Palacio Tondón

A 16th-century palace in Rioja wine country that couldn't quite leave itself alone, Palacio Tondón pairs weathered stone walls with metal-and-glass additions, the result looking like a very confident renovation project. It's a boutique hotel where the best rooms face the Ebro river, the minimalist interiors lean on original stonework and knotty pine for warmth, and the on-site fine-dining restaurant keeps a wine cellar stocked with the region's heavy hitters.