Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Bilbao

Vegetarian restaurants can be hard to find in Spain. Traditionally, Spanish cuisine is heavy on meat, and eating without animal products can still draw some confused looks depending on where you go.

But as the unofficial capital of the Basque country, Bilbao isn't like the rest of Spain. And although this underrated industrial city isn't automatically associated with vegan food, if you look around, you'll find some good vegetarian and vegan dishes on the menus of establishments around the city.

The saving grace for vegetarians visiting Bilbao is the city's traditional pintxos. These tapas-like small plates are a great way to try a bunch of different things, and even the most traditional restaurants will often have vegetarian or even vegan pintxos. That way, you know you're indulging in a traditionally Basque activity while maintaining a vegetarian or vegan diet.

You don't have to stick to salads when it comes to vegan food in Bilbao. The restaurants listed below provide excellent food that anyone can enjoy. And you'll find it a lot easier to get around if you drop off your bags at a Bilbao luggage storage. Travel light, and you'll be able to cover more ground in the search for vegetarian restaurants in Bilbao.

Trozo

What's it like:

Pizza may not be the first type of food that comes to mind when you think of Bilbao. But Trozo has made a name for itself by providing some of the best pizza in town, and some of the best vegetarian and vegan options too. In fact, this popular pizzeria boasts a separate vegan menu featuring pizzas made with vegan cheese, so you don't have to feel left out if you're sticking to a plant-based diet.

The graffiti-covered walls of this restaurant give it an edgy vibe, but the way they cook their handmade pizzas in a woodfired oven comes from the best classic Italian tradition. And you can taste the care and attention to detail they put into every bite of their exceptional pizza.

Our Recommendation:

This restaurant offers six different fully vegan pizzas alone, to say nothing of the vegetarian options. Therefore, you'll be spoiled for choice. But no matter what you choose, you're sure to have a great dining experience here.

Location:

Quintana 5, Bilbao

La Camelia

What's it like:

With its whitewashed brick walls and long wooden benches, this fully vegan restaurant offers an inviting place to stop for breakfast or lunch. The restaurant focuses on sustainability and reducing its ecological impact, and has won awards for being one of the most ecologically friendly restaurants in Spain. Therefore, you can expect biodegradable packaging and reusable items that won't end up in landfill, so you can feel good about eating here.

The menu is another reason to feel good after a trip to La Camelia. The giant burgers and seitan sandwiches are enough to satisfy even the heartiest appetite, and you can also try some of their Japanese-inspired creations like vegan gyoza. An excellent place to eat and one of the best vegan options in Bilbao, this is definitely one to add to your list.

Our Recommendation:

It's hard to go wrong with a menu as extensive as the one at La Camelia. But although veggie burgers are something of a cliché for international travelers, the burgers here are delicious and represent an excellent value, making them a good choice for big appetites.

Location:

Villarias Kalea 3, Bilbao

Green Bistrot

What's it like:

Located on Calle Juan Ajuriaguerra, this is another great place for vegan options in Bilbao that focuses on sustainability and reducing its environmental impact. Green Bistrot also stays open late, making it a great choice for late-night eats as you enjoy Spanish-style nightlife.

Vegan options here include the vegan pintxos that have made the restaurant a perennial favorite among herbivores in Bilbao. They also serve a few sandwiches and burgers that can scratch your late-night food itch and have marked vegan options on the menu to help you make a decision no matter how late you have been out partying.

Our Recommendation:

The vegan pintxos are the perfect late-night snack and an excellent option for vegans wanting to enjoy food in a traditional Basque country way.

Location:

Calle Juan Ajuriaguerra 13, Bilbao

Muga

What's it like:

Located on Calle de Maria Munoz 8 right in the heart of Old Town, this is another restaurant that stays open late. With some good pintxos on the menu along with a vegetarian and a vegan salad plus several veggie burgers and seitan fajitas, this lively restaurant has something to offer just about everyone. Plus, its prime location makes it a popular spot for both locals and visitors, making it one of the more successful vegetarian restaurants in Bilbao.

Our Recommendation:

It's nice to find some vegan options even at a restaurant that isn't fully vegan itself. Try the seitan fajitas or the lujuria vegana for some great vegan options in the center of the city.

Location:

Calle de Maria Munoz 8, Bilbao

Garibolo

What's it like:

There's no missing this place. The brightly colored walls and furniture are guaranteed to wake you up the minute you step through the door. Then again, the same can be said for the food. This restaurant offers a range of different dishes like pasta, soups, salads, and other options. Everything on the menu is either vegetarian or vegan, and the non-vegan items are clearly marked so that you can dine with confidence. The beautifully presented food will be a highlight of your camera reel for the trip, and it all tastes as good as it looks.

Our Recommendation:

This restaurant offers set menus so that you can try a little bit of everything. It's the best way to see what the chefs have to offer and enjoy the local produce and techniques of the region, so sit back and let the experts guide you through your vegetarian food adventure in Bilbao.

