(18 Dos de mayo in Bilbao, Spain)

à table restaurant in the old quarter of Bilbao is an authentic Basque-French restaurant – perhaps t...he only one in the city – offering a true flavour of that traditional cuisine. The purple façade of the 19th century shop front reveals a charmingly relaxed dining room with purple paneling, marble floors and wooden tables, original modern art, wine crate end wall décor, wrought iron screens, sleek modern lighting and a buzzing ambience. Seasonally-changing dishes include inventive interpretations of classic dishes like dried bull meat with virgin olive oil, mi-cuit foie gras, grilled tuna, veal stew in Bordeaux sauce. Wines are partly Spanish, partly global, including some intriguing Bordeaux. Private events are a particular treat at à table. Groups of more than 20 people can enjoy superb cuisine, free parking and service in English, French and German. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Tue - Sat 1pm - 3:30pm & 8:30pm - 11pm Sun & Mon: closed all day [moreless]

(2-4 Obispo Orueta in Bilbao, Spain)

Club Nautico restaurant in Bilbao’s Lopez de Haro Hotel in the centre of town just a few minutes fro...m the Guggenheim. This is one cool hotel – Lou Reed stays here when he’s in town. Club Nautico’s décor is French-inspired, smart, a modern take on traditional styling with checquered floors, gilt mirrors, paneled pillars and walls, chandeliers, classic seating and unusual pink tablecloths. Chef Julio Heras' dishes include steamed hake with sauce of small squid, and menus change with the fresh produce of the seasons. Three exclusive dining rooms seat from 5 to 60 diners, so both location and amenities make this a terrific choice for corporate entertaining. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 1:30pm - 3:30pm & 9pm - 11:30pmSat: 9pm - 11:30pmSun: Closed [moreless]

(17 Alameda Mazarredo in Bilbao, Spain)

Zortziko restaurant, just a few steps from Bilbao’s iconic Guggenheim Museum, is iconic in its own w...ay. This ultra-modern kitchen is sited in an elegant, 19th century mansion and is the place for business lunches and relaxed dinners. The formality of the setting – the three dining rooms are decorated in royal French, Victorian English and a more modern style – is deflated by the helpfulness and cordiality of the DJ’ed waitstaff. Chef/owner Daniel Garcia has earned his Michelin star through refinement of flavours in a truly Basque style at once inventive and conservative. Dishes change with the season, of course, and may include dishes like starter of txangurro salad, containing crabmeat on thin spaghetti with coral dressing, main course of blue duck slow-cooked served with a sweet rioja sauce, and a tasting plate of desserts to satisfy even the most adventurous gourmet. A single table in the wine cellar, the home of more than 600 labels, is reserved weeks in advance. Celebrity-magnet Zortziko (Frank Gehry, Pierce Brosnan) is one of Bilbao’s culinary star attractions. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Tue - Sat 1:30pm - 3:30pm & 9pm - 11:30pm Mon - Sun: closed all day [moreless]