Fun and entertainment Bilbao

Facing the Zorrotzaurre peninsula, this trendy bar has the most pleasant terrace in Bilbao. And for good reason: it is literally placed on the river, like a glass cube on stilts. Managed by the Bilbao Yacht Club, the bar has its own pier, which is the height of chic! Its excellent cocktails and live music program attract a young and trendy clientele. The place is particularly popular on weekends at vermut time, at the stroke of noon. A privileged spot for an aperitif or a cocktail!

At the arrival of the beautiful days, here is the spot not to be missed for a drink in the evening. Located on the roof of the Azkuna Zentroa cultural centre, this rooftop bar attracts a trendy clientele who come to sip a cocktail against a backdrop of lounge music. The terrace depends on the Yandiola restaurant, a good table with modern cuisine located inside the cultural centre, but it can be accessed completely independently. In addition to its chill-out atmosphere conducive to encounters, you will also appreciate its pleasant views, especially on the dome of the building.

Very good atmosphere in this concert hall in Ensanche born in 2001, which mainly programs rock, pop, folk, country and indie music bands. It is an emblematic hall of the musical circuit of Bilbao, which welcomes an eclectic but faithful clientele, with its friendly service, correct prices and good music. Music lovers will not fail to admire the collection of guitars signed by music legends, displayed in one of the showcases of the premises. After the concerts, a DJ provides entertainment until the early hours of the morning.

Live concerts every weekend and Argentinean tango courses during the week. There is a small restaurant with typical Spanish dishes.

In northern Spain, vermouth is called marianito. This small, authentic and popular bar in the Siete Calles has made it its specialty: here the vermouth is served with a drop of gin and Angostura (a concentrate of essences from the Caribbean), orange peel, and a plate of olives. You can drink it red or blue, in this case with a drop of curaçao, and opt for a small plate of shellfish as an accompaniment: whelks, shrimps, etc. The place is particularly lively on Saturdays and Sundays at noon!

Designed by the "MindShakers", a young team of ultra-creative bartenders, this cocktail bar offers a cosy and cosmopolitan decor for a drink with friends. Its eclectic decor is organized in different spaces where oriental benches and cushions, Chester sofas, brick walls and mid-century style merge together. We like their cocktails, sometimes classic, sometimes inventive, which are accompanied by tapas and small dishes with exotic accents (ceviches, nachos, gyozas, etc.). Very fashionable, the bar is usually crowded on weekends!

Two rooms glued together - Stage live and Back room - in a very central location on the banks of the ría, facing the famous Zubizuri bridge. Here follow one another concerts and clubbing evenings with a varied programme: Erasmus evenings, commercial music, reggaeton...). With a solid reputation, Stage live welcomes quality artists, while the back room is one of the clubs of choice for 18-25 year olds. The club also has several VIP areas, the so-called privados, where all kinds of events can be celebrated.

A Casco Viejo classic on Athletic match nights: a crowd of fans gather in a lively atmosphere! The K2 also hosts temporary exhibitions of young artists and concerts (see the program on their website). A nice and lively place to have a drink in the evening, but also to nibble some pintxos and other unpretentious raciones (tortilla, burgers, etc.). A good address for football fans who want to see an Athletic match in a local atmosphere!

In the heart of the San Francisco neighborhood, a church built in the 17th century by Antonio Ortiz de Calina and Francisco de Elorriaga and renovated in the 18th century. In the 1990s, the Bilbao City Council decided to transform this old church into a musical and cultural space. Since then, Bilborock has been hosting a varied programme of concerts, film screenings, theatre and dance performances, conferences, etc. His Pop-Rock Villa contest in Bilbao brings together the best of the emerging scene. An atypical place, which has become the temple of alternative culture in Bilbao.

Located just a stone's throw from the Azkuna Zentroa cultural center, this musical bar is a sure bet in Ensanche for a sophisticated cocktail, with a varied musical program ranging from jazz to lounge sounds. We like the careful decoration of the place, which offers a pleasant framework to drink in the evening, but especially the card of coloured and tasty cocktails. Around the bar, the divine waitresses make heads turn, while the owner Jon ensures a pleasant welcome. A good address to meet people!

