Hostal Restaurante Catalina de Austria, eat and sleep in Torquemada
The Hostal Restaurante Catalina de Austria is in Torquemada, in the province of Palencia, and mixes simple rooms with a restaurant serving home-style Castilian cooking. It is a quiet place at a fair price, without frills. I would choose it for a stop on a journey or for work in the area, rather than a summer escape.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published .
Updated
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Hostal Restaurante Catalina de Austria.
Where Catalina de Austria is and how to get there
The Hostal Restaurante Catalina de Austria is on Calle Afuera, in Torquemada, a village in the province of Palencia, in Castile and León. According to the description, Palencia cathedral is about 22 km away and Valladolid airport about 70 km, so most people will arrive by car.
Parking is not a problem, according to one guest, who found a space on the streets nearby. Torquemada is a quiet village, and the reviews reflect that, describing a peaceful, simple place.
What the rooms are like
The rooms are those of a two-star hostal, without pretension. They have a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, a desk, a wardrobe, bed linen and towels, and the Wi-Fi is free. The property is smoke-free.
Guests who praise the rooms talk about a very comfortable bed, a vintage touch, a complete bathroom and a small balcony onto the street. One guest who visited in winter found the room well aired and clean. It is a place designed for sleeping well and carrying on your way or working, not for spending the day in your room.
What guests say about the hostal and its restaurant
The Google rating is 4.1 from 320 reviews, and the restaurant takes a good share of the praise. In fact, there are reviews from people who only went for a meal. The same patterns come up again and again.
- Castilian home cooking. Several guests highlight homemade food, well cooked and made with good produce. Dishes mentioned include cecina, baked cheese, morcilla (blood sausage), oxtail and beef cheek, as well as the cocido and the meatballs.
- Price. More than one review talks about very good value for money, for both lunches and dinners.
- Service. Staff and owners are repeatedly described as friendly and happy to adapt to what you need.
- Options for everyone. One person notes there are vegan and vegetarian dishes, and another was served after half past three in the afternoon.
What to know before booking
The hostal has its drawbacks, and the most serious one concerns summer. One review says the room was an attic without air conditioning in the middle of August, and that sleeping was hard. It also mentions a very old bathroom with a curtain and an uncomfortable bed.
| The best | What to know |
|---|---|
| Home cooking, very well rated | Some rooms can be hot in summer |
| Friendly service in most reviews | Two low ratings criticise the service |
| Fair prices | An old bathroom, according to one review |
| Quiet, with parking nearby | Not a luxury hotel |
On service, opinions are not unanimous. One customer complained that they were given the set menu without being told there was an à la carte option, and an older review criticises the treatment. These are isolated cases compared with many positive comments, but you should know about them.
Who this hostal is for
I would choose it for anyone travelling for work, for a stop on a journey with a good dinner included, or for anyone who wants to try Castilian cooking without overspending. Several people passing through the area for work say it was a good choice.
I would not recommend it for a break in August if you want coolness, or for anyone expecting a modern hotel with every service. Here you come to eat well and sleep without frills.
Things to do around Torquemada
One guest describes Torquemada as a pretty village, with calm walks through its streets. Palencia and its cathedral are a short drive away, according to the property description.
If you are interested in another option in the province, also look at the Hotel Mirador del Arlanzón in Los Balbases, which can help you compare.
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.
