Bilbao
To further enhance your experience and understand the history and techniques behind pintxos, we recommend doing a pintxo tour with a local guide. These are some of the most highly-rated tours, currently available on GetYourGuide.
More about pintxos in Bilbao
Here’s a bit of further reading on where you can try some of the tastiest pintxos Bilbao has to offer.
