Must see nightlife in Bilbao

For a friendly, laid-back drinking scene – with great food to boot – this bohemian south-bank spot is hard to top. The interior is awash with Mason-jar…

This unabashedly hipster joint draws lovers of craft beer to its cosy, eclectically adorned interior of mismatched furniture and artfully hung bicycle…

Taste your way around some of Spain's finest small artisan vineyards at this cosy wine bar owned and run by Jonathan García, a former Basque sommelier…

Sweeping views over Bilbao's skyline extend from this 12th-floor, glass-walled rooftop bar at the top of the Hotel Ercilla. Especially at sunset and after…

It's worth strolling up to this patisserie and cafe for a caffeinated pick-me-up coupled with a delectable treat or two (pastries from €1.50) baked in…

Moorish-style arches, exquisite tiling, polychrome wooden ceilings, frescoes and a marble bar are the defining characteristics of this grande dame dating…

While the name is slightly ridiculous, this stylish cafe, bar and eatery does hit all the right notes with its good (and inexpensive) wines, steamy…

A must for all fans of Bilbao's famed football team, La Peña Athletic is covered with vintage jerseys, trophies, old team photos and oil paintings of…

When the rains arrive, cosy Baobab is a fine place to retreat. This riverside cafe has an excellent array of teas, infusions, beer, wine, vermouth and…

Located under the railway lines, El Balcón de la Lola doesn't get going until late. One of Bilbao’s most popular mixed gay/straight clubs, this is the…

One of a number of lively drinking haunts on Calle de Somera, K2 is a modest tunnel-shaped bar frequented by a young, studenty crowd, particularly at…

Residence hosts acoustic jam sessions throughout the month, including Irish folk, blues and roots. Even when there's nothing on, it's a great little spot…

Inviting coffeehouse Bohemian Lane has wicker chairs, furniture made from salvaged wooden pallets and mismatched cushions. A laid-back spot for fair trade…

Lamiak, a long-standing Casco Viejo favourite on the gay scene, is a buzzing cafe with a cavernous red and black hall, cast iron columns and upstairs…

Just outside the Casco Viejo metro station, this petite cafe is a fine spot for a pick-me-up – the kind of place where baristas draw art in your latte,…

Overlooking the Nervión, Marzana is a hip little spot that draws a festive and bohemian crowd, who come for evening drinks and people watching. The inside…

A Bilbao institution since 1994, with a saxophone beer tap and bottle cap–studded walls, the Cotton Club draws a diverse crowd to its DJ-stoked nights and…

A well-known address on the nightlife circuit, Badulake bursts to life on Thursdays when Las Fellini, a local cabaret act, ham it up in front of a largely…

Start off the night at this sophisticated rooftop bar, which has first-rate cocktails and fine views over town from its third-storey perch inside the…

A chilled spot for a cocktail with a good-looking crowd (and even better-looking waitstaff), outdoor seating and a colourfully decked interior. On the…