All style, very little substance. Azurmendi, the restaurant I was looking forward to the most during my visit to Basque Country, ended up being the biggest disappointment. The experience begins in three rooms before you step foot into the dining room: a “picnic” in their garden of haikus, a visit to their kitchen, and a “scavenger hunt” in their greenhouse for additional snacks. I welcome the fun, whimsical elements into fine dining, but when the food is not up to par, the experience fails to delight and ends up feeling tacky and forced. The starters should open up the palate, but I found the majority (eggplant, soup) to be aggressively salty and dense. This set the tone for the rest of the meal: nearly every course could have been more palatable if they toned down the predominant saltiness or acidity and allowed the flavor of the ingredients to come through. For example, the soup from the picnic, chickpea soup accompanying the cod, and the sauces/reductions accompanying the tuna and Iberico pork were made from distinctive ingredients but ended up tasting the same way because of the saltiness and viscosity. Items that should have been palate cleansers were an attack on my senses. I could not stop reaching for water. I’m shocked at the number of good reviews but upon reading them, I realize that Azurmendi is for those who value the flashiness of the experience over the actual food itself. The restaurant also prides itself on sustainability but I felt very little connection since it was barely mentioned throughout the meal. It has been a long time since I invested so poorly in gastronomy.

My 150th Michelin starred experience. And unfortunately, incredibly disappointing. The service is capital "E" exceptional (friendly, attentive, responsive). The experience of eating in multiple gorgeous settings is second in the world only to Alinea (in other words, capital "G" great!). But when you are paying $400 per person on a meal, what ultimately matters, and what is most important, is not the show, but the food and the flavors. How often do you say "Mmmm, "Wow!", and "Gahhh..." THAT'S what matters. And here, the issues were wayyy too abundant: 1) Of 28 different bites/tastes, only 3 (yes, just 3) triggered the aforementioned "Mmmm," "Wow!", or "Gahhh..." reaction. Far too many dishes were either just ok or missed the mark altogether. The biggest issue was the blandness/mildness/forgettable-ness of sauces (which, when done right, can elevate anything and everything). Here, too many were borderline tasteless. The second biggest issue was overuse of the same ingredients (truffles/mushrooms truffles/mushrooms ad infinitum... edible flowers garnishing seemingly a quarter of all dishes...). 2) I mentioned 28 different bites/tastes right? How on earth does that not fill one up?! I have never left a long tasting not being jolly-ly and unbutton-my-pants stuffed. But here, when the transition to dessert occurred, I thought it was a joke. I loveee lots of mini bites, but when none of them are even modestly substantial, you feel like you just ate a bag of trail mix rather than a buffet. The main and only meat was a small fried ball of Iberian pork. The main and only fish was an inch squared piece of tuna. That's just not enough. 3) And then the desserts... For a 20+ tasting, I expected multiple creative dessert bites (perhaps my fav thing in the world). Instead, at Azurmendi you get one tiny ice cream (with... you guessed it... a cone made of, sigh, mushroom) and one tiny toffee dessert (which thankfully was one of the 3 "Mmmm" bites). I don't write reviews like this to hate on fine dining. I LOVE fine dining. But I care more about being honest to potential diners who are considering what 3 star Michelin to splurge on. As I read other reviews, with all due respect, but they ring of diners who don't eat at restaurants of this caliber a lot (in which case Azurmendi would obviously wow), or who always give 5 star reviews. But look carefully through the reviews and you will find those like mine. I hope Azurmendi improves, but it has a long way to go to achieve the heights of other 3 stars like Martin Berasategui and El Celler de Can Roca in Spain, or Alinea, Fat Duck, Atelier Crenn, and Schloss Schauenstein around the world.

Well, an experience of a lifetime! Starting from the end - don't dare missing this establishment if (and when) you are in North of Spain, as simple as that! Our group of 4 went willingly with the tasting menu and our knowledge in wine and the wonderful wine list helped us matching a white and a red, local of course, to that breath taking menu. From start to finish this is more of a show produced only for our table - others got a whole different "production". It is unfortunate that I can't describe the full experience, taste and smell, aromas and flavors - yours will be different, I can assure you. Just watch the photos here, mine and others. Deserves the trip we took from a different country and a different continent. Absolutely!

