If you’re after something a little different, Casa Rufo provides the unexpectedly fantastic experience of dining in a delicatessen-inspired labyrinth. Over a hundred years old, this apparently unassuming, family-run establishment is an intimate network of hidden rooms and secret corners, its corridors lined with all sorts of delicious Basque groceries including vegetables, olive-oils, cured hams and preserves. Feel free to investigate the Spanish produce and interesting knick-knacks displayed throughout the rooms.

Charming and cozy, this centenarian Bilbao institution is essentially a series of nooks and crannies tucked into a fine food, wine, olive oil, cheese, and ham emporium. Leave it to the affable owners to recommend specialties such as txuleton (gigantic T-bone steak), which pairs wonderfully with the house Rioja or any red from the 1,000-bottle-strong wine list.

Casa Rufo in Bilbao is more than just a restaurant; it's a culinary institution that combines a rustic deli with a dining area, creating a unique atmosphere filled with bottles and hams. Specializing in hearty Basque cuisine, Casa Rufo is celebrated for its txuletons - large, aged beef steaks that are a staple of Basque culinary tradition. The restaurant's focus on quality ingredients and exceptional value wine complements its robust dishes, making it a favorite for those seeking an authentic and substantial meal.

When José Luís Pérez Landeta welcomes you into his grocery-cum-restaurant you feel immediately at home. The original grocery store – or abacería – was founded in 1955, then expanded in 1995 to include a small rustic eatery specialising in grilled meats, traditional Basque dishes and an excellent selection of wines. Friendly service and an intimate atmosphere, combined with a cosy feeling of being among friends and neighbours, makes Casa Rufo a local favourite not to be missed.

Last year when we visited Bilbao we ate txuletón at the rather good Casa Rufo (great steaks and cracking wine list), but this year decided to try somewhere different and (based on a number of recommendations and what appeared, on line, to be a bargain wine list choc- a- block full of the cream of Spanish red wines) we decided to go to (the hard to pronounce) Goizeko Izarra (rather conveniently located close to the apartment we rented).

Located next to the main train station, Casa Rufo is a family run establishment that offers great food and a fantastic setting. Don’t let the unassuming exterior of this restaurant phase you – the interior is truly superb and is akin to a labyrinth with a myriad of separate rooms and booths. In terms of food, Casa Rufo serves a range of delicious Basque dishes including a mouth-watering rib-eye txuleton steak.

Exclusively a grocer’s shop for 40 years, in 1995 its owners turned a back room into a makeshift restaurant which soon began to attract the city’s finest, all intent on enjoying the delicatessen and tasty morsels on sale in the shop. Today, Casa Rufo is an authentic benchmark for traditional Basque cuisine in Bilbao. Its hallmarks are its authenticity, savoir-faire and the quality of its products.

Casa Rufo seems, at first glance, to be an adorably traditional deli, butchers and wine store, flanked by wooden shelves piled high with canned goods, jars and spices. In fact, it’s all a highly elaborate prelude to their restaurant, tucked away at the back amongst the bottles of wine. Pick one out and tuck into balsamic-drizzled asparagus; baked salt cod; and tuna belly salad.

This vibrant little gem in Bilbao is like a cheeky tapas bar on steroids. With its funky décor and lively atmosphere, it's like stepping into a boisterous carnival, except with more food and fewer terrifying clowns. Prepare yourself for a tantalizing tapas experience that will leave your taste buds dancing the flamenco!

Description: A meat lover’s paradise, famous for its dry-aged beef and rustic ambiance. The family-run spot is a Bilbao staple for carnivores. Signature Dishes: Chuletón (aged ribeye), roasted peppers with bonito.

A classic in Bilbao with a special atmosphere in a delicatessen shop, founded in 1955, and later gave rise to the restaurant. You can’t miss the egg croquettes and the ribeye.

CASA RUFO Enjoy the fine cuts of meat expertly prepared and served in dining rooms behind a food emporium and wine shop. Calle Hurtado de Amezaga 5 $$–$$$