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If you’re a foodie living abroad (or just travelling all over Spain), you might have stumbled across a narrow, wine-lit street in northern Spain. It is called Calle Laurel, it’s in Logroño. and it’s slowly becoming a favourite stop for foreigners. Expats from the UK, Northern Europe and beyond are discovering this tiny 300-metre neighbourhood as a place where eating out is less about formality and more about joy, flavour and community. A street like no other Tucked into the Casco Antiguo of the La Rioja capital, Calle Laurel (and its adjoining San Agustín, Albornoz and Travesía del Laurel) boasts more than 60 bars and tavernas in just a few hundred paces. The locals call it la “senda de los elefantes”, meaning the path of the elephants. Why is that? Because hopping from bar to bar, goblet in hand, you might just feel like you’re marching with heavy steps afterwards. For expats used to restaurant menus, formal reservations or room-for-dessert, it’s a vibrant, slightly chaotic revelation. Community and local flavour What sets this street apart for expats isn’t only the pinchos (bite-sized tapas) or the excellent young Rioja wines, though both are world-class. It’s the atmosphere. At 7 PM you’ll find locals chatting at the bar, older couples, students, families and wanderers mixing in the same queue for sapid morsels. For British expats looking for authenticity (and not just another chain pub), this is food culture at ground level. Why does it matter to expats? For many Brits living in Spain or travelling there regularly, Calle Laurel ticks several boxes. It’s authentic, affordable, social and walkable. No high-fuss fine dining, no over-priced menus, just bars filled with people sharing bites, wine and laughter. It’s easy to feel like you belong. And with bars open from afternoon into late night, it offers a sort of tapas lifestyle that fits the relaxed expat tempo. Also, the fact that the street remains true to its roots is a plus. While it’s more international now, it hasn’t lost its local soul. One expert on the street put it simply, according to COPE: “It’s the place people go when they want to eat and drink well, without complications.” Joining the pilgrimage If you’re planning a visit: pace yourself. A classic tapas crawl might involve 4–5 bars, one signature pincho and a young Rioja at each stop. Expect to stand, share tables, chat with strangers, savour small plates like mushrooms with prawns, croquetas or bread topped with jamón and piquillo pepper. For expat foodies tired of over-styled destinations, Calle Laurel offers something different: a place where flavour, community and place matter. One bite, one glass at a time. Read here more articles about life in Spain.