An amazing experience. Incredible presentations. Everything I tasted was delicious. They were very sensitive to what I didn't eat. The only negative is that as the restaurant fills up, the service speed and interest decrease at the same rate. As the number of customers increases, the number of employees can also increase.

Great food and experience was simply amazing!! Was a little bummed out that they did not disclose that cheese was extra (picture below… paid $75 for those 5). They charged us 35 euro per person!! Wish we would have known as we could not have gotten it. We said yes thinking it was part of the experience we had paid for. That made for a slightly bitter experience. Coffee or anything else you order out in the terrace was also extra.. which we didn’t know and it wasn’t disclosed either.

We tried many Michelin star restaurants around the world and this one is among the top 3. We like the experience they create for you to eat in 5 different rooms/ settings: you start with a “picnic” at the entrance hall with a small waterfall beside you; then you move to the kitchen and they cook one dish in front of you; the third setting is a green glass house where you have to search for your food in a beautiful artistic display.; then you move to the main dining hall and eat most of the dishes there; finally you end up in comfy sofas to end the experience. The chef is very creative and he uses simple ingredients but the combination and his creative way of cooking make them taste really good. The presentation is also amazing. Each dish is like a piece of art. We also love the portion of the food. It is just the perfect amount, not too much but enough to make you enjoy every dish. The wine paring is also great, with mostly wine from Spain.

Food amazing First experiences amazing Service :( needed to ask many things twice.. not bad, but for a 3 star Michelin it shouldn't be They have dead plants in the greenhouse, a broken ipad... I don't know didn't feel like in a 3 star

Truly a 3 star Michelin experience. Top notch service, (best of all the 3 stars in the area) Very fun experience, (would be spoilers if said more) Food executed well with a very extensive unique and long menu. (Extremely pescatarian friendly) Table service Bartender available on demand to make you cocktails whenever is a plus. Please note the experience takes a long time. 4-5 hours. (Lunch)

Amazing, unforgettable experience that was the culinary highlight of our Spain trip. Each item of food and drink is well thought of, well executed, pretty, and very tasty. Delicious. The service is also top notch, with participation from some kitchen team members. it's worth the couple hundreds of Euros, and worth the special trip. One of the best restaurants in the world for sure

Truly a superlative experience. Excellent food, service, and location. You always have very high expectations when you go to a 3-star restaurant, and Azurmendi delivers. You start with some snacks at the entrance, then go to the kitchen to get some hot appetizers. You finish in the garden eating some more appetizers before moving to the table. The menu is pretty long, so make sure to show up hungry. It has quite a few light dishes intermixed, so I didn't feel overwhelmed. They change the menu quite a bit, but I was told that some of the classics tend to remain there. The egg yolk infused with truffle, the "kokotxa", and the lobster are just some examples of mind blowing dishes. The food is based on traditional stuff with a creative spin. The presentation can be theatrical, but don't worry, they don't compromise on the flavor at all. Service is attentive and very nice. Most of the folks there were foreigners, so even if you don't speak spanish you won't have any issue enjoying the experience. It has a wide selection of wines. Honestly, I would recommend Eneko Atxa's own Gorka Izaguirre Txakoli, which is superb and fairly affordable. The place is a bit hard to access (just take a cab), but it's really beautiful. At the end of a long meal, we moved to the lounge to admire the views and have a long drink to close out the meal. Count with at least three hours if you eat quickly and a bit more if you want to enjoy yourself. There's very little to criticize about the experience. Price is in line with other 3-stars. The only thing perhaps is that the dining room was pretty cold.

Wow how do I even begin. I’ve been to 3-star michelin restaurants across Europe and America, and Azurmendi is unmatched in terms of food, experience, service, and vibes. What I appreciated most beyond the food and experience was that the ambiance was perfectly balanced between formal and casual. Staff were extremely friendly and funny to chat to, and the rooms did not feel stuffy at all. We also sealed the night with a killer espresso martini, would definitely recommend! Tips: - You can grab a taxi from Bilbao in front of the Hilton hotel. Azurmendi will call a taxi back for you, approx €30 one way. - Eat light beforehand! I was beyond full. I won’t spoil the rest!