In the heart of the San Francisco district, a crazy bar that regularly hosts offbeat shows where burlesque is the order of the day. Las Fellini's show (www.lasfellini.com) is a classic not to be missed: you'll love this completely crazy transformist cabaret! The rest of the time, an eclectic, predominantly gay clientele dances to pop music and hits from the 1980s until the end of the night. Be aware of the programming available on their Facebook page: Badulake regularly organizes costume parties!

Renovated in 2016, the Gran Hotel Domine's bar has a chic and contemporary decor designed by the local agency Foraster Arquitectos. Luxurious materials, such as the large marble table at the entrance, the contrast between fabrics and beautiful materials and the cheerful designs of the famous Spanish designer Javier Mariscal make up a harmonious decor. Settle into one of its comfortable velvet sofas to enjoy an excellent cocktail in a cosmopolitan atmosphere. For those who are a little hungry, there is an interesting choice of tapas and raciones.

Installed in a former cinema in the Ensanche, the Sala BBK is a place dedicated to the dissemination of urban culture. The place belongs to the Basque financial entity BBK, now known as Kutxabank. Throughout the year, jazz, fado, flamenco, rock and roll, etc. concerts are programmed, as well as film screenings, conferences, dance shows and bertsolaris. All forms of culture are represented. A program specially designed for families is also offered.

A classic Bilbao nightclub since the 1990s, located in the heart of the Indautxu district. This pub with its woody and intimate decoration, with walls covered with banknotes, old frames and bottle caps, is perfect for an evening drink. Live concerts are regularly scheduled, as well as DJ sets until the early hours of the morning. Spanish artists such as Pablo Lopez, Antonio Orozco, El Lichis and Nil Moliner have taken to the stage in recent years, as well as emerging groups from the local scene.

This small bar overlooking the ria is the haunt of students and artists of the neighborhood. Set up in an old tavern that has been brought up to date, it has a charming décor combining sky blue earthenware tiles and bohemian furniture. The perfect place to sip a good beer or a marianito (vermouth) at any time of the day in an authentic atmosphere. For those who are a bit hungry, there are also good sandwiches and salads. As a bonus, the nicest terrace in the surroundings to enjoy pleasant views of the ría!

A room with a modern and uncluttered design, which offers several atmospheres throughout the day. We stop there for an early morning coffee, a vermouth at aperitif time, or a glass of champagne accompanied by oysters. You can also savour delicious raciones, such as anchovies from Bermeo or asparagus from Navarre, and above all drink good cocktails made with great skill. In the evenings, concerts and DJ sessions provide the atmosphere for a diverse clientele. A cosmopolitan place to go at any time of the day!

Inaugurated in 2015, this superb bar with a contemporary decor specialises in beer. At the bar, 6 beer barrels that change according to the seasons, and a very careful menu of bottled beers from all over the world, which also leaves a special place for local artisanal production. To accompany them, good pintxos and raciones of regional products, such as anchovies from Santoña, cockles from Galicia or cecina from León. The bar regularly schedules tastings and concerts. Very beautiful decor with an industrial aesthetic.

Inaugurated in 2003, Manu Iturregi's bar is now a classic in the Ensanche. Its premises, decorated as an Irish pub, regularly hosts jazz, blues and folk concerts... The quality of the music and the dexterity of the bartenders are the main reasons for Résidence's success. Attended by a regular clientele, you can breathe an atmosphere full of authenticity where it is good to drink a homemade beer or a whisky, selected from one of the 200 references available! Every Wednesday night, acoustic folk concerts at 9pm.

This space was originally designed in the 1990s to provide a meeting place for basque speakers. So don't be surprised if you hear a lot of people talking in Basque! Installed in a former cinema, it now functions as a restaurant, concert hall and nightclub. It is a reference stage for Basque musicians from the region, although it also hosts many international groups and artists. On the club side, the atmosphere is young and relaxed, with a very varied musical program

A small family bar where you can enjoy great cocktails and pintxos. With its large terrace on the Gran Vía, it is a meeting place at any time of the day, where you can meet señoras for coffee or thirty-somethings for an aperitif. Among its specialities appreciated by the regulars: the pintxo de tortilla, considered one of the best in the city, and its small toasted sandwiches that are eaten on the stroke of 11 o'clock for breakfast. In the evening, good atmosphere on two floors and around the bar!