Il Giardino Della Nonna - Bilbao is a italian restaurant in Abando, Bilbao. Rated 4.4 stars from 1481 Google reviews. Known for pasta that tastes like someone cared and wine list that doesn't punish you. Best for date night and business lunch.
Rankings updated March 2026
Il Giardino Della Nonna - Bilbao
Quick Verdict
A local would come back because it's reliable and doesn't shout about itself. It's not trying to be the best Italian in Spain, just the best Italian on this street.
Book if you want a proper seated meal with wine and you're tired of standing at a bar with a plate in your hand.
About Il Giardino Della Nonna - Bilbao
Italian restaurant on Mazarredo, the boulevard that runs through Abando like it owns the place. It's sit-down, proper tablecloths, the kind of place you book when you want pasta that doesn't taste like it came from a packet and a wine list that won't embarrass you. The room's got that careful Italian design—nothing overdone, nothing cheap—and they've clearly thought about how to make a long room feel intimate rather than like a corridor. You'll find the usual suspects: risotto, fresh pasta, grilled fish, the kind of menu that doesn't chase trends. It works because they don't pretend to be anything other than what they are. Local families come back. Tourists find it by accident and eat better than they expected. The kitchen's competent, which in a city full of Michelin stars and pintxos bars means something. Expect €25–40 for a main, wine by the glass from €5, full meals around €50 without wine. It's the kind of place you go to when Bilbao's intensity—the molecular gastronomy, the standing-room pintxos bars, the pressure to have an opinion about everything—gets too much.
What Stands Out
Pasta that tastes like someone cared
Made in-house, proper texture, sauces that don't overpower. The kind of detail that separates a restaurant from a canteen.
Wine list that doesn't punish you
Italian wines by the glass from €5, bottles from €20. They know what pairs with what and they're not charging London prices.
Quiet enough to hear yourself think
No open kitchen theatre, no Instagram crowds, no standing ovation for the chef. Just good food and conversation.
What Customers Say
Exceeded all our expectations, amazing garlic flatbread for starters, good wine and perfect pizza’s!!
Really excellent lasagne and a nice selection of Spanish and Italian beers!
Real quotes from Google Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions about Il Giardino Della Nonna - Bilbao
Book if you're going on a Friday or Saturday, especially after 8pm. Weekday lunches you can usually walk in, but don't gamble on a Sunday. Call ahead: they'll tell you straight if they're full.
It's not trying to be fancy. You've got high-end Italian on Ledesma (€60+ mains, tasting menus) and tourist traps near the Guggenheim. This sits in the middle: proper food, reasonable prices, no ego. Walk past the waterfront restaurants. Two streets back, same quality, half the theatre.
Lunch 1–3pm is quieter and you'll eat better (kitchen's less rushed). Dinner from 7:30pm onwards, full by 9pm. (No reservations after 10:30pm, so don't plan a late arrival.)
Also in Abando
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