Gernikes is a bar & grill in Casco Viejo, Bilbao. Rated 4.6 stars from 416 Google reviews. Known for menú del día that doesn't cut corners and speed and friendliness under pressure. Best for lunch break and group dining.
Rankings updated April 2026
Gernikes
Quick Verdict
Locals return because it's cheap, fast, and the food tastes like someone cared about it. You'll eat better here than at places charging triple.
Go if you want a proper menú del día under €14, or stand at the bar for pintxos and txakoli before moving to the next place—this is txikiteo done right.
About Gernikes
Gernikes is a neighbourhood bar and pintxos counter in Casco Viejo where locals eat lunch, grab breakfast, and stand at the bar for a quick bite. No pretence, no reservations needed—you walk in, order from the counter or sit down, and eat what Bilbao actually eats. The menu del día runs €13.50 and comes with 2 plates, bread, drink and dessert. Breakfasts cost €3.40 for a bocadillo. The kitchen turns out home cooking: txipirones (squid), seasonal vegetables, fish, meat. Reviewers describe it as "comida casera"—the kind of food families make at home—and praise the speed of service even when it's packed. The crowd is workers on their lunch break, regulars who've been coming for years, and the occasional tourist who found their way off the main drag. Staff are "muy majetes" (genuinely friendly) and the atmosphere is casual, full of movement, the kind of place where you hear Spanish spoken at every table and nobody's performing for anyone else.
What Stands Out
Menú del día that doesn't cut corners
Reviewers consistently praise the €13.50 set menu: "Menú completo 2 platos, pan, bebida y postre. Super bueno, comida casera." Another notes it's "comida casera variada y bien elaborada" (varied home cooking, well made). One visitor called it "a really good menu del dia" and noted it's "great value."
Speed and friendliness under pressure
A group of 10 was seated and served quickly: "aunque parece pequeño fue suficiente... la camarera fue rápida y muy atenta." Another review: "servicio rápido y amable." A tourist noted the waitress was "cheerful and efficient" even with a full lunchtime crowd. Staff are described as "muy majetes" (genuinely nice).
Pintxos and breakfast at prices that still exist elsewhere
Breakfast bocadillos at €3.40 are noted as "muy barato comparado con otros sitios" (very cheap compared to other places). The bar offers varied pintxos that reviewers describe as essential: "Lugar imprescindible para desayunar, comer o taparte un pintxo."
What Customers Say
Lugar imprescindible para desayunar, comer o taparte un pintxo.
Real quotes from Google Reviews
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Contact
Santos Juanes Plaza, 6, Ibaiondo, 48006 Bilbao, Biscay, España
+34 944 16 26 82Frequently Asked Questions about Gernikes
€13.50 gets you 2 plates, bread, a drink and dessert. Reviewers describe it as "comida casera"—home cooking that changes daily. No fancy plating, just proper food that tastes like someone made it right.
No online booking. You walk in. It fills up by lunch (full by 12:30 on weekdays, standing room by 1pm), so arrive early or expect to wait. Weekends are busier.
Monday to Saturday, 6:00 to 21:15. Closed Sundays. It's a daytime lunch spot and evening pintxos bar—not a dinner destination.
At the counter: pintxos and drinks for standing customers doing txikiteo (the Basque bar-crawl). Sit down and you'll get table service—order the menú del día or dishes à la carte. Reviewers mention txipirones (squid), seasonal vegetables, fish.
Yes. A group of 10 was seated and served quickly despite the space looking small. A group of 7 had the same experience. Staff make room and move fast. Expect noise and movement, not a quiet table.
Also in Casco Viejo
View all14 venues changed rank in Casco Viejo this week → See full zone ranking
How We Rank Venues
Rankings are recalculated weekly from live Google Business Profile data. Our Hot Score weighs review velocity (new text reviews in 90 days), recency (how fresh), baseline rating, and Google Business Profile completeness. No editorial picks, no paid placements — just what the data says this week.
How our weekly rankings work