The 14 best restaurants in Euskadi, our favorites.

Meet the best restaurants in Euskadi tasting some of the most traditional dishes of Basque gastronomy. Enjoy the cuisine of Euskadi in style.

The best restaurants in Euskadi, the restaurants that we are talking about today, neither have Michelin stars nor have media chefs, but among our people, among the Basque people, they enjoy a greater fame than any restaurant awarded with a star of the prestigious French firm. And the fact is that, among the list of our favorite restaurants, among those that for us are the best restaurants in Euskadi, we find classic, traditional establishments, of all the life. Restaurants that have been transferring their gastronomic knowledge from generation to generation, preserving the quality they have treasured for years. Nowadays, it is not easy to find establishments in which, after satisfying the stomach and entertaining the palate (to the point of surprise), after paying more than 50€ per person, diners leave the establishment with a smile from ear to ear. It is not easy, but we have a nice list with which we hope you enjoy in style this great gastronomic destination called Euskadi. All the restaurants that we present today respond to the same premises, quality raw material, fusion of traditional / modern recipes and personalized attention, characteristics that contribute to create a magnificent gastronomic experience in Euskadi. In addition, most of them are located a few meters from tourist attractions of our land, so, in principle, are presented as restaurants that fit perfectly into the travel route of the people who visit us. Basque producers and chefs have joined forces to show us the entrails of the traditional cuisine of Euskadi. A deep-rooted gastronomy, which is simple and tasty at the same time. There are many dishes that star in our daily menus, but the products linked to the sea and the products of the land, are, together with our incredible cheeses, some of the most demanded dishes by those who visit us. The traditional recipe book is the basis of every good restaurant in Euskadi, an aspect that today is still very much alive in the kitchens of our homes, Gastronomic Societies and txokos.

Thanks to the impulse given by a large group of Basque chefs in the 70’s, nowadays Euskal Herria is one of the most demanded gastronomic destinations in the world. A tourist destination, which in addition to offering us paradisiacal places, also offers us to know its enriching culture and history. As you can see, it is a very complete destination. We are sure you are wondering what are (for us) the best restaurants in Euskadi, well, although there are hundreds of restaurants throughout the Basque Country that deserve to be on this list, we have had to drastically reduce the number of restaurants to create an easy to read, enjoyable article. Therefore, we have decided to limit this list to what we consider to be the 14 best restaurants in the Basque Country. On egin! (let him take advantage of it in Basque).

Although many of the restaurants in Euskadi that we show you in this list are specialists in fish and seafood, their chefs are also experts in cooking many other typical dishes of traditional Basque cuisine, so don’t panic, there are options for all tastes. On the other hand, many of the people who write us looking for recommendations, tell us that before eating you would like to try 2 of our star products, the pinchos and the txakoli. Two gastronomic specialties, that although they are not incompatible with eating in the restaurants that we indicate to you, it is not always a good idea. And the fact is that you would not be the first ones who, after having a good “pintxo pote”, run out of appetite to taste the main courses that await them in the restaurants of Euskadi. Although they say that the order does not matter, in this case, it does matter, and, far from ordering them by their geographical location, we wanted to order them starting with the restaurants that have caught our attention. In any case, all the restaurants on this list are great culinary temples, spaces designed for the enjoyment of body and mind, they will not disappoint you, we can attest.

Hiruzta WineryThis winery located in the charming town of Hondarribia, surprises us with an idyllic space in which to enjoy one of the gastronomic temples that we have fallen in love with during our travels throughout Euskadi. Its name, Hiruzta, refers to the Rekalde family, to the 3 brothers who run this emblematic winery and restaurant in Gipuzkoa. “Hiru anaien uzta”, in Basque “the harvest of three brothers”, a dream, that besides becoming a reality, has reaped great reviews from all the people who have passed through its dining room. This restaurant from Gipuzkoa allows us to enjoy a 2 in 1 in all rule, and is that, without moving from our location, without wasting time in displacements, we can visit its txakoli cellar before enjoying its dishes. The winery, located under the restaurant, offers us another great experience to take back home in our suitcase, a very rewarding visit that we have enjoyed like children. If you want to know more information about this great restaurant in Euskadi, we recommend you to read the article Txakoli Hiruzta, a winery and a restaurant worthy of admiration.

