Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao Spain

The Guggenheim in Bilbao is a beautiful museum full of rotating exhibitions and a strong permanent collection. A visit here will take at least half a day, so it’s nice to be able to walk just a few steps to dine at a 1-Michelin star restaurant right "on campus".

"Muina”, Basque for core, heart or essence, is the soul of our kitchen”. Head chef Josean Alija utilizes local ingredients (their own garden, the sea, and area farms), together with his creativity to build dishes that are decidedly Spanish but with a modern twist.

We wanted to experience the “soul” of this kitchen, so we went ahead and ordered the Muina tasting menu (92€). Wine Pairing was 38€, or Non-Alcoholic Pairing for 25€. The whole table had to get the tasting.

We had unique countertop seats. Interestingly, we were the only three people seated at the counter. The rest of the diners were at tables in another room. In someways, it was special to watch the kitchen, while at the same time it felt a bit isolating to not see other dining guests.

Our view!

Muina Tasting Menu

Amuse bouche, starting small bites.

It waw silky, soft, and delicious. Familiar flavors, but very different textures!

We enjoyed this course with a rioja.

'BONITO' TUNA | roasted tomato juice and pickled shallot.

General Thoughts - Nerua Guggenheim

Nerua holds its own in this area surrounded by delicious food. Their approach matches the Guggenheim, with their creative, artistic take on local Spanish dishes. Especially if you are short on time, you can't really find a place more conveniently located if you're planning on visiting the Guggenheim anyway (which you totally should!).