Traditional cooking is what's on offer at Serantes, situated in one of Bilbao's busiest and most atmospheric streets. In the rustic and elegant surroundings of its dining rooms on the first floor, the customer can order fresh fish and seafood of the highest quality. On entering, a bar with its own seafood nursery greets customers who can whet their appetites with the delicacies served Serantes. Here are a few suggestions: lobster salad, hake fillet with Kokotxas (a delicacy of the underside of a hake's jaw) and Clams, or the Fillet Steak. Check website for reservation details.
El Puertito could be a quick stop to grab a bite and sip some wine. It is an oyster bar, and there's a wine-cellar too. The oysters are fresh and delicious, and you could choose more than just a few, there being so much variety. Pair your choice with some wine, or if you have a group along, you could take champagne! The staff is pleasant and makes you comfortable, helping you out with which dish to pick. El Puertito is a wonderful place to try.
In this strangely named place, bullfighting fans will feel at home. Situated near the Vista Alegre Bull Ring, perhaps it is no coincidence that the best Cantabrian products can be found in the Rimbombín. Above all, there is the chance of sampling good seafood at a reasonable price. This establishment has its own seafood nursery. We need hardly state that the specialities here are seafood, with the lobster, shrimps and oysters standing out. But red meats and roast pork shoulder are also exquisitely prepared.
This restaurant is situated in one of the most popular streets of Bilbao's Casco Viejo. It is a luxurious establishment with a décor 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 exotic home-made desserts like the hot-chocolate stuffed peach.