Xixario ErretegiaOrio, is another of those villages where gastronomy does not fail. Known throughout the Basque Country for the incredible tradition that its grills have with sea bream, this Basque village gives us authentic delicacies to taste. The Xixario grill, Xixario Erretegia in Basque, is one of the best known restaurants in the town. The success of the Asador Xixario lies in its simplicity, in continuing to make the same dishes that our aitites and amamas (grandfathers and grandmothers in Basque) used to make. A good work, which, fused with the great quality of their raw materials makes this Basque restaurant one of the most visited by tourists who choose Euskadi as a holiday destination. Our recommendation is to enjoy a good sea bream and a good txakoli, a txakoli from the k5 winery for example, the rest is up to you. If you choose this restaurant, we recommend you to read carefully our article“Asador Xixario, the temple of sea bream in Orio“.

Iribar JatetxeaGetaria, one of the best known gastronomic towns in the Basque Country, offers us a great list of quality restaurants to choose from. Among all of them, we find Iribar Jatetxea, a restaurant specialized in seafood products that conquered us with dishes of simple appearance and surprising taste. Although this restaurant is not one of the best known in this coastal town, we assure you that it is not to be missed. Central, cozy and with very good customer service. Highly recommended. If you want to know more details about this establishment in Gipuzkoa, we recommend you to read our article Iribar Jatetxea and its exceptional grilled turbot.

Sabino’s little houseBilbao, a city known for its pintxos and chops, also counts among its ranks excellent fish restaurants. This is the case of La casita de Sabino, a modern-looking place that offers some of the best fish and seafood dishes in Bilbao. Sabino, in charge of this centrally located Bilbao restaurant, walks around the dining room with a humble attitude, advising dishes and txakolis while Tula, the chef of Nepalese origin, responds at the stove. The fish that goes into the dishes of this restaurant comes from the boats that dock daily in the ports of Bermeo and Ondarru, quality raw material for one of the best gastronomic experiences in Bilbao. If you are interested in visiting this Basque restaurant, we recommend you to read our article: La Casita de Sabino, the house of the sea.

Katxiña WineryBodega Katxiña is the second establishment that the Zendoia family opens in the coastal town of Orio. A Txakoli winery, which, in addition to presenting the same attractions of its older brother, the Asador Katxiña, incorporates new gastronomic experiences such as a visit to the txakoli cellar. A restaurant with a careful aesthetic, which in addition to please our palate also surprises us with beautiful views over the river Oria, the main artery of the municipality of Gipuzkoa in which it is located. The fusion of the traditional architecture of Euskadi and current trends, have resulted in one of the most beautiful restaurants of our list“the 14 best restaurants in Euskadi”. We recommend enjoying a good marinated sea bream with the house txakoli, simply stunning. More information at Bodega Katxiña, gastronomic reference of Euskal Herria.

PortuondoPortuondo restaurant in Mundaka is one of the best options when it comes to eating in Urdaibai and Bizkaia. An establishment, which in addition to offering incredible dishes and good service, also offers beautiful panoramic views over the estuary of Urdaibai. This Basque steakhouse specializes in grilled fish and meat, traditional dishes of our gastronomy, which we hope you like. In addition to its imposing restaurant, Portuondo also has a brewery where we offer cheaper dishes such as chicken or salad, an establishment, which does not enter into our list of the best restaurants in Euskadi but it is a good choice for people who do not have a high budget. If this restaurant appeals to you, we encourage you to read our article about the Portuondo restaurant in Mundaka.

KromatikoKromatiko restaurant in Vitoria Gasteiz is one of the latest gastronomic proposals in the capital of Alava. A modern establishment, in which a group of young people demonstrate their talent fusing the Basque gastronomy with that of the whole world. The central location of this restaurant allows us to know the charms of Vitoria Gasteiz without losing time in displacements. An option worth taking into account in any getaway to the Basque capital.

Restaurant 33This restaurant is not located in the Autonomous Community of Euskadi, but in Navarra, a land with which Euskadi shares much of its gastronomic essence. That is why we have decided to include restaurant 33 in this list. The Ribera Navarra, land of the desert of the Bardenas Reales and some of the most fertile orchards in the north of the peninsula, delights us with the best vegetables of our environment. This fame, is argued by the quality that have presented for centuries the products of this area of Navarra. As a result of this fact, we decided to taste the vegetable menu of the restaurant 33, an explosion of textures and flavors that shatters the conjectures or way of thinking of many people. And if you think you do not like vegetables, we suggest you put it to the test in this gastronomic temple of Tudela. This is a real culinary experience. We recommend you to read our article: Restaurant 33, one of the best restaurants in Tudela.

