We stayed there for three nights and couldn't fault the hotel. The room was comfortable and quiet although perhaps in need of a little updating. The staff were friendly and helpful, the owners made a point of talking to us, wanting to know our impressions and making us feel like really valued clients. We were even shown the kitchens! Talking of kitchens, El Portal is simply superb and well deserves its Michelin star, while the traditional restaurant is first class. We can really recommend the shoulder of lamb but be sure to be very hungry - you will be presented with most of the shoulder!

Great place from which to explore the lovely countryside and within easy reach of Burgos and its amazing cathedral. The town of Ezcaray itself is charming and beautifully kept. It was a pity that the church didn't seem to have a time at which one could go inside. We slipped in a few minutes before a Mass - worth doing!

HOTEL
I stayed at this hotel with 8 other friends and was very pleased with the exterior decoration of the hotel, its location within the town of Ezcaray and the general friendliness of the staff. Rooms were clean, and you get a complimentary welcome pack which includes sweets, water and dried nuts and fruit which was nice.

The only drawbacks are that the bathrooms need some serious refurbishing, as they look quite dated and grey. This is especially true as rooms are priced at around 100 euros per night. Also, its proximity to the main church of the town makes Sunday mornings lie ins impossible... due to the bells ringing every 15 minutes!

RESTAURANT
As for the restaurant, I had read very good things about it (it has one Michelin star), however I was disappointed. My food was average but most of my friends were pleased with their food. I would say it is definitely not Michelin star level unless you pay for the 80 euro menu.

I just spent a sublime 24 hours at Echaurren in Ezcaray, Rioja, Spain. I can say without hesitation that the last day has been the most memorable, and most enjoyable travel experience I've had to date (and I've been fortunate enough to travel a lot in my life).

We arrived in the afternoon after a beautiful car ride through Rioja, and checked in to the hotel. Our rooms were clean, spacious, full of light, and very comfortable, and the staff was courteous and helpful, even assisting with a special surprise we’d arranged for a friend at dinner. We relaxed on the upstairs terrace until dinner, and enjoyed the free WiFi that was available throughout the hotel.

Within Echaurren, there are two restaurants, one named Echaurren like the hotel, and one named El Portal. Both are owned by the same family that owns the hotel, with different styles of cuisine. Echaurren is more traditional cuisine, and is run by the mother of the family, and El Portal is more experimental, and is run by Francis Paniego, her son. We chose to eat at El Portal, and we were extremely happy with that decision.

The food was stunning, both in flavor and in presentation. We chose the longer of the two tasting menus, which was 10 courses, and included fresh and unusual ingredients from local producers. As each course came out, we were continually impressed with the attention to detail in the combination of flavors, colors and textures. Having eaten a few days ago at both Mugaritz and Arzak in San Sebastian, we were very happy to find that the food at El Portal met and even surpassed some of the dishes at those two amazing restaurants. The service was attentive without being overwhelming, and every request was accommodated graciously.
After our meal, the chef (Francis) came out to greet us, and then gave us a kitchen tour where we saw the unique setup of having the kitchens for two separate restaurants in one space. He then offered us a drink on the downstairs terrace, and shared the five generation history of his family’s ownership of the hotel and restaurants. Francis was a wonderful, down-to-earth host, who was constantly checking in with all his guests to ensure that they had everything they needed. Taking this amazing hospitality, along with the quality of the food, and the comfort of the hotel, I am sure that Echaurren will enjoy a steep rise in popularity, and it is not to be missed if you are anywhere in Northern Spain.

After spending a few fantastic days in San Sebastian, I didn't know if things could get better. however, Ezcaray and Hotel Echaurren took the cake. The hotel is well maintained, the staff is friendly, and it is a beautiful building. The family running the hotel has owned it for 5 generations, and has kept it up well. The facilities are comfortable and new, and there are unique and beautiful lounges, terraces, patios, and reading rooms for all guests to enjoy. On top of that, FREE WIFI!

Finally, if you like food, the restaurants in the hotel serve some of the best food in Spain at incredibly reasonable rates (compared to top restaurants elsewhere in Spain), and you can choose between two outstanding restaurants - one more traditional and the other modern. Besides amazing food, everyone was incredibly friendly. The head chef of the modern restaurant - el Portal - where I ate with friends, stopped by to say hello and later had a drink with us at the terrace. We were impressed by some of the serving plates and asked our waiter where they were from and he directed us to a local artisan's shop. It was truly an experience i will remember the rest of my life.