Hotel Arriaga

Hotel Arriaga is a mid-range hotel at Calle Ribera 3, next to the Arriaga Theatre in the Casco Viejo of Bilbao, Biscay, Spain. The theatre, an opulent late nineteenth-century building inspired by the Paris Opéra, stands on the Plaza Arriaga beside the Nervión river, and the hotel takes its name from the Bilbao-born composer Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga. The position is among the most central for visitors keen to explore the old town: the Siete Calles, Plaza Nueva, the Cathedral of Santiago and the Mercado de la Ribera are all within a few minutes on foot. Plaza Moyúa is about 0.9 kilometres away, and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is reachable on a riverside walk or short tram ride. The hotel occupies a building on the riverfront and offers double and twin rooms with private bathrooms, air conditioning and standard mid-range amenities, in a style that blends traditional touches with practical modern fittings. Breakfast is available, and guests have an extensive choice of pintxo bars, restaurants and cafés just outside the door, which makes dining one of the main attractions of the location. No spa or pool is listed. Service is friendly and well informed about the old town, and reception staff can advise on theatre performances, walking routes and day trips to the coast. The hotel suits couples, culture-minded travellers and anyone who wants to be in the middle of the evening atmosphere. Nightly rates of about €85–€200 vary with the season, and prices climb during the August festival. The old town can be lively late into the night, so light sleepers may request a quieter room.