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Here at Tapas we have compiled the best plans to make the most of the weekend in Bilbao, and to indulge in hedonism between cultural and gastronomic experiences, festivals, events and museums. Grab your diary and take note of our weekly proposal.
FRIDAY 19
Our first obligatory stop in Bilbao, being contemporary art lovers, will be to visit the Guggenheim Museum and see the exhibitions it currently houses. A space in which, beyond its permanent works, we will delve into the artistic universes of Miró and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.
Through Joan Miró’s exhibition “Absolute Reality” we will evade ourselves with his formal innovations, developed in the context of the first avant-garde movements, mainly Dadaism and Surrealism. A collection in which the Mallorcan artist once again dilutes his inner world, exploring from the initial magical realism to a personal vocabulary of constellated or floating signs on ambiguous backgrounds; as a kind of avant-garde evolution of prehistoric art.
We will then change scenery to visit Lynette’s exhibition “No Intense Sunset”. A room in which we will find a selection of more than 70 paintings and charcoal drawings made by the artist between 2020 and 2023, now unveiled for the first time. The exhibition includes a series of evocative paintings reflecting the human experience and an air of improvisation that creates an impression of immediacy.
Without leaving this symbolic building, we will dine in one of the restaurants that are exhibited inside as the ultimate representation of gastronomy and art. At NERUA we will be able to taste the creations of chef Josean Alija, who cultivates his own style between aromas, beauty, texture and flavours through a concept of essential and close cuisine.
SATURDAY 20
On Saturday, after strolling through the streets that make up the old quarter of Bilbao and visiting key monuments such as the Church of San Antón, the Plaza Nueva and the Bilbao Cathedral, we will head to the Bocadero restaurant: a place where we will continue to live the gastronomic experience that the capital offers us.
In this restaurant, equipped with elements such as large arches and large windows, we will embark on a journey around the Mediterranean through a menu that combines new and traditional recipes, taking advantage of the quality of the sea and the land to create delicious flavours and aromas such as rice dishes, Italian classics or reformulated Greeks. Where can you find it? At Calle Gardoki Kardenalaren Kalea, 6.
As dusk falls, we will attend an event starring music scientist Dano Ziontifik at the Sala Santana 27. The Argentinian artist will present his new mixtape “El Hombre Hace Planes, Dios Se Ríe” at the club, accompanied by DJ Swet, as a new rap ritual between metaphors, sharp and accurate texts, melodies and urban harmonies. Get your pass here.
SUNDAY 21
On Sunday we will enjoy one of the best brunches in the capital at the Happy River restaurant. On its air-conditioned terrace with permanent views of the Bilbao estuary, we can choose from various vegetarian, vegan and celiac options cooked with high quality raw materials, such as homemade sourdough bread or free-range chicken eggs. A menu to accompany with a liquid offer of fresh orange juice, mimosa cocktail, glass of cava, champagne or Bloody Mary.
We will close the weekend with a tourist plan: visit the largest covered market in Europe, the Mercado de la Ribera. An immense art deco-style building that stands out for the intense interior light provided by its large stained glass windows, and its wide variety of products that capture the essence of the city.
