DESTINATION GUIDE SERIES BILBAO ELITE GUIDE TO BILBAO Highlights OF bilbao 3 onlY elite 4 The most exclusive VIP experience, hand-selected by Elite Traveler ConCierge reCommendations 5 Bilbao’s top concierges share their personal suggestions for the perfect day and weekend GRAN HOTEL DOMINE BILBAO Where to ➤ staY 6 ➤ dine 9 ➤ BE pampered 11 ANDRA MARI What to do ➤ DUring the DAY 12 ➤ DURING THE night 14 ➤ FeatURED EVents 15 ➤ Shopping 16 PINTXOS Need to Know ➤ marinas 17 ➤ PRIVate JET terminals 17 ➤ EXCLUsiVE transport 17 ➤ USEFUL INFormation 18 san sebastian beaCH TRAVELER DESTINATION GUIDE SERIES ELITE DESTINATION GUIDE | BILBAO www.elitetraveler.com 2 HIGHLIGHTS OF BILBAO Don’t miss out on Bilbao’s wealth of attractions, adventures and experiences he city of Bilbao has undergone Bilbao is one of the most visited places Despite the changes, the strong cultural T a huge transformation in the last in Spain. traditions of the Basque region are still 15 years. Had you mentioned you were very much in evidence. The picturesque visiting the city back in 1996, people The ‘Bilbao Effect’ has seen the city areas of the Old Town, with its plethora would have looked at you in shock. attract many top architects who have of bars and restaurants serving ‘El Boxto’ or the Hole, as Bilbao was virtually redesigned large parts of delicious pinxtos, the beautiful Basque known, was one of the least glamorous the city. Regenerated, Bilbao now boasts countryside, and the city’s passionate holiday destinations in the world. Now, plenty of Michelin-starred restaurants love of its football team, Athletic Bilbao thanks to a facelift via the architectural and a lively nightlife, alongside luxury are what make Bilbao such a unique and marvel that is the Guggenheim Museum, hotels and high-end shopping. fascinating city. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM Phone: +34 94 435 9000 Email: [email protected] Address: Avenida Abandoibarra 2, 48001 Website: www.guggenheim-bilbao.es You’ll struggle to read any article or guidebook on Bilbao that doesn’t include at least a passing reference to the Guggenheim Museum; that is, unless it pre-dates 1997. Since then, Frank Gehry’s masterpiece has attracted hordes of tourists to the Basque country. Shaped like a gigantic ship, a whale or even Marilyn Monroe’s skirt in The Seven Year Itch (depending on the observer), the Guggenheim is recognized as one of the most important modern architectural buildings. Inside, the museum is equally impressive with works from some of the 20th and 21st century’s finest artists, including Picasso and GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM Andy Warhol. TRIP TO SAN SEBASTIAN ZORtzIKO LOBSTER VIP contact: Gabriella Ranelli de Aguirre VIP contact: Daniel García, General Manager Phone: +34 94 439 6060 Phone: +34 94 423 9743 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Address: PO Box 5070, San Sebastian Address: Calle Alameda de Mazarredo 17, 48001 Website: www.tenedortours.com Website: www.zortziko.es The city of San Sebastian is just a tantalizingly Cuisine: Basque short journey away from Bilbao. Famed for its Style / Ambiance: Helmed by famous Spanish chef beautiful beaches and gourmet restaurant Daniel García, Zortziko regularly ranks as one of the scene, the city is a popular summer retreat for finest restaurants in the Basque country. Bearer of a the beautiful people of Spain. La Concha, Michelin star and popular with critics, the restaurant a glimmering carpet of sand is the city’s offers traditional Basque cuisine, including local most famous beach, popular with visitors and favorites such as Roast Baby Squid with Peppers locals alike. The restaurants of San Sebastian and Scallops on a bed of Tomato Carpaccio. are held in a similar regard to those of Paris; Zortziko offers three different dining rooms; this really is one of the premier cities to enjoy an one has a Versailles feel to it, another is English epicurean evening. Arzak and Martin Berasategui influenced, while the third has a more contemporary, are two favorites, but there are many other laid-back vibe. The best option, however, is to dine highly rated restaurants and bars to enjoy in the wine cellar beneath, where you’ll be seated pintxos, the distinctive Basque version of tapas. at a rustic wooden table surrounded by premium Tenedor Tours will organize trips to and from the vintages. Just remember to book ahead; Zortziko is city and arrange cultural and culinary tours. often fully booked weeks in advance. ELITE DESTINATION GUIDE | BILBAO www.elitetraveler.com 3 ONLY ELITE Elite Traveler recommends the following VIP experience VIÑEDOS DEL TERNERO WINE TASTING TOURS VIP contact: Gabriella Ranelli de Aguirre Phone: +34 94 439 6060 Email: [email protected] Address: PO Box 5070, San Sebastian Website: www.tenedortours.com The Basque country is world famous for its wines, from the traditional aged varieties of the Rioja Alta and the bold fruity wines from the Rioja Alavesa, to the very dry white Txakoli. Much of the countryside around Bilbao is made up of vineyards and wineries, and Tenedor