Three pintxos from Bilbao were among the grand finalists in the 2026 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.
The Three Best Pintxos in Bilbao
Leioa-based bar Izarra Berria won the 2026 Bizkaia Pintxo championships for the province’s best traditional pintxo with ‘Itsasbeltz’, a bread base made with squid ink, topped with caramelised onion, slices of octopus, a milk-based mayonnaise, smoked paprika flakes and a paprika tuile.
Here are the three Bilbao pintxos that competed for the top award.
La Bodeguita del 12
Itsasoa – From the sea
A traditional pintxo given a new twist. A crispy bread base, topped with delicate slices of cod, txistorra pilpil sauce, roasted peppers and Idiazabal cheese.
Address: Juan Ajuriaguerra Kalea, 12, Abando
Website: labodeguitadel12.com
Instagram: @labodeguitadel12
Topa Leku
Rogelio
A skewer-style pintxo combining prawn, anchovy, jalapeño, quail’s egg, mayonnaise, black garlic and wakame in a single bite bursting with contrast and flavour.
Address: Iturribide Kalea, 115, Casco Viejo
Instagram: Topa Leku
Irrintzi
Crujiente de manzana con pato en salsa de cacahuete – Crispy apple with duck in peanut sauce
A slice of bread forms the base for a combination of crisp apple, shredded duck and peanut butter, creating a simple, tasty pintxo designed to be enjoyed in three bites.
Address: Andra Maria Kalea, 8
Website: irrintzi.es
Instagram: irrintzibilbao
Twelve other pintxos from Bilbao were 2026 finalists, you can take a look at them on the Bizkaia Pintxo Championship website.
If you want to find more traditional pintxos in Bilbao, take a look at our guide on where to eat some of the city’s best specialty pintxos.
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.
