Hotel Marques de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Hotel Marques de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Elciego: A Comprehensive Review

Nestled amidst the sprawling vineyards of Elciego in the heart of Spain's Rioja Alavesa region, Hotel Marques de Riscal stands as a truly iconic and unforgettable destination. Designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry, this Michelin Key One-Keys property is celebrated for its visionary architecture, exceptional wine experiences, and luxurious amenities, offering a "one-of-a-kind experience for all the senses."

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Hotel Marques de Riscal is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as "an experience, and a truly memorable one." Many consider it a "must-do experience" for those who appreciate beauty, refinement, and unique design. The hotel consistently receives high praise for its architecture, atmosphere, and the stunning views it offers.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the hotel:

• Visionary Architecture & Design: Frank O. Gehry's unique and dramatic design, with its titanium and steel roofing panels and asymmetrical forms, is a central draw, often described as a "masterpiece" and an "extraordinary building." It feels like "living inside a piece of art."
• Winery Experience: Located within the Marqués de Riscal City of Wine, which houses the oldest winery in the region dating back to 1858, the hotel offers complimentary, family-friendly winery tours and tastings. This deep connection to winemaking is a significant highlight.
• Vinothérapie Spa Caudalie: The hotel boasts a "super-cool spa" with an indoor pool, hammam, Finnish sauna, and fitness center, offering a range of grape-based treatments. Guests often find the spa experience "excellent, relaxing, elegant, and impeccably managed."
• Stunning Views: The hotel's location provides enviable views of the surrounding vineyards, the medieval town of Elciego, and Gehry's striking architecture. Many rooms also offer private terraces or balconies.

3. Room Quality

The 61 unique guestrooms and suites are split between the original Gehry-designed building and a newer Spa Wing, both emphasizing design and comfort.

• Gehry Building Rooms: These rooms are often "oddly shaped" to follow the building's contours, featuring huge, canted windows looking out through a web of steel supports and titanium ribbons. Staying in this wing is described as "more theatrical" and like "living inside a piece of art." They offer exceptional designer touches, with tilted walls, zigzag windows, and cathedral-height ceilings.
• Spa Wing Rooms: These are sleek and contemporary, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing vineyard views. Deluxe Spa Rooms are generously sized with marble bathrooms and plush bedding.
• General Amenities: Rooms are spacious, beautifully designed, and incredibly comfortable. Many feature a distinctive zig-zag window seat, black marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, and a "pillow menu." Thoughtful details like bedside cloud lamps and blackout drapes are also present. A complimentary bottle of wine is often provided upon arrival.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel offers several dining options, overseen by Michelin-starred Chef Francis Paniego:

• Marqués de Riscal Gastronomic Restaurant: This fine dining restaurant, located atop the Gehry building, has been awarded Michelin stars and offers haute cuisine with tasting menus ranging from 175 to 205 euros per person. The food is consistently praised as "outstanding, both in quality and presentation."
• 1860 Tradición Restaurant: This restaurant provides traditional Spanish cuisine with a modern twist, using local and seasonal produce. While some guests have found the food here "overpriced and disappointing" or the traditional menu unappealing with limited vegetarian options, others have described lunch as "great."
• Breakfast: Breakfast is served in the style of a tasting menu and is generally considered delicious, offering options like eggs Benedict, fruit, cold cuts, cheese, and croissants. However, one guest noted that the juice was not freshly pressed.
• Vinoteca & Bistró: This wine bar offers a relaxed setting with magnificent views, a selection of wines, cocktails, beers, spirits, and light dishes.

5. Service & Staff

Guest feedback on service is largely positive, with staff frequently described as "incredibly considerate," "friendly, helpful," and "always ready to go the extra mile." The concierge service is often highlighted as "super." However, there was one instance of a challenging check-out experience where the concierge initially tried to charge for an already paid room and preferred to address a male companion despite the reservation being in the female guest's name; this was later resolved with an apology from the General Manager.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel is situated in the medieval town of Elciego, within the expansive Marqués de Riscal vineyard, making it an ideal location for wine enthusiasts. It is "right in the epicenter of wine country." The setting is described as "bucolic" and offers views of vineyards and a 16th-century church. The hotel is easily accessible from the AP-68 Motorway, which connects Bilbao and Zaragoza, and is less than an hour's drive from both Bilbao and Pamplona.

7. Value & Pricing

Hotel Marques de Riscal is a luxury property, and its pricing reflects this. Rates for a one-night stay for two adults can start from approximately $623.35. While some reviews indicate concerns about value for money (with one guest rating it 1 out of 5), many consider it "well worth the splurge" for the unique experience it offers. The ability to use Marriott Bonvoy points for stays is also a positive for some guests.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, some recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:

• Mattress Firmness: Some guests found the beds to be too soft, leading to discomfort for those who prefer a firmer mattress.
• Internal Maintenance/Renovation Needs: A few reviews suggest that while the exterior is stunning, some internal public areas, corridors, and paintwork might be showing their age and could benefit from renovation, despite annual closures for updates.
• Air Conditioning Issues: One guest experienced significant problems with the air conditioning, leading to an uncomfortable room temperature and a delayed resolution by maintenance.
• Mixed Dining Feedback at 1860 Tradición: As mentioned, some guests found the more casual 1860 Tradición restaurant to be overpriced or its menu unappealing, particularly for vegetarians.
• Shabby Spa Linens: One detailed review noted that while the Caudalie Spa experience was generally positive, the spa linens were "a bit shabby."

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