Bilbao, the city of fine cuisine and art. Three-star bar hopping to enjoy wine and pintxos

Bilbao, the city of art. A beautiful street lined with old and new masterpieces

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Known as a beautiful and functional city, Bilbao won the Lee Kuan Yew World City Award in 2010, which is awarded to creative and attractive cities. The city's landmark is the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a contemporary art museum that Spain is proud of. Designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, the titanium curved form reflects light beautifully.

Another must-see spot is the Vizcaya Bridge, which connects Bilbao with the neighboring town of Portugalete. It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2006 as the world's oldest transporter bridge, and is still in use today, transporting people and cars. There are also many other historical buildings, such as the Gothic San Antón Church, built at the end of the 15th century, and the Baroque San Nicolás Church.

Eating around three-star bars. Tasting pintxos in downtown Bilbao

EL GROBO

The Basque Country is famous for its fine cuisine. Bilbao has the most three-star Michelin restaurants in the Basque Country. Bilbao is famous for its bars and pintxos. "Pintxo" means "a bite-sized snack stabbed with a toothpick," and the plural form is "pintxos." When you enter a bar, you'll be dazzled by the visually appealing pintxos lined up on the counter.

There are many delicious restaurants, so I would encourage you to go bar hopping (known locally as chiquiteo or bar hopping), but one bar that you should definitely visit is EL GROBO.

The menu features over 35 different types of pintxos, including traditional dishes, Spanish omelette tortillas, and gildas made with olives and anchovies. The crab pintxo, called ciangullo, is the restaurant's specialty.

Bilbao is close to the sea, so you can eat fresh seafood wherever you go. The Basque region is especially famous for its tuna, mullet roe, and anchovies. There are many dishes that are popular in the Basque region, such as omelets with shredded cod and fried sardines, so try visiting different restaurants and find your favorite pintxos.

Two local sakes that are essential for bar hopping. Enjoy them with original pintxos

GURE TOKI

Two drinks that are popular in the Basque Country are great to enjoy with your pintxos: sidra (often called cider in Japan), made from apples, and Txakoli, a slightly sparkling white wine. These local drinks, rich in fruit flavors, were originally brewed by farmers and livestock farmers for their own consumption. These drinks, which have a low alcohol content and are easy to drink, also have a unique way of pouring them into the glass. This is called "escanciar," and is poured from a position much higher than the glass. Pouring from much higher than the glass apparently allows the bubbles to escape, making the drink smoother on the palate.

Sidra and Txakoli are served at any bar, but I recommend GURE TOKI. This bar is run by a chef who has won a pintxo competition. The Txakoli served with the original pintxos in a stylish bar is exceptional.

Whatever you order, from high-quality prosciutto to fried seafood, you won't go wrong. The mushroom soup with quail's egg is also famous and something you should definitely order. When bar hopping, the local custom is to enjoy a few dishes and then leave quickly without lingering. Even though you may be reluctant to leave, head to the next bar.

A purveyor to the Spanish Royal Family. Stay in a masterpiece building at one of Spain's most established wineries

Marques de Riscal

There are many wine-producing regions around Bilbao. Among them, Rioja is known as a world-class wine-producing region, and is within day trip distance from Bilbao, so it is definitely a spot worth visiting.

We recommend the hotel's attached winery, Marqués de Riscal. It is the oldest winery in Rioja and produces wine exclusively for the King of Spain. The attached hotel, Hotel Marqués de Riscal, a Luxury Collection, was designed by the master Frank Gehry, just like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

The hotel has two restaurants, "Marques de Riscal Restaurant" and "BISTRO 1860", where you can enjoy Basque cuisine along with one of the world's leading wine collections. Vineyards surround the hotel, and even non-guests can visit the winery, so be sure to join a tour. A paradise for wine lovers, where you can enjoy a variety of activities in a traditional wine region.