Hotel Can Borrell

We've had lunch here twice now, and what a find. The restaurant has an old borda style, with traditional dishes elevated beyond what you'd expect in such a remote village. We started with homemade foie gras, then I had the hare special and my husband ordered pigs' feet. Both were delicious and prepared quite differently from versions we've had before. Save room for the Tarta Tatin.

The terrace in the Pyrenees catches a lovely afternoon breeze, and the food was superb, lighter than at some of the other Catalan country restaurants we visited that week. Service was lovely and the wine was great too. A husband-and-wife team runs the restaurant in a village of just 60 people. I'd love to sit in their dining room on a snowy winter day. You could cycle or drive up, perhaps fitting in a hike before a long Spanish lunch.

The building has beautiful character, but getting to the upstairs bed in our double room was extremely awkward. It would take a lot of confidence to use it, and even getting up overnight to use the bathroom wasn't easy. We ate at the restaurant too. The food was good, but we weren't quite sure what to order or what would arrive. We both ended up with soup, which was nice, though not worth 28 euros. The main course felt insubstantial, and the dessert was poor. It's a nice place, but some things need polishing and the value could be better.

Catalonia is incredible, and Meranges is a beautiful, historic little town in a lovely setting. In late September 2013, our group had dinner here, cooked and served by Olivier and Laura. The food was as delicious as anything we ate elsewhere in Spain, every dish was fabulous, and the wine was excellent. Local ingredients, including cepes in season, were cooked with real skill. The restaurant is rustic, warm, and cozy, and our hosts were very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended all around.