La Posada de Ubeda is different. It is, in fact, a hotel, a bar and a restaurant, all run by the same people, which is at the same time an agricultural museum. While not in the centre of the old town, it is within an easy ten minute walk to the main square of the historical city and within five minutes (at most) of a more modern shopping street leading to the historical centre.

The hotel staff were most friendly and efficient, gave us a bottle of excellent local olive oil when we left after a one night stay and did everything to make our stay enjoyable. This is a small, personal hotel rather than part of a big international chain, and you notice the difference (this is a compliment!).

The hotel itself is well appointed and lives up to its three stars. Our room left nothing to be desired and was spotless, quiet, air conditioned, had a reasonable size, a good bed, telephone, private bathroom and so on. There's also a TV but if you're in Ubeda, watching TV in your hotel room is really the last thing you should do.

The hotel's decoration is rustique, but nice - in line with its ambition to function as an agricultural museum. However, you won't be disturbed by hordes of museum visitors: the restaurant, in particular, IS the museum, so in fact, you just eat there while looking at old agricultural artefacts. Sounds unusual, but it is actually quite charming and nice. The place cannot be compared with (and does not try to compete with the design of) Ubeda's many renaissance palaces converted into hotels - it stands out for being different and for doing this in an original way.

Dinner in the hotel's restaurant lived up to the same promises. Good, traditional, local food, reasonably priced and well cooked in an old wood-fired oven, using great local ingredients. This is not Michelin-starred-style food, which (although of course excellent) is often quite fussy, but down to earth countryside cooking exploiting the strength of the sheer quality of the ingredients (all sourced locally and using only extra virgin local olive oil). Deserts were also excellent and high quality wine was available at what must go for low prices in restaurants. I would highly recommend the place for the experience of real local food - but be not fooled: in a region that has lived on agriculture for centuries, this is not going to be light food and low fat salads... Nonetheless, if you like your meat, you're in the right place. For those unsure what to choose, the waiters are keen to advise competently.

All in all, a good experience, a highly recommendable hotel with a differencce, a good restaurant, a friendly and personal atmosphere and very nice staff.