Page 437 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Eating & Sleeping

Logroño 1 Elciego 7
4 Hotel Marqués 4 Hotel Marqués
de Vallejo Design Hotel €€ de Riscal Design Hotel €€€
(%941 24 83 33; www.hotelmarquesdevallejo. (%945 18 08 80; www.hotel-marquesderiscal.
com; Calle del Marqués de Vallejo 8; s/d from com; Calle Torrea 1; r from €310; paW) When
€50/75; paW) From the driftwood art to the owner of Elciego’s Bodegas Marqués de Riscal
cow skins, beach pebbles and photographic decided he wanted to create something special,
flashlights it’s clear that a lot of thought and he didn’t hold back. The result is the spectacular
effort has gone into the design of this stylish, Frank Gehry–designed Hotel Marqués de Riscal.
modern and very well-priced hotel. Costing around €85 million, the building is a wave
of multicoloured titanium sheets that stand in
utter contrast to the village behind. SPAIN 31 ROvING LA RIOjA WINE REGION
Santo Domingo de la Calzada 4
4 Hostal R Pedro Hotel € Laguardia 8
(%941 34 11 60; www.hostalpedroprimero.
es; Calle San Roque 9; s/d €48/59; W) This 5 Restaurante Amelibia Spanish €€
carefully renovated townhouse, which has (%945 62 12 07; www.restauranteamelibia.com;
terracotta-coloured rooms with wooden roof Barbacana 14; menú del día €17; h1-3.30pm
beams and entirely modern bathrooms, is a Sun-Mon & Wed-Thu, 1-3.30pm & 9-10.30pm Fri &
terrific deal. Sat) This classy restaurant is one of Laguardia’s
highlights: stare out the windows at a view over
4 Parador the scorched plains and mountain ridges while
Santo Domingo Historic Hotel €€ dining on sublime traditional Spanish cuisine.
(%941 34 03 00; www.parador.es; Plaza del
Santo 3; r from €105; pW) The Parador Santo 4 Posada Mayor
Domingo is the antithesis of the town’s general de Migueloa Historic Hotel €€
air of piety. Occupying a 12th-century former (%945 600 187; www.mayordemigueloa.com;
hospital, opposite the cathedral, this palatial Calle Mayor 20; s/d incl breakfast €99/105; aW)
hotel offers anything but a frugal medieval-like For the ultimate in gracious La Rioja living, this
existence. The in-house restaurant is reliably old mansion-hotel with its rickety rooms full
good. of polished wood is irresistible. The in-house
restaurant (menus from €24), which is open to
4 Parador Santo Domingo nonguests, is recommended and offers original
Bernado de Fresneda Hotel €€ twists on local cuisine. Under the hotel is a small
(%941 34 11 50; www.parador.es; Plaza de San wine bodega (guided visits for non-guests €5).
Francisco 1; r from €90; pW) Just on the edge
of the old town is the Parador Santo Domingo 4 Castillo el Collado Historic Hotel €€€
Bernado de Fresneda, which occupies a former (%945 62 12 00; www.hotelcollado.com; Paseo
convent and pilgrim hostel, although quite el Collado 1; d €125-185; W) Like a whimsical
honestly, with its divine beds and rooms that Disney dream castle, this place, which from the
gush luxury, you probably wouldn’t describe it outside is all sturdy turrets and pretty flower
as a ‘hostel’ anymore. gardens, is a truly unique place to stay. The
half-dozen rooms are all different but combine
quirky style with luxury living. The open-to-all
restaurant (menus from €25) is also excellent.

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