Martxo Bgc is a bar & grill in Abando, Bilbao. Rated 4.7 stars from 511 Google reviews. Known for two spaces, two experiences and the txuleta and the specials. Best for group dinner and date night. Ranked #3 of 13 in Abando.
Rankings updated April 2026
MARTXO BGC
🥉Zone Ranking
Top 3 in Abando
in Abando
Holding steady
Quick Verdict
Locals return because it doesn't pretend to be one thing: you can grab pintxos at the bar in 20 minutes or settle in for a proper meal where the cooking justifies the time.
Book if you want to eat serious Basque food (the txuleta, the fish, the specials) in a room where the kitchen's actually trying, or walk in for pintxos and wine at the bar.
About MARTXO BGC
MARTXO is a split-personality place that works both ways: pintxos at the bar counter, proper dining in the back room. The bar side's got hot and cold pintxos on display — croquettes, torreznos, fresh anchovy — and you can stand and graze or order from the menu. The dining room is where the kitchen shows its hand: Basque home cooking done with precision, generous portions, and the kind of ingredient quality that shows in every plate. One reviewer called it "a hybrid that combines the informality of a good pintxos bar with the depth of a proper dining room." The txuleta vasca (Basque ribeye) shows up repeatedly in reviews, as do the house specials that change with the market — particularly the garbanzos and the fish dishes, which reviewers describe as "some of the best you can try in the area." Service is consistently praised as attentive and professional without being stiff. The place fills up by dinner, and it's popular enough that walk-ins can mean a wait on weekends.
What Stands Out
Two spaces, two experiences
"El local se divide en dos espacios bien diferenciados pero complementarios" — the bar for quick pintxos and wine, the dining room where the kitchen deploys Basque home cooking with evident technical skill. Reviewers praise both the "pinchos elaborados con una calidad notable" and the "cocina vasca casera, elaborada con mimo."
The txuleta and the specials
Multiple reviewers single out the Basque ribeye as "increíble" and note that the off-menu dishes — which change by season and market — are where the restaurant "really shines." One diner paid €12 extra per person for an upgraded txuleta and called it "100% recomendable." The garbanzos specifically get named as "some of the most flavourful you can try in the area."
Service that actually watches
Reviewers consistently describe staff as "atento, amable y profesional." One pregnant diner noted the team "eliminated raw items without being asked, warning about freezing beforehand" — a level of attentiveness that made her feel genuinely looked after. Another praised "Javier and the staff" for a 10/10 experience at a company lunch.
What Customers Say
El menu txuleton pedimos, pagamos 12€/p mas por persona por un mejor txuleton que 100% recomendable.
Un poco cutre pero la calidad de la comida y atencion 10/10.
Tanto los platos de la carta como los pinchos de la barra estan espectaculares.
Real quotes from Google Reviews
Practical Information
Contact
Frequently Asked Questions about MARTXO BGC
Yes. The bar has a display case of hot and cold pintxos you can pick from without ordering — croquettes, torreznos, anchovy — and you can order hot dishes made to order. No reservation needed for bar seating. The room fills by dinner on weekends, so arrive early if you want a quiet slot.
Google says they accept reservations, but hours aren't published online. The place is popular enough that walk-ins can mean a wait, especially Friday and Saturday evenings. Call ahead if you're going for dinner.
The txuleta vasca (Basque ribeye) is consistently praised — one diner paid €12 extra per person for an upgraded cut and said it was worth it. The fish dishes are described as "fresh, perfectly cooked, full of flavour." Ask what the off-menu specials are (they change by market and season) — reviewers say that's where the kitchen really shows itself. The garbanzos are mentioned as exceptional.
Small, warm, animated by football on the screens. The bar side is informal and busy; the dining room is cosy and well-kept without being fussy. One reviewer described it as a place with a young team that worked very well. Service is attentive and professional.
They've got a varied, well-chosen wine selection that pairs well with pintxos. One reviewer noted "there's not much variety in beers," so if you're coming for txakoli or wine, you're sorted; if you're a beer drinker, you might be limited.
Also in Abando
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