Kasko during Aste Nagusia 2026: where to eat well in Bilbao’s Old Town

Bilbao waits all year for these nine days. On Saturday 22 August at 19:00 the Arriaga Theatre welcomes Marijaia, the figure who presides over the festival, and the city does not stop until Sunday the 30th. If you are in the Old Town during Aste Nagusia, here is what to expect and why Kasko is worth a stop.

Nine days of festival

Aste Nagusia 2026 brings more than 500 free events, around a hundred concerts across nine stages and over a hundred Basque culture activities. El Arenal fills with 37 txosnas (the marquees run by the city comparsas), 19 craft stalls and six food trucks, and that is where the atmosphere lives from midday until the early hours.

There are fireworks over the river every night: seven companies compete between 22 and 28 August and an eighth closes with an exhibition on the 29th. On Sunday the 30th, the last night, Marijaia burns amid tears and applause until next year.

Two minutes from the noise, at a different pace

Kasko is located at Andra Mari Kalea 16, in the heart of the Siete Calles, just a short walk from El Arenal and the Arriaga Theatre. Close enough so you don’t miss a thing, yet tucked away enough to sit down, chat without shouting, and enjoy a relaxed meal.

We have been doing what we love since 1996. Basque cuisine with global influences, top northern produce, and set-menu dishes crafted with the exact same care as à la carte options. The dining room is an experience in itself, featuring lamps by sculptor Dora Salazar and original works by artists like Emilio Puertas, Vicente and Fernando Roscubas, and Karen Amaya. At night during the festival, it is quite possibly the Casco Viejo’s most relaxed yet vibrant spot all at once.

What to order

Our squid paella with aioli and the three-sauce salt cod (bacalao 3 salsas) are our signature dishes. If you are looking for festive vibes with a more casual touch, check out our Km 0 Menu, Bar Menu, and the outdoor terrace. You can see it all on Carte & Menus.

Practical details

Our usual hours are 13:00 to 24:00 Monday to Friday and 13:30 to 01:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Bookings are by phone only, on +34 944 160 311, and during the fiestas it pays to call ahead. Metro Casco Viejo and the Arriaga tram stop are both a couple of minutes away. The map is on Location and Contact.

Gora Marijaia, gora Bilbo, and ongi etorri to Kasko.