Looking to read a detailed Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao review before booking your next trip to Northern Spain? You’ve come to the right place!
Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao is a historic hotel located in the commercial borough of Indautxu in the heart of the city. With its convenient central location it’s the perfect accommodation option for those keen to explore Bilbao on foot.
I spent 3 nights in a beautiful suite at the design-lovers hotel in Basque Country. My review of Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao features info on the award-winning hotels accommodation options, restaurants, and unique on-site amenities.
Book A Luxurious Holiday at Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao
Hotel Ercilla is ranked as one of the best luxury hotels in Bilbao, which is located in the heart of Basque Country along Spain’s northern coast.
It is conveniently located a short 15 minute drive from the Bilbao Airport, which is the largest international airport in Basque Country.
Located in the charming Indautxu neighbourhood, guests at the 12 story hotel enjoy easy access to the city’s top attractions like the Guggenheim, Bellas Artes and Old Town.
Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao first opened its doors in 1972 and was recently renovated in 2020. Skip inside the luxury hotel and you’ll find the interior design is inspired by a British aesthetic paired with playful 70s glamour.
The hotel’s Britishness is an homage to the city’s unique history with the United Kingdom. Ships once sailed here from Portsmouth and Southampton transporting engineers, miners, coal and a quintessentially ‘British’ sensibility to the city.
You’ll find nods to the city’s British history all over Bilbao, with one of our favourites being the area where the Guggenheim stands, called “La Campa de los Ingleses,” which translates to The Field of the English.
Designers also paid homage to the sumptuousness of the 70s, which were the years when the Ercilla Hotel blossomed and established itself as a social beacon and architectural icon of the city.
Over the years the hotel has played host to some of Spain’s most famous politicians, boxers, bullfighters, musicians and actors. World famous opera singer Pavarotti stayed here in the 70s and today the hotel’s signature restaurant even has a pasta dish named after the esteemed tenor.
Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao Review Highlights
Bilbao offers a slice of chic cosmopolitan flare offering an array of luxury accommodations. The city is a popular destination for freshly married couples looking to book a romantic honeymoon along the scenic Basque coastline.
Before booking your trip, here are a list of highlights that make Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao in Northern Spain stand out from the rest.
- Hotel Ercilla is one of the most luxurious hotel in Bilbao, conveniently located in the heart of the city.
- As a member of the Autograph Collection guests can use Marriott Bonvoy points to book their stay.
- History buffs will love staying at this recently renovated architectural icon. Bilbao’s most famous luxury hotel offers eye-popping design lines paired with top drawer restaurants.
- The 286 room hotel and its thoughtful onsite amenities make it the perfect option for a business trip or romantic getaway.
- The hotel’s trendy rooftop allows guests to take in a 360 degree view of Bilbao and the surrounding Basque region. Best to visit in the early evening to take in the sunset.
- The hotel puts on a fun social calendar throughout the year, which includes DJ sessions, rooftop film screenings, artist talks, Patxaran cocktail masters classes and daily Pinxtos Hour at 6pm.
- Fitness fans can workout at the onsite gym, which is decked out with modern machines and free weights.
Accommodation
The most important question you have to ask yourself when reading a Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao review is, “what type of accommodation would I like to book for my holiday.”
Every one of the hotel’s rooms offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in a uniquely ‘Ercilla’ environment. The interiors channel a fancy fusion of Basque culture and Anglo-influences, hinted through the use of tartan and hound’s tooth patterns.
The hotel offers 4 room categories: Stylish, Stylish City View, Vintage and Vintage Premium. If you’re looking to splurge we suggest booking a luxurious Vintage Premium suite.
The hotel’s most spacious rooms are spread out across 44 square metre layouts. Plush pink velvet merges seamlessly with tartan and houndstooth upholstering across the soft furnishing, evoking the uniquely Anglo-Basque heritage of the hotel and surrounding cityscape. Curvy organic furniture and handsome metalwork embrace an elegant mid-century style.
Skip through your Vintage Premium suite and you’ll find a bedroom outfitted with a king or twin beds. In the bathroom, historic stonework dating back to the hotel’s 70s heyday have been lovingly restored. We loved the black and white checkered floors. Exclusive bespoke Ercilla scents and other toiletry products evoke the woodland allure of nearby Gorbeia National Park.
Additional amenities include smart tech, plush cotton sheets and pillows, flat screen TV, bathrobe and slippers, Nespresso machine, safe, and pillow menu. Upon arrival I was greeted with a selection of French macarons.
The mini bar is filled with local liqueurs and premium spirits for you to indulge in during your stay and complimentary water is offered daily in sustainable cartons that are easy to slip into your bag when walking around town.
Guests staying in Vintage or Vintage Premium rooms also receive two pieces of laundry per stay, free of charge.
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Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao Restaurants
No review of Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao is complete until you’ve had an opportunity to wag your finger down the hotel’s restaurant menus.
Visiting foodies rave for the hotel’s rooftop-hotspot, daily afternoon tea and sophisticated sushi restaurant.
Bar Americano
Bar Americano is the Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao’s all-day-dining restaurant concept, which is conveniently located on the ground floor.