100/10 it’s not just food, it’s EXPERIENCE ❤️ Service is impeccable, details are so well thought through that you relax fully. That is special from the very beginning: the smell in the foyer is like in a forest, champagne 🥂 is given. Start with a gourmet “picnic” and as you progress with the food you visit a kitchen, a garden. Food look is so unique that you will never guess the texture or the taste from the way it looks!! Find the eatable roses, leaves made of herbs, cheese and caviar in most unexpected places that you can search yourself:) Everything I’ve tried was impressive. Wine is supreme and I would highlight the work of sommelier Aitor!! Best service 🙏🙏 You should visit, it’s once in a lifetime experience 💓

Having 3 Michelin stars is a huge honor, but to me/us having eating at dozens of Michelin restaurants, they are not always great. Quite honestly some don't deserve to be open, let a lone a star. BUT, having said that, Azurmendi was the best dining experience we've ever experienced. The food was incredible, mini pieces of art that tantalize your taste buds. Plated with exceptional care, and artistic movement. The presentation was incredible, but what made Azurmendi so exceptional was the staff. From greeting to finish, I've never encountered a staff so happy with what they do, where they are doing it. The sommelier was incredible, knew his wines, and with a few questions he served us the perfect bottle. Servers were fabulous, with detailed descriptions of each item that was delivered. It's taken us much time to visit Azurmendi, But we will not be strangers again!

SPECTACULAR!! This restaurant is different, it has what most places lack, a story. This restaurant not only has amazing food, their service, their goal…wow! They really believe in Sustainability, and a lot of their vegetables are from their garden on the top of the building, which I visited and had a seed bank which housed seeds from all parts of the world. Once in a life time experience definitely, it’s the whole package.

Truly amazing experience from the start. The staff are friendly and really helpful. The introduction concept is really well thought through and of course very tasty. All your senses are used in the 1st three “stations” before sitting in the dining room. After the exceptional meal you can visit the greenhouse above the restaurant and meet some nature if you’re lucky.

Best meal of my life. Seriously. Beats out all other 3 starred restaurants that I’ve tried.

Incredible, once in a lifetime experience. The price is very fair considering the service you get. All was perfect and we absolutely loved it!

Exquisite and lovely - plus great adjustments for a vegetarian version of the menu.

Fantastic experience throughout. Due to a last minute change we had to bring our daughter. The staff was very accommodating of her and made sure she had a fantastic time. The kids menu was also fantastic

One of the best food experiences of my life! From the food, to the service, and attention to detail this is an all around unforgettable experience. The food was incredibly complex, delicious and quite filling. The staff went above and beyond throughout the entire service — they were extremely flexible with food preferences, noticed my partner was a lefty and immediately accommodated his silverware, brought out an alternative dish when they noticed we didn’t love one of the dishes, etc. The chef is incredibly nice and humble! He welcomed us through the garden at the start of the meal and circled back around through every table at the end of the meal to make sure everything went well. Absolutely worth a trip to Bilbao for this. Bravo, Azurmendi team! 👏🏼

Such an experience!! Came here for my 30th bday and loved it. I loved the appetisers. Definitely worth visiting!!!

BEST CULINARY EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. HOLY HOLY MOLY. I’ve been to over 40 countries and have eaten at some of the best restaurants all over the world. I’ve eaten at multiple 3 Michelin star restaurants before. This one takes the cake and wins the gold medal. It is simply unbelievable from start to finish. I cannot say enough. I was BLOWN AWAY. I won’t tell you about it so as to not spoil the mystery of the experience, but if you are within an hour’s drive of this place and you don’t go, you are MISSING OUT ON LIFE. Not only was it 11 out of 10, but the price is far too low. This culinary experience was so superb that towards the end I was getting nervous that the bill was going to be $1,000/person, because I had no idea what it cost going in. My check (I went solo) was $273. Astonishing! The value is incredible. Eating here will be an experience you never forget and honestly it’s worth over double what they charge. A 3 Michelin star in Las Vegas charges $500/person and isn’t even one fourth as good as this is! This place should be FOUR Michelin stars. Just GO!!!! You haven’t lived until you’ve eaten here!!!!

