Hotel Marques de Riscal

Location: Basque Country | Spain

Price guide: £££££ £100-£200 per person per night

A member of the prestigious Luxury Collection, Hotel Marqués de Riscal was designed by architect Frank Gehry and is a truly luxurious and contemporary retreat. With an eye-catching titanium ribbon-like exterior, ceilings the height of a cathedral, and bespoke touches round every corner, this is more of a work of art than a hotel- and this work of art also comes with a Michelin-starred restaurant, fine wines from the Marqués de Riscal vineyard, a stunning spa and panoramic views of medieval rooftops and rolling countryside.

Perfect forWine lovers and architecture buffs.

In the knowEnjoy a tour of the vineyard and its ancient and cavernous cellars (which hold millions of bottles of wine), and back at the bar, order the Marqués de Riscal cocktail- a blend of red wine, brandy and blackcurrant cream.

Recommended for...

Chic Design
Cultural Immersion
Food & Wine
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Hotel Overview

Sense of place

Hotel Marques de Riscal, or the ‘City of Wine’ is in the beautiful medieval village of Elciego in the province of Álava in northern Spain.

Rooms at Hotel Marqués de Riscal

The 43 rooms and suites are certainly distinctive, with their tilted walls and zigzag windows shunning conventional straight lines, alongside Pop Art-inspired chairs and Gehry’s signature Cloud lamps. Light, airy and spacious, they have king-sized beds and elegant marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and rainshowers. Take in the views of Elciego, the grapevines and the Cantabrian Mountains from your window seat, while sipping a glass of Marqués de Riscal wine. The larger suites have separate living and dining areas and private terraces to relax on.

Food & Drink

The Michelin-starred restaurant offers gastronomic delights alongside the finest vintages from the wine cellars. Spanish specialities with a contemporary twist are on the menu at Bistro 1860, and gourmands will savour the chance to dine at the Chef’s Table. At both restaurants you can dine al fresco on the terrace in the summer months, with panoramic vistas of the city skyline and the Basque countryside.

Facilities

Why not explore the stunning surroundings by bike? Cycle through rows of vines and along the winding Ebro River, and relax en route with a picnic, washed down with some wine, of course. Then finish the day with a relaxing spa and one of the many treatments that are on offer at the hotel.

Activities at Hotel Marqués de Riscal

Not surprisingly, the award-winning Vinothérapie spa celebrates all things grape. Soak in a bubbly grape-inspired barrel bath while gazing out over the vines, or indulge in a Merlot wine and honey body wrap or a Cabernet scrub. There’s also a heated indoor swimming pool with water jets, a Jacuzzi and a hammam.