Hotel Viura still life
AMURRIO
Bideko (Bideko, s/n Lezama tel. 945 89 06 33) €€€
Beautiful farmhouse in Alava Ayala Valley with many details that the most demanding diners will appreciate.
Indisputable gastronomic reference in this area of Alava bordering Vizcaya . Everything that surrounds this unique country house is a luxury for the traveller, even more so in a province that is still short of desirable addresses.
Timeless cuisine and pleasant service by the Guinea brothers, fine snouts that always offer sweets such as their foie gras; a chorizo sausage of the best that can be found or dishes with academic sauces that seem from another less bucolic place. Its success is also due to the fabulous baked beans with chunks.
It is legendary among lovers of perrexicons, mushrooms with a unique perfume.
The village of the Ayala valley
BERANTEVILLA
Lola _(Mayor, 26 tel. 945 33 70 62) _ €€€
Whoever writes this has chosen it as “restaurant of the year in Álava”. Quite a surprise in a small town.
It is incredible that many fans of good gastronomy still do not know this establishment of Berantevilla , an old popular chops and lamb steakhouse that has been completely turned around years ago to turn it into a restaurant with exciting cuisine.
The surprise they will get will be huge when tasting the creations of Alberto Molinero, young and virtuoso chef that demonstrates in its tasting menus great delicacy and a sense of harmony at prices that should be studied, due to their restraint, for the level that is offered.
Ask the chef about his other places in the nearby Miranda de Ebro, which are going "like a shot".
Alberto Miller's dream
THE BLIND
Marquis of Riscal _(Tower, 1 tel. 945 18 08 80) _ €€€€
Summit of food and wine tourism for its cuisine and for the spectacular building, designed by the architect Frank Ghery, where it is located.
Advised by Francis Paniego , chef at Echaurren de Ezcaray (La Rioja), smelt of success since its opening.
Housed in the futuristic titanium building designed by the Guggenheim architect for the centenary Elciego winery , is a restaurant with two clear options: the one that offers that restrained and well-considered avant-garde cuisine, Paniego style, and the one that is offered at more contained prices in the bistro 1860, Annex dining room where the popular recipes of Marisa, the adviser's mother, triumph.
Strategic point to visit the rest of the great wineries in the area and contemplate the sea of vineyards.
The Bodegas Marqués de Riscal, by the architect Frank Gehry
THE GUARD
Villa Lucia _(Ctra. Logroño, s/n tel. 945 60 00 32) _ €€€
Very interesting gastronomic space with a new grill restaurant and multiple activities throughout the year.
The recent opening of the restaurant of the Villa Lucía Wine Thematic Center has solved the lack of a great grill in Laguardia and surroundings.
When applying this adjective we refer to a place where the different types of embers are cared for, fed with removed vines, pruning shoots or oak branches.
An admirable fire where meats from the mountains of Alava and nearby farms are roasted, in a decorative environment perfectly integrated into such an international landscape. The Lavíns are still eager for new experiences.
It has a small but curious Wine Museum, with magnificent audiovisuals.
Here the ember is taken care of
LANGARIKA
Laua _(Langarika, 4 tel. 945 30 17 05) _ €€€€
Away from the madding crowd, in the plains of Alava, it surprises with a notable and unexpected tasting menu.
Peculiar restaurant that in the purely gastronomic is out of the norm that prevails in this province, since the chef and owner offers a exclusive menu , in which you can find references to the creations of “star” chefs, although always with the personal touch of their own authorship.
The composition of this long menu, and not exactly narrow (which must be booked at least one day in advance), it depends on what can be found on the market and the culinary concerns of the host.
His time as a teacher at the Hospitality Schools is palpable in the technique of the dishes. . Their gin and tonics are legendary, prepared with the glass cooler article, an Alava invention that is also very fashionable in many places.
VILLABUENA DE ALAVA
Hotel Viura _(Mayor, s/n tel. 945 60 90 00) _ €€€€
Between vineyards in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, in the hotel of the same name. Outstanding attempt at a level kitchen.
Hotel-restaurant that simulates a large cluster of cubes lying on the town of Villabuena de Álava, village of eminent wineries that does not want to be left behind in the successful career of wine tourism.
