I am from Spain, however I live in the USA. I wanted to stay in this hotel for a while, so when I spent a few days with my family in Barcelona decided to take a trip to San Sebastian and spend a couple of days in El Ciego at the Hotel Marques de Riscal.

When we checked in the staff was very friendly and welcoming, we were offered an upgrade to a suite through our American Express Platinum card. These suites are located in a separate building from the main building. I must admit I was a little bit disappointed that we were not inside the main building as it is so unique and our views were not towards the town of El Ciego, but the room was great. Very high ceilings, spacious room, large windows overlooking the vineyards and beautiful bathroom.

We had a tour of the winery and it is a very large winery, we enjoyed the tour and tasting of the wine. The spa located one floor below our room was also very relaxing and well appointed with a terrace overlooking the vineyards.

We had dinner at the restaurant Marques de Riscal and the service was unparalleled, the food was good but we have not had such a good service in a restaurant anywhere else with multiple waiters serving us.

We had buffet breakfast and it was perfect with a variety of cakes, pastries, meats and cheeses from the region, the views from the restaurant and terrace are amazing overlooking the roof of the hotel and the town of El Ciego.

This has been one of the most unique hotels we have ever stayed at. The architecture of this hotel is fantastic, the surroundings are beautiful and the service one of the best we have ever had.

We stayed here for two nights as a part of our vacation to northern Spain/southern France. The hotel, designed by Gehry, is quite striking and architecturally interesting. We had a room in the Gehry wing, which was quite large. I had read reviews about the rooms being small and tight, but upon reviewing the floor plan, I noted that ours was the accessible room, which explained the large spaces. We certainly didn't complain.

The rooms are modern and well laid out. The shower was large and the room also had a separate soaking tub. The products in the bath are all Caudalie from the hotel spa. We had a great view of the old town of Elciego.

The workout room is good size for a hotel and the indoor pool is large enough for laps. We did not use the spa, but from a walkthrough, it seemed quite nice.

The meals were a bit of a mixed bag. We had dinner in the wine bar, and the food, while good, was steeply priced for what it was. However, the breakfast buffet was amazing. Lots of choices and good quality.

The staff was very attentive and they all were fluent in English. The were helpful in recommending and setting up winery visits.

The winery tour there was a bit forced. The large group and the canned description was a little hard to take. Plus, being in the wine industry, we know the process.

Finally, there is a wine bar that is part of the wine tour facility. The prices there are significantly lower than the hotel wine bar prices. Save your tasting dollars or euros for that.

All in all, a great place. Fun modern architecture. Great staff and location.

This is not just a hotel, its a retreat and an experience not to be missed! When you first drive up, this hotel will just simply take your breath away, not only because it is so very different from anything in its surroundings but because it is so visually amazing - be prepared to be bllown away! The staff augments this incredible experience, they truly do treat you as part of a 'family' while you are there - they really do anticipate your every need! The rooms in the main building leaves you breathless, every thing in the room compliments the design of the hotel so expect to be blown away by it. We ate at the Bistrot for dinner and breakfast each day and the main dining room for prix fix dinner, there are no words to describe both the experience, the attention to detail and the actual food but beyond awesome - the wait staff was attentitive and knowledgeable and engaging and fun to chat with - it would be ashame to miss either of the restaurants because the food is so different in both and so is the experiences! My husband swam while I enjoyed a massage at the Caudalie spa which was sublime and the piece de resistance is of course having this magnificant hotel on the grounds of a vineyard - life was truly perfect - the three days we spent rejuvinated our mind/body and spirit - it would be an honor to return to this magical location!

I don’t normally write such long reviews, but our hotel experience was very special. In brief:

1. Excellent service. Yahia, the doorman/bellboy/repairman, was more than amazing. In fact, there really are no words to describe how fantastic he was! For me and my husband, an excellent hotel experience includes a nice, clean room, good facilities AND great service. This hotel nailed the “service” by having Yahia. He’s your first point of contact at the hotel (he helps you out of your car, taxi, etc). He is an absolute gem, and I hope the hotel holds on to him. Yahia - thank you so much for making our stay unforgettable!

2. Rooms with a view. Not only were there top of the line electronics within the room, the bathroom was probably one of the most spacious that we've ever had (includes 2 closets, bathtub, shower stall with rain shower, Cinq Monde toiletries and a separate toilet closet). Our room was in the spa wing and had a stunning view of the church and the rest of the village of Elciego. If you don’t get a room in the main building, ask for one facing the town - you won’t regret it!

3. Great food. Dinner at the hotel’s Michelin star restaurant, “Restaurante Marqués de Riscal,” is an absolute must. We had the 10 course tasting menu, and it was the best dinner we've ever had. It was creative and delicious using local ingredients. The restaurant/Chef also worked around my shellfish allergy so that I could enjoy the dining experience with my husband. My dishes were exquisite and my husband loved his too. Thank you Chef! I would also like to applaud the 5-person team that were flawless and courteous throughout the dinner service.

4. Stunning hotel. Designed by frank Gerry, I found the exterior ribbon-like architecture of the main building mesmerizing and surreal. I must have taken at least a hundred pictures of the hotel, but still feel like my pictures didn’t do it justice. Just gorgeous.

5. Other. We didn't get any spa services (Claudalie products), but the pool was really nice and the lounging area by the vineyard was relaxing. We also ate most of our meals at the next town over in Laguardia. Recommend trying the Michelin-recommended restaurant Marixa. We had the roasted peppers in olive oil and the lamb chop – delicious! Their dining room also had a nice view of the countryside. If you like architecture, make sure you visit the Ysios winery.

Highly recommend this hotel.

Happy travels!