Bar Víctor Montes

Bar Víctor Montes is one of Bilbao's most enduring and beloved institutions, occupying a prime position on the Plaza Nueva — the city's beautiful neoclassical arcaded square in the Casco Viejo — since 1881. The bar and restaurant serves as both a local breakfast spot, midday pintxos counter, and evening restaurant, threading through the full day of Bilbao social life with a consistency and quality that has sustained its reputation across multiple generations. The pintxos counter is a serious affair: an extensive selection of carefully prepared small plates including jamón ibérico, cured meats, cheeses, marinated anchovies, and hot pintxos such as croquetas de jamón that are among the most praised in the city. The terrace on the Plaza Nueva is one of the finest spots in Bilbao for an aperitivo — the arcaded square is one of the great civic spaces of the Basque Country, and sitting under the stone arches on a warm afternoon with a glass of txakoli and a plate of jamón is one of the quintessential Bilbao experiences. The restaurant section serves more substantial traditional Basque dishes including salt cod and fresh fish. The wine selection is excellent for a traditional bar, with good coverage of Rioja, txakoli, and Basque cider. Service is efficient and professional, reflective of a business that has been serving Bilbao for over a century.