Whether your’e looking for a quick grab-and-go coffee and pastry before meeting a tour guide, or a leisurely Afternoon Tea, Bar Americano is the perfect place to rest, refresh and people watch.
In the morning guests gather at Bar Americano for weekday breakfast.
Highlights from the Bar Americano morning menu include Eggs Benedict, Full English Breakfast, omelette’s, French pastries, charcuterie & cheese, pancakes, waffles and gourmet black truffle scrambled eggs.
At dinner Bar Americano’s gastronomic menu offers a sophisticated take on Basque cuisine, featuring recipes that were conceived way back when the hotel first opened. Wag your finger down the menu and you’ll find mouth-watering local fare like Iberican ham, Crawfish & Cockles, Spider Crab, Navaz Pigeon, Suckling Pig and hearty Oxtail Stew.
Be sure to leave room for the signature dessert, soft and spongy Pine Nut Cake filled with whipped cream and served alongside a scoop of pistachio ice cream.
Hop up at the bar for a late night tipple and you’ll find friendly mixologists gently stirring and vigorously shaking classic cocktails like the Pisco Sour, Vesper Martini, Margarita, and Old Fashioned. Vermouth is a strength here so we suggest ordering an aperitif before bed such as a Boulevardier or Negroni.
La Terraza
The hotel’s most famous restaurant is La Terraza, a fabulous rooftop patio offering panoramic views of downtown Bilboa.
Skip across the wooden deck during the afternoon to enjoy sun-soaked dining on rustic wooden chairs decked out in eye-popping green and white striped cushions.
La Terraza offers an al fresco menu that takes inspiration from the traditional pintxos and irresistible street food of Northern Spain. Menu highlights include cod fritters, squid with crispy onion, and spider crab sandwich.
Under the twinkle of stars each night, DJs create a fun vibe that encourages guests to dance the night away while sipping ice cold beer, fine Rioja wine and expertly crafted cocktails.
99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant
Enjoy a taste of Japan in the heart of Bilbao at Hotel Ercilla’s 99 Sushi Bar.
The chic fine dining restaurant concept has additional locations throughout Spain, as well as far flung Dubai and Morocco.
Bilbao’s best sushi spot is open for lunch and dinner, offering in room dining as well as take away, for those nights you just want to feast on sushi while watching TV on your comfy bed.
Skip inside 99 Sushi Bar and you’ll find an eye-catching sculpture of a puffer fish enclosed in glass. The left wall of the dining room features lush greenery and open concept sushi counter and be found at the far end across from the bar.
99 Sushi Bar originated in Spain and its menu doesn’t disappoint when showcasing local flavours. Wild Boar Gyoza are served with local Aruza cheese and roasted chestnuts, Cockles are dressed with Aojiso sauce, and Nigiri sushi features fatty smoked Iberian jamon with quail egg. You’ll also find a selection of sea salads, tempuras, tartars, and well-marbled wagyu beef.
Fun Things To Do In Bilbao
Bilbao is a compact city and easy to get around on foot. We suggest staying in the city for 2 nights so you have plenty of time to explore all the city has to offer. Here are our suggestions for must-see attractions:
- Guggenheim Bilbao: Frank Gehry’s iconic design for Bilbao’s contemporary art museum put the city on the tourist map, drawing visitors who would never have visited its industrial streets before opening in 1997. While most locals initially disliked the change, the world famous building now offers a sense or pride as it contributes significantly to the local economy. If you’re strapped for time, stroll around the building to enjoy the many dramatic angles and sculptures such as the massive spider and tower of sparkling metal orbs. Inside you’ll find a modern art collection complimented by rotating temporary exhibits.
- Casilda Iturrizar Parkea: if you’re visiting Bilbao on a sunny day enjoy a stroll through the city’s historic park. Built in 1907, the 21 acre park features a pond with frothing fountains, looping trails and pretty pergola.
- Catedral de Santiago de Bilbao: the city’s oldest building is its jaw-dropping Gothic cathedral located in the heart of Old Town. Built in the 14th-century, Bilbao Cathedral features a central nave decorated with stained glass windows and wooden sculptures of saints.
- Plaza Nueva: is the city’s must-visit neoclassical square, which includes a colonnade with pubs, restaurants and shops. A great spot to enjoy aperitivo hour.
- Erriberako Merkatua: if you’re feeling peckish pop by the city’s historic market for an affordable lunch. Locals shop here for a wide array of foods including produce, fish, meats, bread, pickles and foraged mushrooms. A section of the market on the 2nd floor features vendors selling pinchos, cocktails, wine and beer.
- Teatro Arriaga: is Bilbao’s opera house, which was built in Neo-baroque style by architect Joaquín Rucoba in 1890, the same architect that built the impressive city hall. It is named after Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, known in his time as the “Spanish Mozart”.
- Plaza del Corazón de María: if you’re a history buff head to this fascinating ruin of an ancient Franciscan Monastery, which was only just recently discovered in 2007.
Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao Contact
Ercilla Kalea, 34-944-70-57-00
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