Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao is a fine-dining restaurant inside the Guggenheim Museum, at Abandoibarra Etorb. 2 in Bilbao. Chef Josean Alija’s modern Basque cooking draws on local, seasonal ingredients, with vegetables and seafood often taking the lead. Choose the tasting menu to explore a sequence of dishes, or look for items such as tuna belly, milk-fed lamb and hake. The minimalist dining room places the meal within the museum setting, and the wine list includes a strong selection from the Basque Country.
A restaurant inside the Guggenheim
Nerua is inside the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, near Richard Serra’s large installation The Matter of Time. It opened in 2011 as a restaurant intended to complement the museum’s cultural programme. The name comes from an old Latin name associated with the Nervión River.
Chef Josean Alija leads the kitchen. The cooking brings Basque flavours together with a contemporary approach, and the menu changes with the seasons. Local ingredients are central, with vegetables and seafood prominent in the dishes.
Menus and dishes
You can choose a tasting menu or order from the menu. The tasting menu gives you a sequence of the kitchen’s seasonal cooking; a wine pairing is also available. The restaurant has a notable selection of wines from the Basque Country.
Dishes mentioned on the menu include tuna belly, milk-fed lamb and hake. Pork tartare has also appeared, while lemon tart and panna cotta are among the desserts. The exact selection changes, so treat these as examples rather than a promise of what will be served on your visit.
Planning your meal
Nerua is an upscale restaurant, and reservations are recommended for both lunch and dinner. If you are visiting with someone and are offered two main courses divided between you, check the cost first: two half portions can cost more than one full portion.
The restaurant’s location makes it straightforward to combine lunch or dinner with time at the museum. The Matter of Time is close by, so you can plan a visit to the installation before or after your meal.
FAQ
Where is Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao?
It is inside the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao at Abandoibarra Etorb. 2, close to Richard Serra’s The Matter of Time.
Do I need to book Nerua in advance?
Reservations are recommended for lunch and dinner.
What should I order at Nerua?
The tasting menu is a way to sample several seasonal dishes. Tuna belly, milk-fed lamb and hake are among the dishes associated with the restaurant, though the menu changes.
Can I order wine with the meal?
Yes. A wine pairing is available, and the wine list has a strong selection from the Basque Country.
