Fun and entertainment Bilbao

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!

Charming café with a bohemian spirit, a popular meeting point for breakfast during the week or brunch on weekends. In the early morning, you can enjoy grilled avocado and salmon tostadas, scrambled eggs, or bowls of yoghurt with fresh fruit and granola. With its vintage furniture, homemade cakes and quality coffee, it is also the perfect place for a gourmet snack break. For those who are a little hungry: quinoa salad, veggie sandwich and other good and healthy options.

Opened in 2018 on the banks of the ría, this trendy spot functions as a cultural space, concert hall and nightclub in the center of Bilbao. One stops here to see a concert, drink a cocktail after work, sip vermouth in the sun on Sunday lunch or dance on the dance floor to the sound of Djs. In a stylish decor of beautiful Art Deco lamps and light effects, or simply on the terrace by the water, this is the new meeting place for Bilbao's hipsters! Check the program on the website.

Theatre inaugurated in 1902, whose sumptuous modernist façade - with oriental influences - is the work of the French architect Jean Batiste Darroquy, a native of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The interior, which has been completely renovated, houses a large main hall and the "sala Cúpula" dedicated to concerts. The theatre offers a varied programme of concerts and shows. The Kupula Bilbao cycle highlights local contemporary creation, with shows made in Bilbao

Since its creation in 2005, Fever has been the club of reference in Bilbao. Located south of Casco Viejo, this huge nightclub welcomes in its 4 rooms (Pink Fever, Gold Fever, Black Fever and Blue Fever) an eclectic clientele, eager for new music. In addition to its excellent concert programme, Fever also organises the "Art After Dark" evenings in the Guggenheim Museum one Friday a month, to visit the exhibitions at night with the music of the DJs as an accompaniment. Check the agenda on their website!

When Parisian chic meets Spanish tradition, the result is definitely worth a look. This is the case in this bistro on Rue Ledesma, an unmissable pedestrian street that is always very lively, where the vermouth aperitif is brought up to date. The house offers more than 50 references and many variations (rum, cava, vermouth sangria, etc.)! It is eaten with some gildas (typical Basque pintxo), cockles or anchovies. More consistent: Iberian ham croquetas and plates of smoked salmon, octopus or sheep's cheese.

A mecca for mixology, this bar born in 2018 is the new meeting point for cocktail lovers and chic ambiences! Located near the Guggenheim Museum, it offers an ultra-tidy decor with its wooden shelves lined with multicoloured liqueurs and jars, its trendy green velvet benches and its luminous globe. Behind the bar, the stylish waiters will concoct elixirs for you to fall down and choose from a menu of "new classics" and signature cocktails. As a side dish, try their delicious pancakes!