Hotel Nafarrola

Rooms

With only eight bedrooms, plenty of thought has gone into designing these comfortable spaces. Criss-crossed by the old farmhouse beams, each room feels fresh and spacious, with a white-on-white colour scheme offset by warm wood tones and exposed stone walls. We loved our sloped-ceiling Junior Suite with its log burner, terrace angled to sunset and jacuzzi bathtub positioned under a skylight for stargazing. Beds are vast, swathed in crisp white bedding and there’s a glass-walled shower within each room, plus a separate bathroom.

There are variations between the rooms and their orientation, but they all come with a high degree of comfort; opt for a Junior Suite or Deluxe if you crave more space – their bathtubs are bigger too.

Worth mentioning are the agreeably curated mini bars offering treats, snacks and drinks that are genuinely tempting and at a good price too, including local apple juice, craft beers and ciders, organic Rioja, tipples of vermouth, crisps and artisan chocolate.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Minibar
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

A great deal of love and attention goes into Nafarrola’s culinary output. The dining room is the scene for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is open daily; a stylish space dotted with mid-century furniture, and views to the verdant garden and beyond to the sea. Breakfast is a delight, served to your table and pre-ordered, coming as a lovely spread of seasonal fruit, yoghurt, platters of jamon and chorizo, fresh orange juice and eggs to order.

Nafarrola is making a name for itself with lunchtime tasting menus, also available to non-residents. A showcase of local produce, their beautifully presented plates feature Iberian pork, fish, seafood and locally grown vegetables (they are proud of being in the Europarc protected sustainability programme). Evenings at Nafarrola have a tranquil and laid-back atmosphere, but you’ll be treated to sophisticated local food cooked with flair and an impressive wine list of regional offerings. We loved our tuna tartare starter and the melt-in-the-mouth beef stew. Don’t miss pudding – a chance to try on-trend burnt Basque cheesecake or ‘fluid’ almond cake.

Features include:

• Bar
• Coffee maker
• Restaurant
• Room service

Activities

• Walk 200 steps to the region’s most arresting sight – the island of Gaztelugatxe topped by a tiny 10th-century chapel – book free tickets online
  
• Explore your forested locale by bike or hike, discovering moss-clad waterfalls and views; take a picnic prepared by the hotel
  
• Let Josu guide you through his extensive collection of local Txacolí wine with a cellar tour and tasting
  
• Be soothed by the sounds of nature with a restorative massage in the forest
  
• Take a pintxos-making class with chef Gaizha plus learn the art of cooking tuna
  
• You're in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, wildlife and plants abound
  
• Explore the Basque coastline: surf Europe’s longest left at Mundaka, kayak the lagoons of the Urdaibai Reserve or hire a boat from Bermeo to sail around hidden coves
  
• Visit Bilbao for a tour of the Guggenheim, allow a private guide to reveal its stimulating modern art

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Kayaking
• Private guided tours
• Surfing
• Wine tasting

Kids

With the hushed and relaxed atmosphere of Nafarrola, it makes sense that only children over six are welcome. Although there are no activities for under 12s per se, active older children will enjoy biking, hiking and surfing. The gastronomic tilt to the menus at the hotel might be challenging for fussy eaters and there isn’t a dedicated children’s menu. Children over 12 count as adults.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Deluxe Suite can take an extra bed for a 6-11yo (extra charge) and one Junior Suite has room for two. All extra beds need to be requested well in advance. If your child is 12 years or older then you will need to book additional rooms.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Found in a beautifully remote Basque region of mossy forests, Hotel Nafarrola is located in the hills above the fishing enclave of coastal Bermeo, near to Bilbao.

By Air:
The easiest way to get here is to fly to Bilbao, a 30-minute drive away.

From the Airport
From Bilbao you can book a transfer or take a taxi, but we recommend hiring a car as a car is a necessity and there is parking directly in front of the hotel..

By Car:
Those up for a road trip could fly into Biarritz, in France, winding their way down into Spain, stopping at foodie hotspot San Sebastian on your way to the hotel.

By Boat:
Brittany Ferries sail from Portsmouth to Bilbao (a 24-hour journey) twice a week only so early booking is recommended. You can also sail from Plymouth or Portsmouth to Santander (125km away).

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.