Culture, cuisine and five-star snacking: Why real foodies are taking bae to the Basque Country. Fancy yourselves real foodies? Or are you both setting out to sample the world’s tastiest grapes (in liquid form, of course)? Then you need to be taking bae to the Basque Country — one of Europe’s rising stars for queer-friendly travel. Think sunsets, sights and five-star snacking. But the BEST part…They’re on a mission over there to become the safest, most welcoming spot for LGBT+ travellers under the sun. And, well, it’s working.
From cuisine to culture and the cutest date spots – we’ve got your itinerary covered thanks to our hosts Queer Destinations, Out There Magazine and the tourism board Euskadi Basque Country.
The Basque Country is packed with some of the best places to eat in Spain — from Michelin moments to wine-soaked snack stops. But between meals, you can get an authentic taste of northern Spain in tapas-style bites. They’re called pintxos (pronounced PEEN-chos) – usually bread-topped snacks – and they’re bloody delicious.
Where to Eat, Drink and Explore in the Basque Country
El Almazen
In the words of Boris Johnson, for a ‘substantial meal’…Blow your date away with a meal at El Almazen. They give you a tasting menu with a twist, and there’s a reason the Michelin guide recognises it. Every bite is UN-REAL. There are only 15 seats, set around the working kitchen, so you can sip wine and watch chef Beatriz Pascual and her team turn ingredients into art. There are veggie and vegan options for every course, and a perfect wine pairing.
La Escotilla
In Vitoria-Gasteiz, we sampled the seafood prepared by Josean Merino. La Escotilla has a modern but nautical feel. It’s fresh, perfectly seasoned and the best place for sharing plates.
But let’s have a minute for the meat. The croquetas de jamon are possibly the best we’ve ever tried – and do not sleep on the pork cheek.
Hotel Hospedería de Los Parajes
Eat in a cave – but make it classy with Hotel Hospedería de Los Parajes. After descending from the hotel floor, you’ll find this pretty little restaurant, which packs a punch for the palate. This unique spot is the master of Pintxos, and they just kept on coming. Every food group imaginable was whipped up into small bites, which was great because they’re so moreish.
You can pull up a stool to a barrel and share delightful bites. The food is gorgeous, the setting is cool and quirky. Order everything.
Bodega Luis Canas
Leave some space in your case because after sampling the reds in Rioja and the region’s finest wines, you’ll want to bring some home from Bodega Luis Canas.
The family-run Luis Canas in the heart of Rioja Alvesa blew us away. You can sip their produce, which they’ve been making for decades and grab some snacks in their stunning outdoor dining rooms. It’s all about family here and creating the perfect vino.
They even have a members’ wine club room, which is giving Beverly Hills boujee in the Basque.
Las Orcas
Las Orcas. A small, intimate winery that does not disappoint.
Stop here and meet the family who can talk for hours about their passion for the product and how they’ve changed their processes over the years. Plus, you’ll get a lesson in how to turn fruit into delicious tasting beverages. With a stunning view looking out over their land, you can sip on the lovingly crafted whites and reds, grown just outside of La Guardia.
Salt valley
30km outside the town of Vitoria-Gasteiz, there are the Añana salt flats. One of the oldest salt valleys in the world. Have a wander around the impressive structures and learn about how everyone’s favourite seasoning is made pretty special here.
La Guardia
La Guardia, a picture-perfect walled town that feels straight out of a film set.. Situated with a view of the vineyards and mountains, it’s a peaceful place to grab drinks and enjoy a stroll. There are a lot of restaurants and bars too, as well as cafes to stop for coffee – why not stay the night?
Labastida
Labastida, it’s a long walk to the top, but it’s worth every step. This old fortified town in Álava is the perfect stop for a coffee in the sunshine, and a chance to grab a pretty great view. Walk through the town up to the top, and you’ll be eye level with the church towers and looking over the gorgeous green below. 10/10 for a picture with the mountains on the horizon.
Vitoria-Gasteiz
Sustainability, street art and a splash of history, your thing? Then you need to stop by Vitoria-Gasteiz. It’s quite literally a green city with wild plants and parks everywhere you turn. There are plenty of bars and restaurants, and the Santa María Cathedral, which has a pretty wild story to tell.
Azala
And if you want to get away from it all, we recommend Azala, an artists’ retreat with a local population of just 12 people. It’s in the beautiful countryside of Lasierra and has dance studios, rooms and of course, a sauna.
Gugenheim
Want to get lost in art and architecture? Then you have to stop at the Museo Guggenheim in Bilbao. From its audacious design to its many exhibitions, there’s nobody who won’t be impressed by what it has to offer. Enormous sculptures and techy exhibits to art in all its twenty-first-century glory, it should not be missed.
Where to stay in the Basque Country
Parador de Argomaniz
If it’s a little luxury you’re after, then book in at Parador de Argomaniz immediately. They’re luxury hotels which are typically found in historic buildings like castles and monasteries
This one is a Renaissance palace, and you can tell.
It has a stunning view and is a short drive to Vitoria-Gasteiz. And everything you could want for breakfast.
Viura Hotel
The Viura Hotel in LaGuardia provides content for the gram. From the arty design on the outside to the concrete chic rooms and the hallways littered with art, it will have you posting stories for days.
There’s a lovely rooftop for your coffee in the morning with views of beautiful old buildings. The beds are huge, the baths are big, and there’s a lively bar in the evening. Get there!
The Axel Hotel
Stays for gays, vibes for days. And everyone is welcome. The Axel hotel in Bilbao is the place to be to meet the community, and it’s on BRAND with its design. The rooftop pool is a pretty hot spot to sit for a drink, and there’s a sauna to sweat out the night before.
The staff are helpful and friendly and the rooms have everything you need – including your own iron – for the queers in their 30s.
And there you have it, our top spots the Basque Country, but before we go we just have to give a shoutout to the incredible work being done by Queer Destinations – which we were able to experience across the Basque Country. They have a pioneering project which is raising the standards of hotels, festivals, clubs and restaurants around the globe. They offer training on hosting the LGBTQ+ community and the dos and don’ts – just stop it with the twin rooms already! Once training is complete, the venue or event gets a “The Queer Destinations Committed distinction” and they FOLLOW UP to make sure standards are still high. The destinations we visited are approved by Queer Destinations and they were amazing.
At the LGBT travel symposium organised by Out There Magazine and Queer Destinations we heard about their work in 15 countries and it blew us away.
Check them out and travel safely.
Nonchalant x
