A Personal Guide to Bilbao
Bilbao is full of places
you'll never find on your own.
These are mine — the ones I send friends and family to when they come visit. All on one map, free.
51 places · no ads · no paid placements
TripAdvisor has 847 restaurants in Bilbao.
So how do you know which one is actually good?
That's the problem, not the solution. This isn't everything — it's a short list of places I actually go to and actually like.
If I wouldn't tell you about it over the counter, it isn't on here.
The Collection
What's Inside
PintxosTxintxirri
Txintxirri doesn't advertise. It doesn't need to. Word has spread quietly among Bilbainos about the tortilla de patatas here — golden on the…
International FoodDemaio | Pizza Gourmet
This is not a pizza-adjacent experience. The La Speziale Neapolitan pizza is the headline act — properly fermented dough, quality toppings,…
SightsSan Mamés Stadium
Athletic Club is one of world football's great institutions — a club that has only ever signed players born or raised in the Basque Country,…
NatureSopelana Beach
This is where Bilbao locals escape to when the city heats up — and where surfers ride Atlantic swells year-round. The beach splits in two…
Bilbao's streets don't follow logic.
The old town was built before maps existed, and it shows. Google Maps will route you down the wrong alley, spin you around, and send you the long way back. The Compass cuts through the confusion — point yourself in the right direction and navigate the narrow, winding streets on your own terms. Honestly, it's good fun.
420m
Toward El Globo
Point and walk
The needle points straight to your next spot. Take detours, explore side streets — you always know which way to head.
Look up, not down
A quick glance at the needle and you're back to actually seeing the city instead of tracking a blue dot.
How far, right now
Real-time distance to your destination, updating as you move. Navigate the winding streets at your own pace.
Who's behind this
Mat
I'm a barista and an all-round hospitality professional. I spent years working in restaurants across three continents, then I arrived in Bilbao, fell in love with the Basque Country, and opened my first coffee shop by the Guggenheim. That's ARVO Guggenheim today — and the rest is history.
This app is a hobby project. I'm learning to code with AI, and this is what came out of it. It's free, and it always will be.
I'm a part-owner of three places on the map — ARVO Guggenheim, ARVO Deusto and Dupla. Everywhere else I have no connection at all. They're just the places I think are genuinely worth a visit, and the ones I always recommend to friends and family.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Got feedback? I'd love to hear it — bilbaogems@gmail.com
Cheers, Mat
How It Works
Open the Map
Tap through and the map is right there, with every place on it.
Tap a Place
Why it's worth going, when to turn up, and what to know before you do.
Follow the Compass
Point yourself in the right direction and wander there your own way.