“Logroño, one of the stops along the Camino de Santiago, has gained a reputation for being a hub of tapas,” states The Times. The British newspaper has published a list of the top 9 Spanish cities to savor local cuisine and has placed Laurel street in Logroño at number one. “In its historic center, there are around 50 small establishments, many of them specializing in one or two dishes,” it explains. They offer typical delights such as mushrooms, Spanish omelette, cured meats, patatas bravas, and pig's ear; but they also showcase local creations like the “cojonudo” (a small round bread roll filled with minced chorizo meat without casing, topped with a grilled quail egg) or the “tío Agus” (a sandwich with marinated grilled pork skewer, accompanied by a secret sauce).
The Ysios wineries in La Rioja produce their wine manually
The added value of Laurel street, according to The Times, lies in its location. As Logroño is the capital of the La Rioja region, “fruity reds and robust whites are cheap, abundant, and very, very good,” it emphasizes. Packed with visitors, the best time to visit is from nine o'clock at night.
Laurel street, parallel to Bretón de los Herreros, was built after the demolition of the walls of Logroño in 1862. Until the late 19th century, it did not have direct access to Bretón de los Herreros, forcing residents to take a long detour. On May 11, 1878, following complaints from the residents, the demolition of a building on Travesía del Laurel was authorized, allowing direct access to Bretón de los Herreros. This demolition gave rise to Bar Blanco y Negro, the oldest in Logroño, which continues to be a landmark on the street.
Places to eat tapas on Laurel street:
1. Tío Agus Bar Lorenzo: Three generations and 40 years dedicated to the people of La Rioja and visitors, featuring Tío Agus' distinctive tapas and other meats. 4-6 Travesía del Laurel
2. El Muro: The bar-restaurant project was created in 1989, around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall and shortly before the release of Pink Floyd's The Wall movie. 27 Laurel street
3. Pata Negra: They offer around 30 varieties of mini sandwiches, including vegetables, smoked meats, pâtés, cheeses, jams, Nutella, etc. They also have gluten-free bread and beer. 24 Laurel street
4. El Canalla: Here you will find the first gourmet omelette in La Rioja. Made with Monalisa potatoes from Álava, baked with Priego de Córdoba olive oil, caramelized onion, and eggs. 1 Albornoz street
5. Bar Cid: This establishment has been serving grilled mushroom tapas for 27 years, always accompanied by a good wine from La Rioja. Travesía del Laurel, s/n