Last Updated on July 21, 2026 by Emma Fajcz | Published: July 22, 2024
Logroño, the under-rated capital of La Rioja, is a city of 150,000 denizens that has a fantastic dining scene. One of our favorite spots is Calle del Laurel, which is a pedestrianized lane flanked by diminutive bars serving up flavor-popping tapas (or pinchos, as they’re called here) along with glasses of Rioja. Everything’s priced affordably enough that you can do a tapas/pincho crawl of these 9 best pinchos and tapas on Calle del Laurel in Logroño!
What Is Calle del Laurel in Logroño?
You can eat very well at Logroño’s best sit-down restaurants, like La Chispa Adecuada, Juan Carlos Ferrando, Tondeluna, and Michelin-starred spots Ikaro and Ajonegro, where you can have a meal of elevated Riojan fare and it won’t max out your credit card.
Or you could just visit one street. Welcome to Calle del Laurel, a narrow lane in Logroño’s historical center that is about the length of a football field. If you love food, particularly the food of northern Spain, then you’ll want to make sure you arrive hungry. (This street is one reason why you should visit La Rioja while you’re in Spain!)
Some of the pinchos bars make an array of delicious small plates, many of which are displayed on the counter top, and some just make (or are known for) one particular superlative pincho.
So, when you’re in Logroño, and hopefully you’re in the mood for a pinchos crawl, point yourself to Calle del Laurel. Here are the best pinchos that you should be reserving stomach space for, starting on the eastern end of Calle de Laurel and then moving westward until you reach the end of the street. (It’s like doing a pintxo-pote in San Sebastián!)
Where to Eat on Calle Laurel in Logroño
Bar Donosti
What to Eat: Foie a la plancha.
Named after the town of San Sebastián in Basque Country—Donostia is the Basque name for the city—Bar Donosti has a line-up of excellent pinchos to feast on. If you’re only going to eat one here and move on, make it the grilled foie gras, which arrives on toast and is dapped with a jam made from lavender petals.
📍 Address: Calle del Laurel, 13
Bar Sebas
What to Eat: Tortilla de patatas.
Not all tortillas de patatas in Spain are created equal. In northern cities like Logroño, you could argue the tortillas they make here are superior. That’s because they leave the eggs (that are mixed with potatoes and, often the case, caramelized onions) a tad runny—or mocosa, to use the local parlance.
Bar Sebas is a tortilla-making institution. As is the proclivity in La Rioja, a slice of runny tortilla here comes with a dollop of chili sauce, just to add a little kick.
📍 Address: C. Albornoz, 3, 2
Bar Jubera
What to Eat: Patatas bravas.
Located across the lane from Bar El Muro is Jubera, a spot that has been operated for generations by one family. They serve one thing here and they do it very well: patatas bravas. These are fried cubed potatoes with an aioli and a slightly spicy sauce slathered over the top. Jubera is slightly half way through Laurel, and is the ideal spot to consume some patatas bravas to soak up some of that wine you’ve drunk so far.
📍 Address: Calle del Laurel, 18
Blanco y Negro
What to Eat: Matrimonio.
Since the late 19th century, Bar Blanco y Negro has been serving up excellent pinchos and locally produced wine. The pinchos offerings are varied, but locals know to come here for the matrimonio—a warm crispy bun is the “bed” for this lovely couple: salted, white anchovies and green peppers. A marriage made in deliciousness!
📍 Address: Tr.ª de Laurel, 1
Bar Cid
What to Eat: Setas.
You come to Bar Cid for one thing: grilled setas, or mushrooms, which are doused with a secret sauce. A pincho of setas comes on a soft baguette slice with a toothpick poked through it.
📍 Address: Tr.ª de Laurel, 1
Bar El Perchas
What to Eat: Orejita picante.
El Perchas has a menu of exactly two items: an orejita rebozada (a battered little pig ear sandwich) and an orejita picante (a spicy little pig ear sandwich). They’re both good, but the spicy variety is more like a stewed pigs ear with a kick to it. It’s more tender than its battered brethren.
📍 Address: Tr.ª de Laurel, 3
Bar Soriano
What to Eat: Grilled mushrooms.
Located around the corner from Calle Laurel on Travesía del Laurel (a sort of Calle Laurel tributary lane), Bar Soriano is one of the most classic pinchos bars in Logroño and a local favorite.
They make one thing here: grilled mushroom caps, stacked on top of each other and doused in a garlicky sauce. On the bottom is a baguette slice that soaks up all the sauce and is a delicious last bite to this mushroom pincho. On the wall, there’s a sign that reads, “In Paris, the Eiffel Tower; In Rome, the Vatican; And in Logroño, the mushrooms of Soriano.”
📍 Address: Tr.ª de Laurel, 2
Bar Lorenzo
What to Eat: Tío Agus.
Bar Lorenzo, located a bit further down Travesía del Laurel, specializes in grilled skewered meat. But the thing to get here is the Tío Agus: grilled sausage encased in a bread bun and doused with tangy salsa verde.
📍 Address: Tr.ª de Laurel, 4
Bar El Muro
What to Eat: Ferrero Rocher de morcilla.
It’s not a coincidence that the Bar El Muro, literally “Bar The Wall,” opened in 1989, right around the time the Berlin Wall came tumbling down.
The bar is loaded with lots of pincho deliciousness, but they also serve a very fun, unique dish: Ferrero Rocher de morcilla. Imagine: instead of chocolate, this is a tennis-ball-sized chunk of tasty morcilla (aka blood sausage) encased with pieces of peanuts. And it’s delicious.
📍 Address: entrada por, calle laurel, Calle Bretón de los Herreros, 34
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Best Pinchos & Tapas on Calle del Laurel FAQs
What is Calle del Laurel famous for?
Calle del Laurel is one of Spain’s most iconic food streets, famous for its lively atmosphere and dozens of bars specializing in pintxos and tapas. Instead of staying at one restaurant, locals and visitors hop from bar to bar, enjoying each establishment’s signature bite paired with a glass of Rioja wine.
What are the best pintxos to try on Calle del Laurel?
Some of the most famous pintxos include grilled mushroom skewers (champiñones), zorropitos (pork loin sandwiches with peppers), grilled lamb skewers, patatas bravas, croquetas, and local chorizo. Many bars are known for a single specialty, making it fun to sample a different signature dish at each stop.
What is the difference between tapas and pintxos?
While both are small Spanish dishes, pintxos are traditionally associated with northern Spain and are often served on a slice of bread, sometimes secured with a toothpick (pincho means “spike”). Tapas can take many forms and aren’t necessarily served on bread. On Calle del Laurel, you’ll find both styles, though pintxos are the local specialty.
What is the best time to visit Calle del Laurel?
The street comes alive in the evening, with the busiest hours typically between 8:00 and 11:00 pm. If you prefer a quieter experience, arrive shortly after the bars open in the late afternoon or early evening. Weekends are especially lively, attracting both locals and visitors.
What should you drink on Calle del Laurel?
A glass of Rioja wine is the classic pairing for Calle del Laurel’s pintxos, as Logroño sits in the heart of Spain’s most famous wine region. Many bars also serve local vermouth, craft beer, or cider, but sampling different Rioja reds and whites alongside the street’s signature bites is an essential part of the experience.
