Echaurren

Echaurren Review

This rambling roadhouse in Ezcaray, 61 km (37 miles) southwest of Logroño, is 7 km (4 miles) below Valdezcaray, La Rioja's best ski resort. Echaurren is famous for its restaurant, El Portal ($$-$$$), showcasing fine traditional cuisine engineered by Marisa Sánchez and her son, Francis Paniego. Marisa's patatas a la riojana (potatoes stewed with peppers and chorizo) are a classic, while Francis experiments with coals from grapevine clippings and serves contemporary numbers such as spring fava beans and baby peas with potato soup. Francis also oversees the Hotel Marqués de Riscal restaurant in Elciego, and a new gastro-bar, Tondeluna, in Logroño. Rooms are comfortable, and the staff is warm and engaging.