We are in the easternmost town of the La Rioja province, a region famous for its storks, its great monument group, and the quality of its food products. What is something that you can’t miss when you eat in Alfaro? Stuffed peppers and lamb are a good start. The restaurants tend to serve more individual plates instead of tapas, but there are some bars where you can stand at the bar and order everything in small portions.
The nearby Ebro River makes Alfaro’s orchards and groves perfect for producing their natural delicacies, which are some of the main culinary attractions of the city. Between the fruits and vegetables harvested from these groves and orchards, the pears with sa D.O.P. Rincón de Soto, the thistle, the borage, the artichoke, the Rioja pepper with an I.G.P., the green bean, the cauliflower with an I.G.P. of Calahorra, and the asparagus, associated with the I.G.P. asparagus of Navarra, stand out the most. These products, which are very popular in Alfaro, serve as the base for many traditional dishes from Alfaro, such as stews, or the stuffed peppers. When it comes to meat, Alfaro is a good place to enjoy the Riojan specialties of suckling lamb and Sarmiento ribs.
On Jueves Lardero (Fat Thursday), it is typical to eat culeca, a bun stuffed with chorizo and egg. This culinary festival, which extends into the province of Zaragoza, is celebrated every year after the Slaughter of the Pig and before Lent. The caracolijas are another classic recipe of Alfaro. This is a snail stew with a sauce made from tomatoes, ham, chorizo, onion, and olive oil. Another local product that stands out is the pasteles rusos (Russian cakes), a sweet with a base of butter, eggs, and flour. Alfaro even has its own mill that produces olive oil with a D.O. Aceite de la Rioja and various wineries covered by the D.O. La Rioja.
Eating tapas in Alfaro is an option thanks to a few bars like Los Faroles, a bar with delicious tapas and drinks.
Casa Montini is another great place to enjoy the best tapas. It always impresses with its big ham and cheese board and the large variety of wines on its menu.
There are many top-notch options when it comes to eating in Alfaro. La Cocina de Clotilde is a restaurant that uses fresh products of the season from the orchards around the town when making their food. However, they also make sure to deliver the best cuts of game meat. We recommend their stuffed peppers. Enjoy!
Another place that we recommend is the restaurant Asador San Roque, a long-standing establishment specializing in traditional Riojan cuisine. It has an appetizing tourist menu and enough room to host weddings, communions, and other such events.
The restaurant in the Hotel Palacios offers a menu specializing in roots, using fresh products from local farmers. It also has a great daily menu. In addition, it has the experience and the space necessary for celebrating events of every kind, whether it’s with friends and family or for business.
