Parador 44 Hotel

Cardiff, Wales

A gourmet jaunt across Spain on home territory? In central Cardiff, it’s more likely than you think. The newest venture from the Welsh sibling trio behind fêted grill and wine house Asado 44, Parador 44 boasts nine luxury rooms nestled above the restaurant, each inspired by the owners’ travels around the Iberian Peninsula and named after the sherry-making process.

Intricate doors and shutters take the place of headboards, with beige tones, graphic tiles, dark ceiling beams and woven touches marrying contemporary elegance with authentic Spanish charm – a theme that continues in the red brick- and wood-clad restaurant.

Here, ask to sit by the open kitchen, the cheese room or the glass-fronted wine room and expect rich dishes in traditional asado style. Start with Asturian
cider-cured salmon with mustard, apple and charcoal mayo or mackerel escabeche with salsa verde, perhaps followed by flamed-licked steak or cod with jamón butter; for dessert, the chocolate delice with puffed rice, horchata and PX ice cream is a must-try. After, guests can venture out to Bar 44 for pours of sherry straight from the barrel, anchovies from Cádiz and roasted Catalan almonds, or relax on the hotel’s Andalucían-style terrace.

Come morning, the Full Parador breakfast – featuring Welsh Black Pig pork sausage and back bacon, chorizo, smoked morcilla and olive oil hash browns – will set you up for winter strolls around Cardiff Castle and Bute Park.

Doubles from £140 including breakfast. 029 2002 0039, grupo44.co.uk

Words by Jas Matulewicz.

This review was taken from the Reader Awards issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.