General information

This spring, the weather in Bilbao has been much more rainy than usual, so we expecte to have a rainy summer. Pack your umbrella!
Do not expect to be able to pay with credit cards in bars and pubs. You can usually pay with a credit card in restaurants.
There is a good network of cash machines, but expect to pay a commission. Check with your bank, how much is charged in advance.
In the restaurants, it is not as common to leave a tip as it is in other countries (e.g. USA)
In the bars and restaurants it's not allowed to smoke.
VAT for restaurants and related services is 10%. General VAT is 21%.
Typical lunches called "Menú del día" (menu of the day) consist of a starter, a second dish and a dessert. Wine and water are included. You can also ask for a coffee or tea, but not typically included.
Do not expect to find a lot of vegetarian restaurants. Anyway, in case of neccessity you can ask to have two starters.
Times for meals are late, in comparison to other countries:
- Lunch at 13:00 or more commonly at 14:00, even you'll be able to ask at 15:00 or 15:30
- Dinner at 21:00 or 22:00. Difficult to find before 20:30.

Typical drinks served in bars: apart from beers, soft drinks, you'll be able to ask:

Caña ((pronounced 'can-yeah'): a beer not from bottle but from barrel. Not easy to find black one.
Zurito (pronounced 'thou-ree-toh'): a small beer, served in a glass or cup
Kalimotxo (pronounced 'kal-eem-o-sho'): wine with coke
Kalitxiki (pronounced 'kal-ee-shee-kee'): a small kalimotxo
Pika (pronounced 'pee-cah'): beer with lemon
Pikatxiki: a (you catched!) small pika
Cosechero, Crianza, Reserva: distinct (from worse to better) red wines.

Some reference prices:

Food

Vegetarian, vegan friendly.

Fernandez del Campo 7, Bilbao

Also serves meat.

Gran Via Diego Lopez Haro, 55 (near Guggenhein andart museums) Bilbao

Dinner menu is meat based.

General Castillo 3, Bilbao

Vegetarian, mostly vegan dishes.

Santa Maria 10, Bilbao

Vegetarian, closed on weekends.

Gipuzkoa 7, Deusto, Bilbao