Gaztelumendi-Antxon RestaurantGaztelumendi-Antxon: Perhaps the most different restaurant of the best restaurants in Euskadi that we present to you. And when we say different, we mean surprising. A small restaurant located in Irun, on the border with Iparralde (French Basque Country), that plays with the raw material creating authentic gastronomic jewels. This restaurant is one of those that has impacted us the most during our travels throughout the Basque Country. We assure you that it does not leave any of its diners indifferent. Its menu, far from being a series of fixed dishes, is presented to us depending on our tastes, depending on the valuation offered on the previous dish. A very personal menu, which makes the Gaztelumendi-Antxon restaurant a unique restaurant. More information in Gaztelumendi-Antxon Restaurant, a small gastronomic jewel in the center of Irun.

Regi TavernRegi represents that new batch of restaurants in which the quality of the raw material and the good work of their chefs is shown through dozens of creations, which, although they do not contain the same quantity as traditional dishes, have the same or higher quality. Flavor, texture, magic. A gastronomic experience that we highly recommend. This restaurant located in Urduliz, near the coast of Bizkaia, is suitable for people visiting places like San Juan de Gaztelugatxe or the scenes of Game of Thrones in Euskadi. We recommend you to read our article Regi Taberna Restaurant, a whim in the region of Uribe kosta.

Ziaboga RestaurantLocated at the mouth of the port of Pasaia, the Ziaboga restaurant dazzles our palate with the best products of the land and the sea. Its suppliers, fishermen of Pasaia and market gardeners of the slopes of the Jaizkibel mountain, fill daily the table that precedes the kitchen. A space, in which the natural products call the attention of every person who enters this restaurant from Gipuzkoa. The seasonal products mark the dishes of this Basque restaurant, so much the proposals that they offer us to snack in the terrace as those that they offer us to eat in the interior dining room. If you decide to go for a snack on the terrace overlooking the sea, we recommend a very summery, very fresh dish, fish and chips. Don’t let the Anglo-Saxon nomenclature scare you, after all, it is still seasonal fish accompanied by some good fries. A dish as simple as it is tasty. Highly recommended. More information in our article: Ziaboga Restaurant, a gastronomic eminence in Pasaia.

Eloy TavernLocated in the port of Zierbena, this small and cozy restaurant bizkaino proposes us to taste the delicacies of the sea in its small “txoko” located in the center of the port. La Taberna Eloy has a very nice place where we only find 6 tables, an aspect that makes us feel at home and that is almost mandatory to book in advance to enjoy some of their specialties. We recommend reading our article Zierbena, what to see and where to eat.

La Era TavernLocated in the province of Araba, in Eskota, near the Salinas de Añana, this rural restaurant offers everything that is usually sought in a restaurant, the 3 B’s, good, nice and cheap. In addition, as if that were not enough, the place is located in a noble stone house, an aspect that makes this dining experience earn more points if possible. We recommend the 33 € menu available, it is well worth it. In short, good service, quiet and a very good value for money. Details of our experience in Taberna La Era, good, nice, cheap and with history.

Salegi RestaurantAt the top of Itziar we find a place where it is practically impossible not to make a strategic stop to eat. If you are looking for a place to eat between Bilbao and Donostia, Salegi is an incredible option. Local products, worked with great care. A must read: Salegi Restaurant, the gastronomic temple of Itziar.

Our gastronomy is known all over the world for the pintxos, the Txakoli and the dozens of Michelin stars with which our chefs have been awarded. But Basque gastronomy is much more than that, our land, as fertile as our seas, provides us with high quality products recognized internationally. If the average price of some of the best restaurants in Euskadi is not suitable for your pockets, you can always opt for another type of restaurant, and is that in addition to the typical gastronomic establishments of all country, we also have Sagardotegis (cider bars in Basque), erretegiak (grills in Basque), breweries, seafood restaurants and bars full of pintxos in the bars. Options for all tastes and pockets.

What do you think of our list of the 14 best restaurants in Euskadi? It is curious to see how many of them are located on the coast of Gipuzkoa, an area of Euskadi where restaurants and grills maintain a love affair that has led them to reap some of the greatest successes of our gastronomy. Which are for you the best restaurants in the Basque Country? We look forward to your suggestions. We, for our part, promise to update this article as we find new restaurants.