One of the best dining adventures I’ve had and the best dining experience of our Basque trip. Super fun, immersive and theatrical experience where you get glimpses of the processes that go behind each dish and their sustainable practices as you are led through 5 different settings. Beautiful venue, setting and crockery. Absolute favourite was the asparagus at the greenhouse. The series of bites are interjected with fab homemade tonics throughout the meal, and cocktails are made to order table side. Excellent selection of divine cheeses. Bites are executed much better than the mains personally. Impeccable personal service - chef Atxa takes the time to personally greet each table at the end of the meal.

My partner and I had the lunch tasting menu and shared the Armonia and Gran Seleccion pairings, enjoying ourselves greatly, although we felt that the more delicate nature of the dishes suit some tastes more than others. The food was delicious, with a fascinating and inventive range of dishes, from a range of amuse-bouches consisting of a welcome picnic and a brief tour of "The Truffle's Table" in the kitchen and at the greenhouse. Of these, the pork tartar and smoked salmon roe were our clear standouts. This was followed by a Flowers course, which was gentle, but varied, with the rose particularly delicious and unexpected. The next dishes were primarily seafood; squid, sea urchin, shrimp, cod tart, lobster, tuna and finally some pork, interrupted by frozen vegetables. All of these were delicate and subtly flavoured, primarily favouring foams and diced dishes - with the shrimp notable for having individual pieces. We broke this up for the cheese course, which I would highly recommend due to the strong flavours, but also the opportunity for a more robust course. This was followed by fig, herb-infused curds, cocoa and black olive and the petit fours, which were similarly delicate, but delicious. Both Armonia and Gran Seleccion pairings were fantastic and paired well, although the Armonia was almost universally the more fitting pairing. The Gran Seleccion was excellent in its own right, but for pairings, we would recommend Armonia. Both had a few unusual choices, with each having a relatively local mead, which was appreciated. Overall, I would say that the meal would have been naked without the pairings, not able to bring out the true variety of flavours available. The aperitifs and finishing drinks were likewise delicious, but also had a good range of choices. The view whilst having the cleansing, finishing drinks added to a wonderful ambience. All that said, we think that our tastes do lean towards more robust meals, with almost none of the dishes here having much solidity due to the heavy use of foams, very small bites, diced pieces, and so on. Of all of the restaurants we have visited, other Michelins included, this was by far the most on this end of the spectrum, but was still worth the visit. Finally, if you are hard of hearing (as I am), I would recommend highlighting this early, as the surfaces in the restaurant are quite hard and minimal sound-dampening seems to have been installed.

This was the best Michelin rated restaurant I have ever been to and I have been to several. Not only was the food spectacular, but the staff were superior trained and this was overall an experience more than just a meal. We had the high-end wine pairing and we're not disappointed. Plan to spend somewhere between four and a half and 5 hours here. You will leave full and satisfied and have a spectacular memory. I wish I lived here.

Unique experience at Azurmendi, this is the reason you go to a 3 Michelin stars. I particularly enjoyed walking around the restaurant before heading to our dining table. We took the pairing that was really good. Service was friendly and interactive, really appreciated.

This restaurant is highly rated for a reason. Great food, awesome experience, attentive staff - Azurmendi is the complete package.

Absolutely stunning! The meal took place over 5 hours in 4 Venues with 4 different concepts ! Our favorite was the conservatory with the discovery of food and drink within a garden .. very experiential! By the time we sat down we had eaten 17 starters.. and then another 8 mains and desserts .. wonderful sensorial experience! Highly recommended. You must go

We were there on Jan 26th 2022. The Best Star Michelin restaurant in Basque Country. Attention, Service, Presentation, Quality, Originality, Flavor, Authenticity, there is no words how to explain to you how was our experience at this incredible Restaurant outside city of Bilbao. Location amazing. You've to go for lunch; the view splendid. Creativity..... it's an incredible experience.

Amazing lunch. They were so accommodating of our dietary preferences. The food was mind blowing!

Best culinary experience in our life. We have been in different Michelin star restaurants, but Eneko has brought the Basque cuisine to another level.

Absolutely amazing experience in this place. That’s not just food - that’s great experience moving you deeply into culture of this region. You start with some picnic like experience, then some appetizers on kitchen, then some in the garden and after you already full you will come to main table experience ) overall I counted over 20 different small dishes including all this appetizers. Everything really unique and tasty so I think it costs every cent you will pay for it. Really great place and highly recommended