Seems like you wonât be in Madrid on this trip but in addition to the bars Maribel referenced, La Violeta has a great selection from all over the country including 2-3 Lacuesta offerings ( 1-2 being reserva or other special bottles).
MartĂnez Lacuestaâs vermouth received 100 points âbest buyâ on Wine Enthusiast.
My wife is reducing her alcohol consumption significantly but will not say no to 1 (or even 2) vermuts at every meal in SpainâŠ
OMG! So much top notch info here!
Our trip to Bilbao is the last week in Aprilâwe have rented an apartment for 5 nights and will like do one day trip to San Sebastian.
(Weâve been to Barcelona and Madrid before)
I was also given Mikelâs info by another friend and will likely do a tour with him in Bilbao.
Luckily I have plenty of time to digest all the recs in this thread! Thanks all.
@jangita,
If you do a tour with Mikel during your Bilbao. stay, you will learn so much about Basque history and culture. Weâve known him and his family for over 20 years, and he has taught us so much about his beloved Basque Country. I highly recommend Tours by Basques.
Heads up ! Elements in Bidart is closed now. There is another restaurant there but its not the sameâŠ
@MadamC
Thanks for the heads up.
It appears that the Elements chef, Anthony Orjollet, left Bidart to open Epoq in Biarritz which is now also permanently closed, I believe.
Yes, exactly⊠But keep your eyes on him as his next project is brewing in the area, more inland in the countryside (closer to me yay !) 
Le BĂ©arn, perhaps?
More likely âinterieurâ of the French Basque country⊠Itâs in the works ! Will report back when he lets me know more details and Iâve TESTED 
For Pays Basque food lovers,
A somewhat hidden gem in the âinterieurâ that we are big fans of, chef Henri Amestoiâ s ART-ZAIN, in Irissary, not far from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Delightful.
Another weâre fond of, FERME OSTALAPIA, where Bourdain filmed in the countryside, inland from the coast, in Ahetze.
Thanks ! Iâve not tried either of those. Iâm literally spending the day working at an artisan fair 20 min away from Irissary all day tomorrow. Will add to the list 
@MadameC
Great! 
Iâm sorry to veer into a different part of Spain, but since you mentioned Asturias, Iâm going to do so. We plan to drive from Bilbao to Madrid, but we would like to see some of Picos de Europa, or at least some of the spectacular scenery in Asturias. Can you by any chance recommend an especially scenic way to do so? We realize that weâll be going out of our way, and weâre ok with that. And if there is someplace special to stop and have a coffee or light snack that has a great view I would love to hear about it. Thanks in advance to anyone who has any tips!
Do you have just one day to do this or could you spend an overnight or preferably two?
Itâs a long 5- hour drive just from Madrid to Bilbao straight through on the A1, having done it many, many, many times.
And adding Asturias, especially the Picos (mountain scenery) would be really undoable in just one day, as the Asturian Picos de Europa would be quite the long, long, detour, a 9 hr drive from Bilbao to Madrid through Cangas de OnĂs, without stops for coffee or any sightseeing.
I wouldnât even attempt it, honestly speaking. I just returned from 8 days on the Asturias coast with an easy Sunday day trip to Cangas, but itâs not at all near Bilbao.
If youâre able to overnight or much better still, two overnights, I can give some suggestions. I know Asturias very well, as we go every summer. ItÂŽs stunningly beautiful but not close to the Basque Country (Cantabria is the neighbouring province to VizcayaâBilbao).
Unfortunately we canât do an overnight. Weâre pretty hardy road trippers, but I will warn my husband about just how long this side trip will take. Thank you so much for this information.
@LulusMom1
Just save Asturias for your next tripâŠitâs wonderful, with great eating! 
@Ziggy
Just as I suspected, ARANETA in Zestoa is back, just in time for your trip if you want to fit it inâŠwith Joseba Odriozola as the grill meister and Eloy Larrañaga in the kitchen. It reopened in late July after being closed since November.
Their fish comes daily from the pier in St-Jean-de-Luz and their beef from CĂĄrnicas Goya in Anoeta.
Good to know. These are new guys?