All the iconography of wine, obviously, is present in every corner, from the vats suspended from the ceiling of the dining room to the associations of dishes on the tasting menu with very well selected wines.
Kitchen with personality and modernity in staging within a philosophy that seeks to respect traditional flavors.
It is a real pleasure to have a few glasses of wine (or of the others) contemplating the summer nights.
VITORIA
walk (Gorbea, 8 tel. 945 21 49 30) €€€€
He is advised by David Yarnoz, from El Molino de Urdániz, a guarantee.
Restaurant of the historical ones of Vitoria, commanded by the great professional Fabián Tobalina and his son Álvaro , responsible for the transition that the business has to experience to attract other audiences.
With a decoration that should be updated and large spaces for celebrations, the arrival as advisor of the great Navarrese chef allows you to savor some of his extraordinary creations, such as the anthological beech-smoked sardine with pickle mayonnaise and roasted spring onion. To focus on the letter, first of all.
It has a magnificent interior terrace and an attached pintxos bar that is very high level.
Don't miss its terrace
The Claret (Near Bajas, 18 tel. 945 26 38 74) €€€
Updated Basque cuisine with signature touches, very smart and nice , at prices that are appreciated
Enduring with everything that is put before them, call it "crisis" or "new hospitality trends," the brothers Unai and Patxi Fernandez de Retana They continue to challenge all the devils of the business with a small place, limited in service and staff, but where gastronomy acquires one of the highlights of Gasteiz.
Renovated in a substantial way to gain space, the menu has also been redesigned, adapting to the infrastructure and day to day with its skillful menus ; a change that has not touched the philosophy of the house and its passion for the pantry of the land .
Unai has a magnifying eye to select category wines that do not scare VISA.
Clarete alavesa rice beans
The Portal (Correria, 151 tel. 945 14 27 55) €€€€
Located in an impressive building, a former post house from the 14th century. Very remarkable classic cuisine.
For decades it has been the restaurant for celebrations and company business due to its magnificent facilities and its careful architecture.
The Ortiz de Zarate family , well-known Vitorian innkeepers and also owners of the successful Arkupe, has taken over the property and has expanded its range of popular Basque recipes with some more modern dishes and a good oven for roast lamb.
The hake kokotxas in green sauce are wonderful , like being served even by perfectly uniformed waitresses.
On weekends they propose an informal snack in the entrance area, which is sweeping.
Shrimp ravioli from El Portalón
Napoleon's House (Portal de Castilla, 54 tel. 945 77 88 00) €€
In the house that he occupied for a few nights French emperor who gives him his name, chef Jorge Ezquerra has made a target.
After several attempts, it seems that this historic mansion has found his proper chef and his business model.
Jorge Ezquerra is a hard-working chef from Vitoria , with a great hand for "yummy" stews and with a grateful sensitivity to turn the simple into something memorable, as he demonstrates in any of his splendid tasting menus and menus of the day , both at almost ridiculous prices for their genre and culinary level.
The complement of the glazed terrace adds attractions . Won battle.
Depending on the season, at the House there are always artisan products to take note of.
Napoleon's House dining room
Zaldiarán (Avda. Gasteiz, 21 tel. 945 13 48 22) €€€€
Haute cuisine with a star . The best chefs in the world have passed through its kitchens thanks to its mythical congresses.
If this restaurant in Vitoria had been in Barcelona, Madrid or Bilbao , we are convinced that it would be one of the greats, within what is understood by the gastronomic academicism of our country.
But unfortunately, the Basque capital does not have the pull that it should, despite the fact that the great revolution of modernity was forged in these halls.
The important thing for the traveler is that he spends memories and tastes the chef's impeccable dishes in a pleasant way Patxi Eceiza , extremely delicate and with a product that the boss, Gonzalo Antón, takes care of with absolute delicacy.
Buy the book that tells the story of the Zaldiaran Congresses . All started here.
Lobster roasted and flambéed in Armagnac with confit garlic and turned potatoes from Zaldiarán
€ Less than €10
€€ Up to €20
€€€ Up to €50
€€€€ More than 50 €
*You can find the 2018 Gastronomic and Wine Guide in a digital version for your devices, at Manzana , Zinium Y google play .