Eating in Portugalete

Eating in Portugalete

Home to the Vizcaya Bridge in the province of Biscay, Portugalete is a seaside town located at the mouth of the Bilbao Estuary. This means that codfish and shellfish are some of the freshest and most popular dishes, dominating the tables of the town’s restaurants and bars.

In the province of Biscay on the left bank of the Bilbao Estuary, we come upon this coastal town which has been modernized over the years without losing even an ounce of its medieval essence. In Portugalete you’ll find classic cuisine typical of the province in which it is located as well as a wide variety of seafood. You’ll get to enjoy some exquisite fish and shellfish, which the town’s kitchens use to prepare excellent dishes. Some of the town’s famous dishes are cuttlefish, codfish a la vizcaína, hake a la cazuela, and grilled fish (sole, turbot, sea bass, etc.), all very popular when it comes time to eat in Portugalete.

You’ll also find delicious grilled meats, stews made of pig’s snout and tripe, and stuffed peppers. An assortment of pinchos, which you can enjoy in the town’s bars, can be the perfect appetizer for a meal in Portugalete. To accompany this feast, don’t forget to try a nice Txakoli de Vizcaya (a white wine typical of the Basque Country) or a glass of cider produced in the region.

sepia portugalete
pimientos rellenos orduna

If tapas are what you’re looking for, Portugalete has several good places to get them; some of them are mentioned in the “À la carte” section of this page, but the bars you absolutely must try are Minuto and Arrieta.

Minuto’s pinchos are quite large and they offer a lot of variety. They’re delicious! If necessary, the staff can explain what each dish contains so that you can make an informed decision. You can always have not just one, but two, three…On the other hand, Arrieta is a typical tavern where the locals go for pinchos and tapas.

On Thursdays, you can add the restaurant Las Tablas to your pinchos crawl. Like other establishments in the town, they offer a pincho-drink combo for a fair price. Miramar is a great restaurant for tapas and snacks. The restaurant Adrian offers an extensive pinchos bar, but the tortilla de patatas undeniably takes the cake.

comer portugalete bar minuto
Bar Minuto

There are numerous options for places to eat in Portugalete. One of the town’s most reputable establishments is Casa Jauregi, a restaurant specializing in barbecue where you can also find other typical Basque dishes, always prepared with fresh, quality products. The codfish al pil pil, cuttlefish, and sirloin are their most popular dishes. This is one of the best restaurants in town.

The restaurant Adrian serves quality fare based on recipes from the Basque cookbook with contemporary touches. They offer several different prix fixe menus, including a cider menu and shellfish menu. It’s also possible to hold special events there. An economical choice.

Torre de Salazar, located in an artistically significant building, is another restaurant to keep in mind when it’s time to eat in Portugalete. Without losing sight of tradition, its kitchen serves up dishes that represent modern techniques, always made with quality, locally-sourced products. We recommend the turbot, clams, and cockles.

Náuticos is another renowned place to eat in Portugalete, due to its traditional cuisine specializing in meat and fish as well as the restaurant’s panoramic views of the estuary and the bridge. Their fare is offered through an extensive à la carte menu and several special prix fixe menus. They also host celebrations for weddings, communions, and other special events.

comer portugalete restaurante casa jauregui
Casa Jauregui
comer portugalete restaurante adrian
Restaurante Adrián

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