Hotel Restaurante El Molino, charcoal grill beside Laguna Redondilla
Hotel Restaurante El Molino is a simple hotel in Laguna Redondilla, Ciudad Real, with a charcoal grill restaurant, a bar and a garden by the lake. It is a walk from the Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park. It suits anyone after nature and good grilled meat without frills, and who does not mind some wear and tear.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published .
Updated
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Hotel Restaurante El Molino.
Where Hotel Restaurante El Molino is and how to get there
Hotel Restaurante El Molino is in Laguna Redondilla, in the province of Ciudad Real, beside the Carretera de las Lagunas. Its great asset is the spot: according to the listing, it has a garden with access to the lake's edge, and the Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park is a walk away on foot.
The most practical way to arrive is by car. If you are flying, the property's own reference is Albacete airport, so expect a long road journey. Once you are settled in Laguna Redondilla you hardly need to go anywhere to eat, as the hotel has its own restaurant and bar.
What the rooms are like
The rooms at El Molino are simple and functional. They have a wardrobe, television and a complete private bathroom with bidet and hairdryer, and many look out onto the mountains. Several guests talk of spacious rooms and a renovated bathroom that is good.
This is where the first complaints appear. The TV is old, some find the pillow low, and one comment mentions a sprung mattress. It is a two-star hotel and it shows: if you are after design or modern equipment, this is not your place.
| What guests like | What to know |
|---|---|
| Renovated bathroom with hairdryer | Old television |
| Spacious room, many with mountain views | Low pillow and sprung mattress, according to some |
| Breakfast included on several stays | Some would like breakfast to start earlier |
What guests highlight
The Google rating is 3.3 from 298 reviews, and the reviews split between clear praise and harsh criticism. These are the points that come up most often in the positive ones.
- The charcoal grill food. Several guests praise the churrasco, the lamb and the grill, at lunch and at dinner, at a price they describe as fair.
- The service. People talk of friendly, attentive and quick staff, with an atmosphere some compare to a family's.
- The location. The lagoons are right next door, and the views over Laguna Redondilla are cited as the best thing about the place.
- Breakfast. One guest calls it spectacular, while others find it ordinary.
What to know before you book
With a 3.3 rating, read carefully. The criticisms agree on several points, and I would rather you had them clear before you decide.
- The state of the place. One guest, otherwise happy, admits it is a bit run-down. It is an old establishment and it shows.
- Wasps and flies. They come up on the terrace and at breakfast, and appear in both good and bad reviews.
- The menu. It is very meat-focused. One family missed meat-free options and was not happy with the salad or the bread.
- Cleanliness and maintenance. One negative review mentions a pillow in poor condition that was not changed, and another mentions sick cats near the dining area.
These are scattered comments among many good ones, but they are worth knowing. My reading is that if you are going for the food and the setting, the risk is low. If you need an immaculate place to stay, look elsewhere.
Who Hotel Restaurante El Molino suits
I would choose it for a short getaway to the lagoons, as a couple or with family, wanting to walk about and eat well over the charcoal grill without spending much. Several guests come back and talk about a place where they feel at home, and that counts for a lot.
I would not recommend it to anyone wanting a modern hotel, anyone who cannot stand insects on the terrace in summer, or anyone who does not eat meat and wants a wide choice on the menu.
Things to do near Laguna Redondilla
The plan is clear. Walk in the Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park, which according to the listing is within walking distance, then return to eat at the grill. One guest sums up their visit as a perfect day of family food with the lagoons beside them, and others come just to eat on the terrace.
For other things to do in the area I have no reliable information for this brief, so I would rather not invent routes for you.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.