Location:

Fernandez del Campo Kalea 7, Bilbao

Restaurant Gusto

What's it like:

You'd expect the restaurant run by a nutritionist to offer healthy options. And that's exactly what you'll get at Restaurant Gusto. But here, healthy doesn't have to mean bland and flavorless. The menu here contains so many great vegetarian and vegan options that you'll completely forget you're eating healthy.

Gusto offers more of a high-end dining experience in among the many casual cafés that dominate the vegan landscape in Bilbao. In fact, this restaurant even has its own culinary school attached so that the next generation of Bilbao chefs can learn the innovative techniques practiced here. Restaurant Gusto is a great place to come if you're in the mood for something a little fancier and want to sample the creativity that's on offer in Bilbao's vegetarian scene.

Our Recommendation:

The menu here is ever-changing based on what's in season and what creative ideas the chefs have most recently had, so there's no point going to Gusto with too much of a fixed idea of what you want to eat. Instead, let the menu guide you through the flavors of the region and enjoy the creativity and skill on display at this iconic restaurant.

Location:

Iturribide Kalea 52, Bilbao

Goikar

What's it like:

This isn't a fully vegetarian restaurant, but instead an omnivore restaurant with some good vegan and vegetarian options. That makes it an excellent place for mixed groups to visit, as your meat-eating friends will be happy with what Goikar has to offer, and so will you. A long way removed from the sophistication of a place like Gusto, this is a casual and stripped-down restaurant that focuses on simple, satisfying food that will please just about everyone.

Our Recommendation:

This restaurant offers a good selection of veggie burgers, but as the go-to vegetarian option, that can get a little repetitive. Instead, opt for the wild mushroom and asparagus risotto to wake up your taste buds with something different.

Location:

Agirre Lehendakariaren Etorb, Bilbao

Veggiefave

What's it like:

If you're looking for something a little different, head to this eclectically-decorated restaurant and try some of what it offers. The mismatched furniture and cozy interior give you a clue as to the kind of unpretentious food you can expect, but it's all made extremely well using only the freshest ingredients to provide an incredible vegetarian and vegan option in Bilbao. You'll find a good variety of food on offer here, from classic Italian to North African flavors, and the restaurant offers a three-course fixed menu every day so that you can try a little bit of everything.

Our Recommendation:

If you have a hankering for Italian food, the vegan pasta with pommodoro tomato sauce will make you feel like you've been whisked to Italy without leaving the Basque country. But don't forget to save room for dessert, because this restaurant provides an extensive range of desserts that vegans can enjoy along with everyone else.

Location:

Simon Bolivar Kalea 8b, Bilbao

Bohemian Lane

What's it like:

Several restaurants in Bilbao offer good vegetarian and vegan options, including desserts. But no one does it with quite as much panache or enthusiasm as Bohemian Lane. This specialist vegan bakery does everything from chocolate chip cookies to cheesecake to towering gateaus. Whether you're in the mood for a quick pastry on your way to explore the city or a decadent dessert you can enjoy with friends, Bohemian Lane has you covered with recipes that stick to vegan principles while letting you enjoy some delicious treats.

Our Recommendation:

The astonishing range of cupcakes on display here will have your mouth watering from the moment you step through the door. Grab a selection and take them with you to munch on as you explore the city in the most delicious way possible.

Location:

Harategi Zahar Kalea 3, Bilbao

Txukrut

What's it like:

Pintxos are a great way to eat vegetarian or even vegan food in Bilbao, but sometimes, you want a sit-down meal where you can spend less time looking at the menu and more time enjoying your food. Txukrut is a tiny restaurant and vegan bar that serves meals presented so beautifully, it almost seems a shame to eat them. But once you take a bite, those aesthetic considerations will go out the window.

The menu includes a veggie lasagna, risotto, and delicious soups as starters. Of course, if you are in the mood for pintxos, this restaurant can provide those too.

Our Recommendation:

This small restaurant can fill up quite quickly, and they do a roaring trade right through the evening. You may find you have to wait a little while for a seat, but the food here is most definitely worth it.

Location:

San Frantzisko Kalea 25, Bilbao

Conclusion

Traditional Basque food focuses on meat and seafood, but even within that tradition, you can find pintxos and other treats that will let you sample the traditional cuisine of the Basque country without engaging in animal cruelty.

And lately, as Bilbao has begun to shift from being an industrial city to a place of arts and culture, more and more vegetarian and even vegan restaurants have come on the scene to capitalize on the changing culture and atmosphere of the city. Whether you're in the charming Old Town or further afield, you won't have to look far to find some great vegetarian and vegan places to eat. Let the list above guide you to some amazing food experiences in the city, and you'll be supporting local businesses while enjoying some of the best of what Bilbao has to offer.

And as always, don't forget to drop off your bags at a luggage locker in Bilbao. If you want to try a few of these great vegetarian options, you'll probably rack up quite a few miles on your way through the city. The last thing you want to do is drag heavy bags with you. Instead, leave them behind at a Bounce location so you can focus on enjoying all the incredible vegetarian food Bilbao has to offer.