My husband and I are traveling to Spain for 2 weeks over Christmas and New Years. We have already rented a holiday flat in Torrox Pueblo on the Costa del Sol and have also rented a car.

We are planning to visit Cordoba and I thought it might be nice to overnight there and have a romantic dinner, maybe visit a hammam if there is one in town.

We love Spanish cuisine and it would be nice to find a smaller (maybe in a historic building) boutique hotel with a spa and massage services.

Any suggestions?

So we found a hotel and hammam and booked those, but are still looking for a good restaurant. So any suggestions would be helpful!

I would suggest you go only some 300 meters north of the Mezquita and into "Roman Córdoba" around central Plaza de las Tendillas and the Plaza Mayor in Madrid-like Plaza de la Corredera. More local atmosphere up here and affordable and traditional tabernas on every corner. Had excellent meals in some of them two years ago. Taberna Salinas is one of the more famous, recommended by the Michelin guide: http://www.tabernasalinas.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

Here's a list of more traditional tabernas in Córdoba. http://www.cordoba24.info/tavernen/h...vernen_en.html

And perhaps spend New Years eve in Córdoba! The thousands of people gathering in central Plaza de las Tendillas for the midnight eating of the grapes on New Years eve is traditionally directly televised on national tv. You'll get an idea in this video from about 2 mins, and the cordobeses also know their fireworks! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpnx9K4D4BQ

The clock on Plaza de las Tendillas has got no bells. Since 1961 the hours has been chimed in by recorded flamenco chords from the guitarist Juanito Serrano. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fexMbX4EsRE&NR=1

We went to Taverna Salinas a few years ago on a Thursday evening in mid December, mainly because this restaurant was recommended by multiple guide books. However, none of the 4 dishes we ordered stood out, and the restaurant was freezing and deserted in a winter evening at 8:00pm. Perhaps the atmosphere will be more cheerful if you go for lunch?

You could try Bodegas Campos - http://www.bodegascampos.com/bc_tabe...acion.php?ps=1.

I didn't dine there but did a quick tour of its interior. Photos here - http://www.bodegascampos.com/galeria...gil/index.html. Beautiful!

<the restaurant was freezing and deserted in a winter evening at 8:00pm>.

In Córdoba - as in most of Spain - people don't go to restaurants before 9-9.30 pm, and often later. Only touristy places are filled up at 8pm.

The Michelin guide about Taberna Salinas: http://www.viamichelin.com/web/Resta...i=219683_41102

Lots of excellent traditional and local dishes. I recommend the Salmorejo cordobés (the thicker Córdoba version of the famous cold vegetable/tomato soup gazpacho, with cured ham and egg), Rabo de Toro (Oxtail stew), Espinacas con garbanzos (Spinach with chickpeas, a delicious Sevilla speciality), but you have plenty of options. They serve raciones, that is relatively small portions for some 6-7€, so the two of you could easily order several dishes to share.

Thanks for the ideas, looking forward to going there!