The best restaurants La Rioja

Chef Francis Paniego (Ezcaray, 1968), a native of La Rioja, heads the kitchens of this gourmet restaurant, awarded a second Michelin star in 2013. Trained by the great Basque chefs Juan Mari Arzak and Pedro Subijana, he offers a cuisine very rooted in his beloved Rioja. The restaurant is located in the hotel of the same name, in a beautiful century-old house decorated in the spirit of the times. A place not to be missed, therefore, to approach the great gastronomic wealth of the region and its local products.

A gastrobar in due form, serving inventive dishes in mini format: caramelized liver tapa with applesauce, excellent Kobe beef burger, eggplant roll with piquillo cream, marinated sardine with grapefruit vinaigrette... And our favourite: the squid sandwich! All this can be enjoyed around the bar in a modern bistro setting, with old black and white photos, and on the slate, the list of tapas and wines available by the glass. A must stop on the tapas route in Logroño.

A must-see gastrobar on Calle San Juan, where exquisite tapas, pintxos and raciones are served around high tables. Fish and shellfish are the main attraction: the tuna tataki is a classic of the house. But don't forget to try the carrillera simmered in red wine... Wine obviously plays a key role in the restaurant's offer: more than a hundred references are offered by the glass, in addition to a superb selection of bottled wines. One of our favourite addresses in Logroño!

In the famous and busy Calle Laurel, this popular bar is famous for its mushroom pintxos. They are cooked a la plancha and topped with a small gamba. Simple and effective. Besides, you can't go wrong, the sign of the bar represents a mushroom and two gambas! Of course this pintxo is not the only one on the menu, and a wide selection awaits you. The atmosphere is relaxed, mixing locals, pilgrims and tourists. A very good place to meet people of all kinds on the sidelines of the Compostela route.

Classical and elegant decoration in the interior of the Hostería San Millán to enjoy good regional cuisine, which puts the emphasis on local products. Traditional recipes, seasonal dishes and a vegan menu: the choice is vast! On the menu in Rioja are Patatas a la Riojana (potatoes, chorizo and peppers), a local soup, and the classic Caparrones con Sacramentos, the star dish of Riojan gastronomy, a kind of stew made with red beans, lamb chops, chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage) and other ingredients. To be discovered!

A gastronomic address in the heart of the historic centre, housed in a former 16th century palace. Its large dining room and private lounges, with a renovated décor, are spread over several levels. A la carte, you will enjoy excellent traditional cuisine prepared with seasonal products: artichokes with ham, pochas (white beans) and grilled ribs of beef accompanied by a fine selection of regional wines (some 200 references à la carte). Uncluttered decoration and beautiful views of the church of San Bartolomé.

A century-old bar where you can try the matrimonio (literally "wedding"), a pintxo that comes in the form of a mini-sandwich with marinated anchovies and green peppers. A well-decorated storefront, and an interior with a definite local accent. Good selection of wines, mostly local, and beers. Friendly staff that welcomes customers with bonhomie and seems to have made welcoming customers a sacred mission. Good food and fun, what more could you ask for from the Logrono nightlife scene!

This asador located in the modern part of the city offers its rustic décor to brasa fans. Red brick walls, white tablecloth tables, and a family atmosphere that you will appreciate! The house is famous for its grilled chuletón (prime rib). But you will also enjoy excellent local specialities, such as pimientos del piquillo (red peppers), garlic soup, cod tortilla, and for dessert, the typical cuajada (curdled sheep's milk) or goxua (Basque dessert made with custard).

A prestigious table dedicated to Japanese cuisine, rewarded with a Michelin star. Chef Félix Jiménez, a local child, trained in Japan to learn the art of sushi, whose secrets he brought back to his native land. His cuisine is refined, precise and respectful of tradition and will delight fans of the genre. Not to mention the pleasure of dining around the counter, in small groups, while observing the master at work! Be careful, places are expensive: it is essential to book in advance!

In the heart of Calle Laurel, an unmissable meeting place for tapas lovers, the Torrecilla bar is famous for its pintxos prepared on demand, especially the one made with fresh foie gras a la plancha, served with onion jam and goat cheese. The pintxo de solomillo (fillet of beef) with honey and mustard sauce, the pintxo de magret de canard (duck breast) or the zamburiñas (black scallops) a la plancha are also a firm favourite. All this is of course accompanied by a fine selection of wines!

