Exploring Bilbao's Casco Viejo: A Culinary Journey through Pintxos Paradise

El Mercado de la Ribera + Casco Viejo

43.2621° N, 2.9213° W

Late this morning we casually meandered our way along the tree lined pathway that runs parallel with the Nervión River. We had the opportunity to watch the community going on about their daily lives…. especially the commotion around the City Hall plaza. On this day, we got the chance to see a beautiful bride and wedding attendants on their way to celebrate a union….. And, she was wearing sparkly silver high tops under her dress — gotta love that!

Bride in high tops…

So, we continued on our journey to El Mercado de la Ribera (the largest covered marketing Europe). This market sits on the left side of the river and looks out onto the colorful apartments that run parallel to the curve of the Nervión.

Once we made it to our destination, it was time to sample the little bites that are popular mid-day in the Basque region — Pintxos (say Peen-chōs). Pintxos are hand held snacks much like Tapas except they are usually on top of a piece of bread (often attached with a skewer)….. and the name Pintxos is used primarily in the Basque region. El Mercado Ribera was a blur of people. Some coming and going from their offices for a meet up with friends and quick bite to eat. And, some scurrying upstairs to the market which hosts stall after stall of people selling meats, fishes, fresh produce, cheeses……. Everything you need for a complete meal at home.

Welcome to Mercado de la Ribera….

Once in the market, we couldn’t tell exactly how to order our pintxos (or exactly what they were to be honest). One of the things we love about travel is being forced to practice languages so, Kevin dove in head first with his Spanish…. He did his best at asking what certain items were and sometimes we decided “Oh heck! Just try it — we’ll figure it out later!” Kevin is braver at trying new foods and, well, I’ll say it….. I can be a bit of a picky eater! He liked everything he tried and I really liked the pintxos with codfish and the ones with melted cheese were as a winner as well (like mini grilled cheese bites). The ambience in the mercado is a fun one too. You sit down at community tables or at the side of the bar and point to what you’d like…. we washed them down with an espresso (Kevin) and a hot chocolate (Me).

After our snack, it was time to head off to Casco Viejo before things began to close for Siesta. Casco Viejo( Old Quarter) begins conveniently outside the mercado. This scenic neighborhood is a maze of narrow streets and cantons (alley ways). There are small grocery markets as well as clothing stores and other shops with daily essentials. We found it was a great place to pick up souvenirs…. Kevin found a pair of shoes from a shop that was just about to close and I found a blue embroidered clutch from a friendly Moroccan family.

Casco Viejo is also home to Santiago Cathedral. This church is beautiful inside and has a mix of architectural styles. There’s also the Arkeologi Museo which documents the history of Basque Country…. And small squares with busy community life.

It was getting close to the siesta hour and shops were beginning to close so, we made our way to Plaza Nueva to rest our feet, people watch and Kevin sampled some local wines. Another good day indeed!

Cheers!

Happy Travels!