Located at the San Mamés end of Bilbao’s famous Gran Vía, the NH Collection Villa de Bilbao is a modern property offering spacious rooms, sleek contemporary design and on-point service. Inside enjoy a bountiful Basque breakfast at the Le Bol Blanc Restaurant, take a drink in the lobby corner bar, and head to the top-floor fitness room where you can work out to uninterrupted views over the city. Primarily catering to business travellers and conferences during the week, the hotel is a hidden gem for weekend getaways, appealing to tourists, families and groups visiting Bilbao.
Location
For art lovers its central location on the Gran Via means it’s just a short walk to the Museo de Bellas Artes and the Guggenheim and a pretty 30-minute walk along the Nervión River will take you to the city’s old town which is famous for its pintxos bars (and you cant leave Bilbao without visiting Erriberako Merkatua which is packed with delicious pintxos outlets)
Immediate access to public transport at the hotel makes city exploration effortless and onsite parking and EV charging makes bringing a car a breeze.
The Lobby
The sleek foyer embodies the essence of the city, blending post-modern industrial design with traditional Basque art. As you step into the lobby, you are immediately greeted by an impressive Néstor Basterretxea sculpture projecting from the wall. Black marble floors extend into the expansive area, adorned with stylish lounge pieces, vibrant paintings, and various seating areas. At the heart of the space is a concierge and customer service desk, where an eager team is always on hand to assist with your stay.
The Corner
At the back of the lobby is The Corner Bar, an intimate cocktail spot that offers the perfect reason, whether shaken or stirred, to linger longer and enjoy the lively lobby ambience.
Rooms and Suites
The hotel offers four room types – Superior, Premiere, Family and Suites, with Premier rooms and Suites facing out to the Gran Via. All room types are incredibly spacious featuring modern designed furniture, white marble accents, and blackout curtains. A standout feature is the black and white murals that adorn the entire wall above the headboard in every room. Sleep is made easy with the NH Collection Sleep Better 36-inch mattresses available in all room tiers, while Nespresso machines ensure a fresh start to your day. Suites offer a separate living area, ideal for families or groups needing extra space while many standard rooms are equipped with a fold-out couch, enhancing the hotel’s family and group-friendly options.
Bathrooms are large with twin sinks in every room, contrasting marble walls and floors, robes and slippers provided for the suites and NH Collection luxury toiletries. Some rooms feature baths while others only have showers. If you are the type that likes to take a long soak in the tub, call ahead to make sure your room has a bath.
During our stay, we were hosted in one of the property’s Premier Rooms with a city view.
Le Bol Blanc
Overlooking the promenade from the second floor is Le Bol Blanc, the hotel’s restaurant where you’ll find an impressive breakfast buffet (running until a generous 11 am each day), daily lunches, and an ever-changing dinner menu.
Breakfast
Taking place around an island serving area there is a a wide selection of hot and cold items, many of which are local to the area. Eggs are cooked to order at the egg station.
Fitness Centre
The top-floor Fitness Centre provides a variety of modern equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals and studio-cycle bikes as well as a range of free weights and machines. However, the highlight of the gym, situated on the 7th floor, are its panoramic views of the city which are a real treat.
NH Collection Properties
NH Collection Hotels offer sophisticated accommodations and are designed to provide extraordinary experiences in buildings that feature classic architecture in key cities and modern designs in vibrant locations. Read our other NH Collection reviews including the NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market and NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablon.
Final Thoughts
A great hotel choice for visiting Bilbao generous-sized rooms provide room to stretch out in, the breakfast is one of the best in the city and its central location makes it ideal for exploring the city. We have included the property in our guide to the best hotels in Bilbao
