Terraces with a view in Bilbao

Discover the city’s most exclusive rooftops and viewpoints, from the iconic 13th floor of the Hotel Ercilla to the haute cuisine of Etxanobe. An essential tour of the terraces overlooking the Guggenheim and the best balconies overlooking the Cantabrian Sea in Getxo, where you can enjoy Basque cuisine from a unique perspective.

Bilbao reaches for the sky. Although the bars on the ground floor maintain an enviable standard, the truly extraordinary experiences are to be found high above. The city climbs onto its rooftops to offer avant-garde bites, cocktails or a simple glass of txakoli with its traditional gilda. At Etxanobe in Euskalduna, Fernando Canales and Mikel Población elevate haute cuisine above the estuary; their anchovy lasagne tastes of industrial history and a titanium-bright future, with Bilbao at their feet.

The Hotel Ercilla, from its legendary 13th floor, offers 360-degree views set in the heart of Indautxu, with Artxanda and the Old Town on one side and Pagasarri and the rest of the city on the other. The Carlton’s terrace, with its century-old aristocratic character, is small but places visitors right above the gardens of Plaza Elíptica, where the life of the whole city flows by. Meanwhile, at the Yandiola, chill-out vibes coexist with the fascinating modernist domes of the Alhóndiga, now Azkuna Zentroa

ALONG THE ESTUARY

The exceptions to the rule regarding height are Abba San Mamés and the Vincci Consulado (Le Paul); their terraces are situated on platforms at street level, or even a few metres below, but their strategic location overlooking the estuary is exceptional.

It is also worth noting the terraces at The Artist hotel, right opposite the Guggenheim, and the one at the Radisson, almost on Plaza Circular itsel.

All of them, with their own unique features, offer extraordinary experiences.

Hotel Abba San Mamés Bilbao

Yandiola Azkuna Zentroa Bilbao

TERRACES NEAR BILBAO

Overlooking the Cantabrian Sea, on Ereaga beach (Getxo), Javier Izarra masters the grill with the skill of a craftsman. The terrace at Tamarises Izarra offers a front-row seat where the perfect turbot and creamy rice blend with the embrace of the sea air. Here, luxury lies in the simplicity of the sea.

Close by are two other establishments with views over the same bay as Tamarises Izarra, but with different perspectives: those of the Palacio de Arriluze and the Hotel Embarcadero.