Bilbao
Bilbao's best sports bars get the matchday details right — angles, sound, beer in your hand by kick-off. A working editorial ranking, refreshed every quarter.
Casco Viejo · $
Heritage pintxos bar in the old town.
Indautxu · $$$
Bilbao's most awarded cocktail bar.
Casco Viejo · $
Heritage neighbourhood bar with one of the city's longest pintxos counters.
Centro · $$
Heritage Mudejar-style café from 1903.
Casco Viejo · $
Pintxos counter known for its mushroom-and-egg pintxo.
Casco Viejo · $$
Modern pintxos bar with a serious cocktail menu and Basque cider on tap.
Bilbao rewards drinkers who scout neighbourhoods, and the spread below reflects that. You'll find spots in Casco Viejo, Abandoibarra, Indautxu, and beyond — each picked for what it does best, not how loud its marketing is. We focus on multiple screens, big-match atmosphere, group-friendly, right-volume sound; we ignore venues that prioritise volume over craft. The order is a working ranking, not a leaderboard — number one isn't always your number one. Read the notes and pick the room that fits the night you're planning.
Best for: matchday viewing, group hangs, post-game drinks. Most rooms here run from late afternoon until 1 or 2am; the busier ones lift their door policy on weekends and we've flagged those where it matters. Save the page, send it to whoever you're meeting, and let the rest of Bilbao take care of itself.
A working editorial ranking. Numbers are guidance, not gospel. Pick the room that fits your night.
The local view
Bilbao lives and breathes Athletic Club, the side that fills San Mamés on the banks of the Nervión. The club fields only Basque players developed through its Lezama academy, so match nights carry a local pride you rarely feel elsewhere in Spanish football. When Athletic play away or Europe is on, the city's bars turn into makeshift terraces.
Most sports bars here double as pintxos counters, so you order a Rioja and a plate while the game runs. Café Iruña near Abando and Gure Toki in the Casco Viejo pull steady crowds for La Liga evenings. This guide covers six spots worth planning a night around.
A good Bilbao sports bar keeps one eye on Athletic Club and the other on the pintxos counter. You want a screen visible from the bar, sound turned up for La Liga kickoffs, and staff who actually care about the result. Singular and La Zorra in Indautxu handle busy weekends well.
Location matters because kickoffs often land at 9pm or later. The Casco Viejo old town packs its bars into a few narrow streets, so you can move on when one screen is full. Sasibil and Gure Toki sit inside that grid, a short walk from the Casco Viejo metro stop.
Abando and Indautxu suit anyone staying near the main railway station or Gran Vía. Both reach San Mamés by metro and tram in minutes. La Cocinilla del Carmen works when you want a proper meal with the football rather than standing room only.
Bilbao rewards anyone who plans a night around Athletic Club. Base yourself in the Casco Viejo for the densest run of bars, or Indautxu for a newer crowd, and lean on the metro and tram to reach San Mamés. For pintxos with your football, Gure Toki and Café Iruña stand out; for a sit-down meal, try La Cocinilla del Carmen.
Good to know
Locals split between the Casco Viejo old town and the newer Indautxu district. In the old town, Gure Toki and Sasibil draw regulars for Athletic Club matches, pintxos on the counter and the game on screen. Indautxu spots like Singular and La Zorra fill for La Liga evenings. See our Bilbao guide for more.
The Casco Viejo old town is the easiest base because its bars cluster within a few walkable streets, so a full screen is never far away. Indautxu and Abando work well too, especially if you are staying near Gran Vía or the main railway station. All three connect to San Mamés by metro and tram within minutes.
Yes. Athletic Club is the city's obsession, and almost every bar shows their La Liga fixtures. When the team plays at San Mamés many fans head to the ground, so bars fill most for away games and midweek European nights. Café Iruña near Abando and Gure Toki in the old town are reliable choices.
Bilbao bars will show the 2026 World Cup, with Spain's games drawing the largest crowds. Reserve a table early at food-led spots like La Cocinilla del Carmen, or stand with the old town regulars at Sasibil. For planning ideas, read our guide to the best bars for watching the World Cup.
Looking beyond Bilbao? See our guide to the best sports bars worldwide. Or find sports bars near you.