PUBLIC LOUNGE
With food a preoccupation of the city’s inhabitants, even the hippest hangout tends to be a restaurant too – but return to Public Lounge later in the evening, and you’ll find the DJ decks come out and the party gets started in style. Henao, 54 (00 34 944 052 824; www.public-bilbao.com).
ZORTZIKO
Creative cooking is a Spanish birthright and Daniel García follows in his father’s culinary footsteps in this restaurant in a 19th-century Burgos mansion. Basque dishes are not overly elaborate and each flavour stands alone – a tomato tastes like a tomato, but the juiciest, freshest specimen you have ever tried. Alameda de Mazarredo, 17 (00 34 944 239 743; www.zortziko.es).
VANGUARDIA
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The streets near the Guggenheim are stuffed with galleries selling art, so your cultural swotting can be put to good use. So many artists are supported by Vanguardia that the gallery becomes a sort of party on a Friday night, which welcomes all as it spills out on to the streets. Alameda de Mazarredo, 19 (00 34 944 237 691; www.galeriavanguardia.com).
DOLCE VITA
In such a highbrow city, fashion is taken as its own art form. The best one-stop shop, Dolce Vita, offers maximum style from a strong European stable of designers, including Paul & Joe, Vanessa Bruno and our favourite, the home-grown talent Miriam Ocariz. Her silk-screen pieces are gallery-worthy in themselves. Calle Elcano, 15 (00 34 946 790 582).
EL HUEVO FRITO
In this Basque foodie paradise, the traditional approach is to prop up the bar at the pintxos spots in town. El Huevo Frito serves little bites of shrimp, prawn, cheese and crepes, accompanied by txacolí, the delicious local white wine.
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Maestro García Rivero, 1 (00 34 944 412 249; www.elhuevofrito.com).
SHERATON BILBAO
From its bold contemporary façade to the incredible delights of its Aizian restaurant – one of the best in Spain – the Sheraton is no shrinking violet. In the heart of the city, this sleek hotel’s location slap bang next to the river and a short stroll to the Guggenheim makes it the ultimate place to stay for a weekend away. Calle Lehendakari Leizaola, 29 (00 34 944 280 000; www.starwoodhotels.com).