LA RIOJA - LOGROÑO - PINCHO BAR CRAWL

LA RIOJA - LOGROÑO PINCHO BAR CRAWL

On our recent trip to La Rioja, we decided to take a pinchos bar crawl down the famous Calle Laurel in Logroño. These were our favourite bars and bites on this hectic but pleasant November evening.

BAR CID

Travesía de Laurel, 1, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja

It is quite literally a hole in the wall and easy to walk past. The traditional Bar Cid has vines and grapes dangling from the wooden beam ceiling above the same pair of men hanging out at the bar every night.

They serve up one pincho only,

grilled mushrooms (setas a la plancha).

Setas are all types of mushrooms that aren't the typical white button-cap ones (champiñon).

Order a big plate of grilled setas to share with friends. To make a mini sandwich, you skewer one or two with a toothpick and put it between two slices of crispy bread. The garlic wine sauce seeps into the bread as you bite them, making it a filling and delicious pincho.

LETRAS DE LAUREL

Calle del Laurel 22, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja

+34 941 28 96 80

This is a modern-looking bar with a Restaurant at the back. It has a speciality pincho called piruleta de solomillo Ibérico. It's an Ibérico pork lollipop grilled with mushroom sauce on top. It's one of the most famous pinchos in Calle Laurel and is, therefore, required eating.

BAR PÁGANOS Calle del Laurel 22, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja +34 606 28 70 95

This place is just a little hole in the wall. The chistorra hot dogs (€1.80) and very tasty pinchos muronos are not to be missed. They are all made freshly to order.

BAR JUBERA

Calle del Laurel, 18, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja +34 941 24 52 14

This is a bustling bar that specialises in very good patatas bravas with an excellent spicy sauce. You have to fight your way to the bar to order. If you want it extra hot, ask for "muy Picante."

Like most bars here, they also serve a perfect, well-priced glass of the local Rioja.

BAR TORRECILLA

Calle del Laurel 15, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja

+34 608 34 46 94

We would have been happily eating just about anything on their 16-item menu.

They had mini hamburgers.

Anchoas con pimientos verdes (anchovies and green peppers). All are served on a slice of bread.

Solomillo con una crema de barbacoa (fillet steak served with a BBQ cream sauce)

Queso con una rodaja de tomate y una pieza caramelizada de jamón ibérico (cheese with a slice of tomato and a caramelised piece of Jamón Iberico).

Saying all that, the must-have pincho here is the

Foie con mermelada de cebolla caramelizada (foie gras with caramelised onion marmalade).

To drink, you can have cider, beer or wine. There are no pinchos on the bar; every order is cooked fresh.

BAR ÁNGEL

Calle del Laurel 12, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja

+34 941 20 63 55

This bar only serves mushroom pinchos and various wines de La Rioja. It is in the heart of Calle Laurel. In this case, a stack of large mushroom caps is grilled on a plancha and then topped with garlic butter and a small shrimp. They are served skewered on a piece of bread.

Just go to the bar and order champi, or point at the plancha to the lady cooking.

There are places to sit or stand inside, but the ambience is much better when you stand outside amongst the Calle Laurel crowds.

JUAN Y PINCHAMÉ

Calle del Laurel 9, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja

+34 678 58 96 33

This bar is located in the heart of Calle Laurel and is dedicated entirely to grilled shrimp and pineapple skewers. The flavours meld together so that the shrimp take on sweetness, and the pineapple becomes somewhat savoury and caramelised simultaneously. You'll also get bread to sop up the juices.

D.O. LAUREL

Calle del Laurel 4, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja

+34 941 70 05 93

A place to have good pinchos, modern and classic, with outstanding quality. Their speciality is a layered liquid tortilla served in a small bowl. It is available with just egg and potato, with cheese or ham added.

LA TAVINA

Calle del Laurel 2, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja

+34 941 102 300

Sleek, shiny, and contemporary, La Tavina is a bar, wine shop, and Restaurant in one, on three levels.

The ingredients for the pinchos, particularly the vegetables, are locally sourced and include bites such as grilled sardine with pisto. They also serve dessert pinchos, including deliciously gooey brownies and creamy cheesecakes. The wine shop sells over 500 varieties of wine, so it is a great place to shop for a bottle of Rioja's famous wine to take home with you.

A glass of Rioja Tinto costs €1.

The street is bustling on Friday and Saturday evenings, but some bars may close on Monday and Tuesday.