Tours will take you on a private tour of the very finest. The day begins with a private driver collecting you from your hotel; from there you will be taken to La Rioja to see the wine-making techniques up close and sample the different wines on offer. There are a huge variety of wineries in the region, some of which are traditional limestone affairs, while others are grand architectural buildings designed by geniuses like Frank Gehry. The tours are run by Gabriella Ranelli de Aguirre, a well known Spanish food expert who has written for the New York Times and filmed programs for the BBC. GRAPE BARRELS AT A BILBAO WINERY ELITE DESTINATION GUIDE | BILBAO www.elitetraveler.com 4 CONCIERGE RECOMMENDATIONS We asked Bilbao’s top concierges to share their personal recommendations for the perfect day in the Basque capital EDER ROMAY FRONT OffICE ASSISTANT MANAGER, SILKEN GRAN HOTEL DOMINE BILBAO Phone: +34 94 425 3300 Website: www.granhoteldominebilbao.com BEST RESTAURANTS The Lookout Terrace Cuisine: Basque Address: Silken Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao, Alameda de Mazarredo 61, 48009 Etxanobe Cuisine: Classic European Address: Palacio Euskalduna, Avenida Abandoibarra 4, 48002 Zortzico Cuisine: Basque Address: Alameda de Mazarredo 17, 48001 BEST TO DO Guggenheim Museum Visit the Guggenheim Museum, then hang out PINTXOS in the old town and try a Pintxos lunch Casa Rufo RECEPTION TEAM TEATRO ARRIAGA Cuisine: Basque HOTEL MIRÓ Address: Calle Hurtado de Amezaga 5, 48008 Phone: +34 94 661 1880 Website: www.mirohotelbilbao.com Guggenheim Restaurant Cuisine: Basque First day – In the morning, visit the fabulous Address: Guggenheim Museum, Avenida Guggenheim Museum, the Basque region’s star Abandoibarra 2, 48001 attraction, then take a stroll to Bilbao’s old town (Casco Viejo) and lunch on pintxos (small tapas BEST SHOP on bread) in the Plaza Nueva. Walk back from Persuade Casco Viejo via the river or take the tram and For: High-end fashion, furniture enjoy the great views. Address: Villarias 8, 48001 Second day – Visit the Museum of Fine Arts BEST TO DO (Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao) on the Plaza Nervion River del Museo, then head out for some shopping at Take a boat ride along the Nervion River to the Philippe Starck-designed Alhóndiga Bilbao. see the remains of the city´s past, and its This culture and leisure center boasts a cinema transformation into today’s stunning metropolis. multiplex, library, fitness center, auditorium, shops and a restaurant. BEST RESTAURANTS Etxanobe Cuisine: Classic European Address: Palacio Euskalduna, NERVION RIVER Avenida Abandoibarra 4, 48002 ELITE DESTINATION GUIDE | BILBAO www.elitetraveler.com 5 WHERE TO STAY Whether a sumptuous bed, a spectacular view or service beyond compare – choose from our stunning selection TERRACE VIEW GRAN HOTEL DOMINE BILBAO VIP contact: Mr. Raul Fernandez Acha Phone: +34 94 425 3300 Email: [email protected] Address: Alameda de Mazarredo 61, 48009 Website: www.hoteles-silken.com/gran-hotel-domine-bilbao The perfect complement to the Guggenheim Museum, Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao is partly an architectural wonder to rival the famous museum and partly a luxury hotel that has few equals in the city. Its façade consists of multiple mirrors that beautifully reflect the neighboring Guggenheim, while the interior features the unique design talents of Javier Mariscal and Fernando Salas, and includes a HOTEL FAÇADE 85-foot pebble tower. Whimsical and wonderful, the Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao is renowned as much for its luxury as for its design. The staff is attentive and polite, the onsite restaurant, Beltz the Black, is considered one of the finest in the city and the on-site meeting rooms can accommodate up to 500 guests. TOP SUITE GRAN SUITE MUSEUM . Square footage: 1,500 . Nightly rate: $2,176 Why we love it: Visitors to Bilbao will find that they’re never very far away from the Guggenheim Museum, but guests at The Gran Suite Museum have the best view of the city’s most famous monument. The terrace also provides a sumptuous view over the surrounding Basque countryside and is the perfect place to relax with a drink after a hard day’s sightseeing. Trendy and luxurious, the suite features a bathtub designed by Philippe Starck, with furniture and artwork from Javier Mariscal. Packed with modern amenities, including a Bang & Olufsen music center and 42” plasma television, the suite features a bedroom with a king-size bed and BAR AND LOUNGE separate living room, as well as second bedroom with a sitting area. TRAVELER DESTINATION GUIDE SERIES ELITE DESTINATION GUIDE | BILBAO www.elitetraveler.com 6 WHERE TO STAY PRESIDENTIAL SUITE HOTEL LOPEZ DE HARO VIP contact: David Martinez, General Manager Phone number: +34 94 423 5500 Email address: [email protected] Address: Obispo Orueta 2, 48009 Website: www.hotellopezdeharo.com The English-themed Hotel López De Haro has become the favorite of Basque critics and celebrities alike, thanks to its traditional interior, lavish comforts and excellent service.