You order a small bite and a glass of Rioja at one bar, eat standing at the counter, then walk to the next — Calle Laurel alone has around 50 bars to work through.
Discover Authentic Logroño: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Logroño, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the San Blas market, the Würth Museum and the Sunday flea market.
Top 5 Things to Do in Logroño
Calle Laurel
Roughly 50 bars packed into one old-town street, each specializing in one or two pintxos — mushrooms, skewers, croquettes. The routine is simple: order a bite and a glass of Rioja for around three euros, eat standing up, then move to the next bar. No reservations, no menus, just repeat.
Co-Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda
Logroño's twin-towered cathedral sits right in the old town and is worth a stop before the evening pintxo crawl begins. It's about a five-minute walk from Calle Laurel, so easy to fold into the same outing.
La Rioja Museum
A regional museum covering the art and history of La Rioja, useful context if you're spending a day or two exploring the wine region beyond the tasting glass.
Plaza del Espolón
The city's central square, framed by trees and a good meeting point before heading into the old town's narrow streets.
Rioja wine country day trips
As capital of La Rioja, Logroño makes an easy base for visiting the region's bodegas — many within a short drive of the city center for a tasting before you're back at Calle Laurel by evening.
Explore Logroño's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Logroño
We've mapped local spots in Logroño, from Rioja produce to contemporary art.
Markets & festivals
Mercado de San Blas
Inaugurated in 1930 on Calle Sagasta, Logroño's main market: Rioja produce at friendly stalls. Closed on Sundays.
City centre · Food market · Perfect for local produce
Pepper market
A market devoted entirely to peppers? Logroño has one, almost every day on Plaza Joaquín Elizalde, run by certified local farmers.
Plaza Joaquín Elizalde · Market · Great for local produce
Plaza Nueva flea market
Every Sunday from 10am to 2pm, a flea market fills the arcades of Plaza Nueva. A treasure trove for collectors and vintage lovers.
Plaza Nueva · Flea market, Sundays · Made for vintage finds
San Mateo grape harvest festival
In late September, the city's biggest party: a gastronomic market, chuletillas grilled over vine shoots, pelota and parades. Raise a glass of Rioja.
City centre · Festival, late September · Perfect for food and wine
Art & landscapes
Museo Würth La Rioja
A glass building showing Miquel Barceló, Jaume Plensa and more, with temporary exhibitions. Entry is just 3 euros.
Logroño · Contemporary art museum · Ideal for art lovers
Los Palomares, Nalda
In the Iregua Valley, the 75-metre Los Palomares cliffs are dotted with niches carved in Roman times for funerary urns.
Nalda, Iregua Valley · Archaeological site · Great for a day out
FAQ
Yes — as the region's capital, it sits close to many bodegas and makes an easy day-trip hub while still putting you back in the old town by evening.
About a five-to-six-minute walk from Mercure Carlton Rioja.
At the end of September, coinciding with the grape harvest, with a gastronomic market and events across the city.
The San Blas market on Calle Sagasta, open Monday to Saturday, and the pepper market on Plaza Joaquín Elizalde.
Yes. Every Sunday from 10am to 2pm under the arcades of Plaza Nueva.
Where to Sleep in Logroño
See Mercure hotels in Logroño, all within reach of these picks.