Bilbao: Pintxos Food Tour & Wine Pairing with Basque Guide

Summary

Bilbao’s pintxos bars old town flavors wine laughter

You’ll walk Bilbao’s Old Town with a Basque local who knows every pintxo bar worth visiting. Taste award-winning bites made fresh for you, sip regional wines like txakoli and Rioja, and get swept up in local laughter and stories. By the end you’ll feel like you belong — or at least know how to order pintxos without looking lost.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered what it’s like to eat pintxos the way locals do in Bilbao? I didn’t really know what to expect, honestly — I just knew everyone kept saying “you have to try the real thing.” So there we were, following our guide Ane (born here, sharp sense of humor) into the Casco Viejo as the light started to fade. The old stones felt cool under my shoes and I caught this whiff of grilled peppers from somewhere nearby. She waved us into the first bar before I could even finish gawking at the buildings — “don’t stand in the doorway like a tourist,” she grinned.

The whole pintxos thing is more like a dance than a dinner. We’d squeeze up to the counter and Ane would order these special pintxos that weren’t even on display. One was this tiny bread piled with slow-cooked beef and something green I still can’t pronounce — Li laughed when I tried to say it in Basque. Each stop came with a different drink: first txakoli (that fizzy white wine), then red Rioja, then cider poured from way above your glass so it splashes everywhere (apparently that’s normal). She explained why each pairing made sense but honestly I was just focused on not dropping anything.

I liked how every bar had its own mood — one was all bright tiles and noisy locals, another was dim and almost quiet except for two old guys arguing about football. Ane seemed to know half the people we passed; there were handshakes, cheek kisses, quick jokes in Euskara. At some point someone handed me an anchovy pintxo that looked suspicious but wow, salty and sharp and perfect with cold cider. The tour is supposed to be three hours but time got weird — maybe that was the wine or just how good it felt to be part of it for a night.

I still think about that last place where we stood outside under yellow streetlights, eating smoky mushrooms off toothpicks while Ane told us how her grandmother used to make them at home. It wasn’t fancy or staged or anything — just real people eating together because that’s what you do here. If you’re hungry for more than just food, this is probably your tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Basque pintxos and wine bar tour

• Bar hopping in Bilbao Old Town
• Try special pintxos ordered by guide
• Sample traditional and award-winning pintxos
• Visit modern and oldest bars
• Learn how to order pintxos
• Pair pintxos with red and white wine
• Sample cider and other drinks

Top questions

How long is the Bilbao Food Tour?

The tour lasts around 3 hours through Bilbao’s Old Town.

Are drinks included on this Bilbao pintxos tour?

Yes, you get 5 drinks including wine, cider, beer or water paired with your food.

Is this food tour suitable for vegetarians or vegans?

No, it’s not recommended for vegetarians or vegans due to limited options.

How many bars do we visit during the Bilbao Food Tour?

You’ll visit 5 different bars for various pintxo tastings.

Is there a local guide on this Bilbao food experience?

Yes, your guide is born and raised in Bilbao and leads the tour personally.

Will I get enough food for dinner on this tour?

Yes, come hungry — you’ll have enough for a full meal across several stops.

Are children allowed on this Bilbao food & wine tour?

Infants and small children are allowed; service animals too.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Please advise any specific dietary needs at booking; options are limited for some diets.

What’s included

Your evening includes guided bar-hopping through five of Bilbao’s best pintxo spots with a local expert from Bilbao itself. You’ll enjoy 1–2 freshly prepared pintxos at each stop plus five drinks (wine, cider, beer or water), making up a full dinner along the way before heading back out into the city night.