Puerto Viejo de Algorta Pintxos Bars
Tucked below the clifftops, Algorta's Puerto Viejo (Old Port) is a cluster of whitewashed fishermen's houses that now shelter some of the most characterful pintxos bars in the greater Bilbao area. It's small, authentic and utterly addictive.
The Port's Bar Scene
A handful of bars line the tiny harbour plaza — Kai Mendi, Bodega El Puerto and Taberna Miren among the most reliable — each stacking their counters with pintxos from around 12:30 and again from 19:30. The rule is simple: grab a plate, point at what you want, and keep track of your toothpicks for the bill.
Specialities to look for include bacalao (salt cod) croquetas, anchoa del Cantábrico (local anchovies) on toast, and the occasional txangurro (spider crab) tapa that speaks directly to the port's fishing heritage.
Txakoli & Sidra Pairings
The local pour is txakoli, a bracingly dry, lightly sparkling Basque white wine that the barman will pour from a height to aerate it — a theatrical move worth watching. It cuts through rich pintxos beautifully and costs around 2 € a glass.
Some bars also stock Asturian sidra (cider), poured in the same dramatic high-pour style. Ask for a chiquito of txakoli to start and work your way along the bar.
When & How to Visit
Arrive at 13:00 on a Saturday to experience the port at full, sociable roar — locals pack in shoulder to shoulder and the noise level is cheerful chaos. Weekday lunchtimes are calmer and the pintxos are just as fresh.
The port is a 10-minute walk downhill from Algorta metro station (Line 1); the climb back up is steep, so wear comfortable shoes.
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