At the origin of this avant-garde restaurant: Iñaki, a native of Laguardia, and Carolina, from Ecuador. The young duo imagined this elegant restaurant, where their respective cultures merge through inventive, personal dishes, executed with impeccable technique. According to the seasons, you will taste for example marinated scallops, a carpaccio of gamba with hazelnuts, lasagna with leeks, squid and ginger cream, a candied suckling pig... For lovers of new flavours, with a touch of exoticism!

Located just around the corner, El Molino serves as both a restaurant and a cafeteria for travelers. The establishment, as much frequented by residents who have made it their canteen as by pilgrims and other travelers passing through, serves tapas, sandwiches, La Rioja specialties as well as a full menu with appetizers, main course, dessert and drinks. The place, completely renovated quite a bit in 2016, has a nice contemporary decor! A most correct quality-price ratio and a relaxed atmosphere.

A classic decor, beautifully set tables, courteous service... You've reached Nino! Chef Ventura Martínez will surprise you every time with his traditional yet avant-garde cuisine. The seasonal menu gives pride of place to local products, especially fresh vegetables: artichokes with ham and costillas and paletilla de cordero (lamb chop) in particular are absolutely fantastic! Don't hesitate to talk about wines, you'll find some passionate people to talk to here.

Alfaro's best option for testing the local cuisine. In a beautiful traditional setting, a "tourist" menu is served, where you can taste the typical menestra (Menestra de Verduras de la Huerta Alfareña) of vegetables before enjoying your choice of: grilled beef steak, fresh grouper prepared in the Cantabrian style or, a house speciality, grilled half a rabbit. For dessert, there are two options: fresh fruit sorbet or a special San Roque tart. All accompanied by red, white or rosé wine. A real treat!

It is in a historical building - in turn the residence of the lawyer Antonio Méndez de Lara and then of the apothecary Diego de Lara - located right next to the cathedral, the parador and the town hall square that since 1991 Los Caballeros have taken over the place and have become a culinary reference in town. On the menu, we find local specialties based on lamb, cod ... Succulent! And as a bonus, good homemade desserts and a friendly welcome.

In Terete, the famous cordero lechal (grilled suckling lamb) has been prepared in an old wood-fired oven since 1877: the house specialty. Cooked in the same way as it was more than a century ago, it is served in generous portions, after a portion of asparagus or a plate of jamón ibérico, accompanied by a salad, homemade fries or even a ration of pan-fried porcini mushrooms. As a starter, you can also try the menestra, a traditional dish based on a variety of vegetables. Friendly welcome and warm decor with stone walls and fireplace!

A surprisingly designer address where you can enjoy a choice of inventive cuisine or traditional recipes, depending on what you feel like eating. Awarded several times, this restaurant is one of the best addresses in the area. The wine list obviously puts Rioja in the spotlight, with an exhaustive selection. Some suggestions: cherry and langoustine gazpacho, jamón de bellota or croquetas de la casa as a starter; fish or meat Riojan style as a main course; mango and passion fruit ravioli or red wine and cinnamon ice cream for dessert!

Located in the Los Agustinos Hotel, this restaurant offers La Rioja cuisine and creative recipes, offering a clever mix of tradition and modernity. Suckling pig (cochinillo), but also grilled Castilian suckling lamb, as well as seasonal vegetables are a sure bet (fried artichokes and asparagus are a treat!). Other specialities of the place: the delicious cuttlefish ink croquettes and tapas de pata negra.

Design decoration, and a beautiful staging of the wines, which here are at the top of the bill! At this trendy address, chef Aitor Esnal concocts seasonal dishes with Asian influences, taking great care in their presentation. Depending on the market, grilled artichokes with Iberian ham, a salmon tataki with quinoa, ginger mussels sautéed in a wok... The place, modern and trendy, hosts all kinds of events (afterworks, DJ sets), which also makes it a good spot for aperitifs!

A very authentic asador, in a decor of stone walls, beams and pretty stained glass windows representing scenes of grape harvest. The place is famous for its meats grilled on the embers of vine shoots (the lamb chops are a little marvel: amateurs, don't hesitate a second!), prepared in the restaurant's large fireplace. Also à la carte, a wide range of typical dishes from the Riojanes or, more broadly, from Spain, such as the tasty morcilla (blood sausage) or patatas a la riojana. Try to save a place for dessert!