Fodor's Expert Review Echaurren Hotel Gastronómico

This modern gastrohotel in the idyllic mountain town of Ezcaray, just minutes from La Rioja’s best ski resort, is a stunning mountain retreat and culinary mecca. The elegant villa property is famous for its Two-Michelin Star restaurant housed inside as well as the long gastronomic tradition of the family that has run the hotel for generations. Chic rooms, a fireside bar, and designs that combine the contemporary with the timeless all create an impossibly romantic setting. The natural surroundings are tranquil and calm during the summer months and the town turns into a lively ski scene during the winter.

room

Ultramodern rooms are stylish and airy while lovely wood floors and trims evoke the mountain lodge atmosphere and creative lighting adds an extra artistic flair. The rooms have plenty of high-tech gadgetry, an absolutely amazing bed, and balconies lined with floral pots that overlook the old abbey and square out front.

YOU SHOULD KNOW The views from the front-facing rooms of the hotel are exceptional, but the toll from the bell-tower across the square packs a punch; late risers or those looking to siesta may want to get a room facing the other direction if they are light sleepers.

bathroom

A creative wash area format is exposed to the rest of the room as part of the open layout. A separate bathroom houses handsome showers with rainforest shower-heads, a colorful display of toiletries, and artisan soaps. Robes and slippers come with all levels of room.

lobby

Upon entering the picturesque mountain inn, guests are welcomed by an inviting café bar and sleek lounge with fresh wood crackling in the fireplace. Though the lobby space is cozy, it’s a charming place to relax and the staff behind the reception counter is extraordinarily friendly.

On the second floor is a wood-decked solarium terrace with both outdoor and protected seating that makes for a wonderful hideaway to relax no matter what the season.

gym

A small fitness center is located on the top floor of the hotel. All the essentials are here, with modern spin bikes, a treadmill, elliptical, and strength machine along with a nice set of free-weights.

Those who like to exercise in private should know that the all-glass doors of the fitness room face into the hallway with everything on display for passersby.

dining

If the gastronómico in the title didn’t give it away, food is the star of the show here at Echaurren. The small lodge offers three different dining options for guests. El Portal de Echaurren, the two-star Michelin restaurant, is the centerpiece of the hotel. Here, world-famous chef Francis Paniego treats customers to a master class in the post-modern art of Basque gastronomy. The tasting menu is an out-of-this-world experience with such a familial sense of service in its intimate setting that it makes you feel like you are a part of the creation process itself.

For guests looking for something a little less experimental (or easier on the wallet), Echaurren Tradición is a traditional Riojan restaurant famous with locals across the region, featuring white tablecloths in a formal dining room with plenty of natural light. The restaurant has been running for generations and family-kept recipes fill the menu and prove that well-executed classics can provide some of the best-tasting meals around. Make sure to try the homemade croquettes here.

In the mornings, a made to order breakfast can be had on the upstairs solarium and terrace that looks out onto the old town below.

Couples will find the breakfast in bed option a romantic treat.

drinking

Adjacent to the reception area is a warm bar with wood floors, comfortable seating, a roaring fireplace, and wall designs that breathe hints of a Japanese mountainside lounge. There is also a splendid outdoor seating area out in front under the shaded arcade of the hotel for when weather permits.