Hotel Posada Mayor de Migueloa

The dinner here was the best food and wine we had on our whole trip. The server was lovely and really helpful with the menu and the wines from their own winery. We also loved our bedroom and the breakfast laid out at our table the next morning, with a great choice of fruit, drinks, local cheeses, and meats. We were so glad we picked this place. The historic building is beautiful, and owner Javier gave us such a warm welcome. It was a pleasure chatting with him during our stay. Yousef, whose spelling I hope I got right, kindly offered to show us the cave winery downstairs. His enthusiasm for his work was wonderful. He even put up with our attempts at French in an Irish accent! It's a generational family business, and you can see how hard everyone works to keep it such a special, successful place. Thanks, guys. We hope to come back.

Rosemary made the evening especially memorable. After dinner, she kindly took us to see the historic bodega and las barricas, and shared the history and passion behind the place. The setting felt elegant but still authentic. The food was outstanding, especially the meat, cooked just right and full of flavor. An unforgettable meal at Mayor de Migueloa, and an absolute must-visit in Rioja.

The historical building makes for a beautiful restaurant setting, though I came away with mixed feelings. The lamb cutlets were very good, and the ribeye, which was actually NY strip, was tender and delicious. But the blood sausage with peppers arrived almost liquid, like a stew, and wasn't good. The fries tasted of stale oil. Our wine was warm and average, with a ridiculously small pour. The fish and chuletón seemed overpriced, even though the quality looked top notch.

The owner and another friendly waitress served us, and both the food and wine were delicious. Afterwards, the owner showed us the cellar where the wine is kept and told us a little about his family and the history.