Rio Bidasoa ★★★★

My first language lesson was provided by the name of the hotel and was not difficult! ‘Rio’ means ‘river’ and "Bidasoa" is simply the name of the small river that forms the border between France and Spain at this point.

 

This four-star hotel, founded in 1958, was recently renovated and now has a modern and cosy minimalist design and top-quality furnishing, equipment, and services. Those factors, plus the partnership with the prominent chef Bixente Muñoz of the Gran Sol bar has enabled the hotel to achieve its four stars. It is surrounded by a very large, lovely green garden and this made us feel peaceful and relaxed as soon as we arrived.

 

Our rooms were decorated in modern minimalist style which felt cool, clean and comfortable. The huge beds were certainly very comfortable, and the hotel has thought of providing anti-allergy pillows and bedding as standard. They also have Green Rooms on offer for people with allergies, and we thought that was a really good idea. We had coffee-making facilities (good!) and a very easy-to-use safe.

 

Before we arrived we knew the reputation of the chef Bixente Muñoz. He is known for his fusion of traditional and creative cuisine, and a playful approach to culinary creativity. His kitchen has been the subject of a very complimentary review in the New York Times, no less, under the headline ‘A Dining Explosion in a Tiny Basque Town’. We opted for the gourmet menu and were rewarded with a symphony of taste and colour, with a series of dishes like little works of art in their own right. There is also a Sushi Café-Bar, as the hotel has recently acquired the services of Chef Kenji Takahashi in the cafeteria and transformed it into a Sushi Bar with classic sushi dishes on offer. This is an establishment that takes its gastronomy seriously!

The next day we set out to explore the old fortress town of Hondarribia, not forgetting to take with us our Basque phrasebook. It has two distinct historic districts: the Old City, which is the ancient walled centre and the harbour area and only a five-minute walk from the Rio Bidasoa to the old city walls. Behind the walls, we found the second district of Hondarribia, where there are narrow houses and stately mansions built in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. We ventured into the cobbled streets of the port area, where the houses were all gaily decorated with pots of flowers, and sampled some tapas and local wine. Rio Bidasoa Hotel allowed us to experience Basque culture, cuisine, language and ambience in a comfortable and happy way.