Gourmet products local specialties and wines Bilbao

Situated on the banks of the ría, between the Euskalduna Congress Centre and the Guggenheim Museum, this is the only shopping centre in the centre of Bilbao. Facing the Deusto Bridge, this large red brick building houses some 50 shops, eight cinemas, a supermarket and several restaurants on four floors. Of course, you'll find the major international fashion brands (Zara, H&M, Stradivarius, etc.), but also an Ikea boutique, a Media Markt... enough to satisfy all your shopping desires!

Every Sunday morning, the Plaza Nueva fills up with passers-by and the curious at its Sunday market. Under the arcades of the square, about fifty stalls sell records, books, old toys, and even fish and birds. It is also the meeting place for fans of cromos (trading cards). On this day, the bars in the square are always full; it is customary to have an aperitif with rabas (fried squid).

Since 1860, this establishment has been offering ice cream, turrón andorchata (a Valencian drink made from tigernut juice) to gourmets. Founded by a family from the village of Jijona, the birthplace of turrón, the establishment is now run by the sixth generation. In addition to a wide variety of turróns, it offers many other sweets during the winter: polvorones (crumbly cookies), marzipan figures, candied fruit, chocolates and cavas... In the summer, you can enjoy their homemade ice creams with multiple flavors.

This flower market is held every Sunday morning on the promenade of El Arenal, a few metres from the Town Hall. The stalls are set up along the ría, offering all kinds of plants and flowers at low prices. The emblematic tinglados (metal shelters), inherited from the industrial era, become the showcase of this pretty market where it is good to stroll among the freshly cut flowers. Many small producers come here to sell their products.

Just a stone's throw from the Teatro Arriaga, a pretty retro décor for a sweet break based on home-made biscuits and cakes. Among these sweets, classic or international recipes, refined pastries and a fine selection of Basque specialities: tiramisu, scones, bollos de mantequilla (typical Bilbao brioche), Basque cake, cheese or carrot cake... All to be enjoyed in a pretty stone setting with coffee, hot chocolate or fresh fruit juice. Unmistakable: the hojaldre (puff pastry cake)!

This wine merchant born in 1994 brings together more than 3,000 references of wines and liqueurs in a vast area dedicated to sales, but also to all kinds of wine-related activities (conferences, tastings, presentations of vintages or bodegas, etc.). You will appreciate the always friendly and very professional welcome of Antonio and his team, the immense variety of the selected vintages, but also their excellent value for money. A must-see address for wine shopping!

The first Martina pastry shop in Zuricalday dates back to 1830. It is therefore today the oldest artisan pastry shop in the Basque Country. The sixth generation of the family now runs the four eponymous shops and continues to delight gourmets with its famous bollos de mantequilla (brioche with custard), cakes and other varied delicacies (macaroons, financiers, cupcakes, etc.). Other specialities from Bilbao include the Carolina (tartlet topped with a meringue-chocolate cone) and the bollo suizo (sugar brioche).

Since 1852, this pastry shop is an institution of the city. Its decoration, which has remained practically unchanged for a hundred years, preserves beautiful pieces of furniture such as this superb Carrara marble counter. A wide variety of cakes and chocolates have been delighting Bilbao's people for generations, but the house's great specialty is the chocolate truffle, whose traditional preparation has remained unchanged for decades. Sold in boxes and assortments, it is a good souvenir idea for your greedy friends!

Just across the street from the Arriaga Theatre, this delightful tea room is the successor to the historic El Tilo café, a meeting place for artists for over a century. Decorated with Belle Epoque frescoes, this gourmet address is famous for its cupcakes with multiple flavours: chocolate, red velvet, red fruits, Oreo (biscuits)... Its huge slices of pumpkin, cheese or speculoos cake are also to be enjoyed. An excellent address for breakfast or a gourmet break at the entrance of the Casco Viejo, in an old-fashioned setting!

Bacalao (cod), the star of the local cuisine, is in the spotlight in this old grocery store founded in 1931. The "Bacalada de Gregorio Martín", as it is known, is also worth a look for its authentic décor, full of preserves, rows of sausages and bags of pulses. The company's flagship product, cod, is imported from the Faroe Islands, where it is sustainably fished. The choice of producers is the key to the success of this brand: cheeses, cold cuts, wines, chocolates, etc., are selected from the best producers.