Bilbao has a large number of restaurants ranging from tapas bars, traditional Spanish rest, Basque style cuisines and to international restaurants. Because Bilbao is very close to the Atlantic Ocean, many of the Bilbao restaurants and dining places specialize in fish and sea food dishes. The local specialties in these restaurants include lobsters, sea food stews, fried fish, omellettes, paella and codfish (better known as bacalao). Most of the food venues and restaurants in Bilbao are in and around the centre of the city with the main services of the above named foods and wine which is often served in potes or small glasses. A number of popular restaurants can be found in the university district of Bilbao, the Casco Viejo area and the Archanda hill area have restaurants that give splendid views.

Some of the restaurants available in Bilbao include the Guggenheim restraunt. This is located within the Museo Guggenheim. It offers mainly traditional basque cuisine and as well as national and international. This restaurant is always opened except for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights and the first forth night in January. Another restaurant is the Arbola Gana restaurant. This is found within the Museo de Bellas Artes and it offers a variety of dishes. It is closed on Mondays, Sunday nights, during the last week of July and the first week of August and the Easter week. Next is the Victor restaurant. This is in the el Vasco Viejo and its menu is largely dominated by Basque dishes and a wine range of more than 1500 references. The restaurant is closed during last week of January and August, first week in September, Easter week and on all Sundays except for the month of May. Next is the Etxanobe restaurant, situated at Palacio de Euskalduna. The restaurant has fabrics decorated by the famous Joaquin Gallardo and it offers views of the once ship building industry that has now been redeveloped. The restaurant is closed on Easter week, the first fortnight in August, on Sundays and bank holiday evenings.

Other well known restaurants in Bilbao include Gorrotxa restaurant, Yandiola restaurant, Ander Marie restaurant, Aretxondo restaurant, Goizeko restaurant, Gaminiz restaurant, La Pergola restaurant among others. Some other restaurants that are found within and around town include Zortziko, Aitxiar, El Perro Chico; Etxanobe, Bermeo, Victor Montes and Matxinbenta all of which are Spanish and Portuguese, and the Restraunte Guggenheim Bilbao, which is an international restaurant.