Lo Racó de l'Olivera, hotel with garden for celebrations
Lo Racó de l'Olivera is a three-star hotel in Fonolleres, Lleida, right beside the Lleida-Barcelona motorway. It has 31 rooms, a garden, a restaurant and function rooms for events. It suits people travelling by car or attending a wedding or celebration, and less so anyone looking for total silence.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published .
Updated
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Lo Racó de l'Olivera.
Where Lo Racó de l'Olivera is and how to get there
Lo Racó de l'Olivera is in Fonolleres, in the province of Lleida, right beside the Lleida-Barcelona motorway, at kilometre 512. The hotel description places it near Granyanella. Don't expect a village to stroll around, because it's a roadside hotel, designed for arrival by car.
Cervera is less than 10 minutes away by car, about 6-7 km, with its museum, the Harinera and the university. Parking is free, which is almost essential somewhere like this. I see it as a comfortable stop if you're crossing Catalonia on the motorway or going to an event in the area.
What the rooms are like and what services it has
Lo Racó de l'Olivera has 31 rooms, with air conditioning, flat-screen TV, a desk and complimentary bottled water. The bathroom is private and, according to the description, has a deep bath. Daily cleaning is included and there's free wifi throughout the property.
What sets it apart from an ordinary roadside hotel are the shared spaces.
- The garden. It serves for resting and for outdoor celebrations, and one review describes it as lovely.
- Restaurant and bar. With a lounge area. Several guests speak well of the food, made with local produce.
- Function rooms. There's a banqueting room and a meeting room, and the hotel offers wedding celebrations.
- 24-hour reception and a lift. Handy if you arrive late or travel with luggage.
- Accessibility. The property is adapted for people with reduced mobility.
There are also newspapers in the lobby, a drinks machine and tourist assistance.
What guests say
On Google it has 3.7 out of 5 from 430 reviews. It's an acceptable score, but the reviews are very spread out, so it's worth reading between the lines. Almost all are written in Catalan and several are years old.
The good points come up repeatedly. Several guests say it's a great place for celebrations, from a christening to a wedding, a chestnut festival or a New Year's Eve party. They praise the owner and the staff, the cooking with local produce, the garden and reasonable value for money. Others simply recommend it for lunch.
The bad points come up less often, but they carry weight. Three one-star reviews describe a very cold room, with the heating switched off at midnight and cold water in the shower, a room that hadn't been swept, breakfast served by a single waiter, and a party that went on late into the night without respect for guests' rest.
What to know before you book
The hotel works well when there's a celebration and is average when you're an ordinary guest who wants to sleep. This summary makes that clear.
| The best | What to know |
|---|---|
| Garden and function rooms for events | If there's a party that night, the noise can go on late |
| Friendly, personal staff | Reviews of cold rooms and heating switched off |
| Free parking and 24-hour reception | A fixed-price breakfast that, one review says, you need to mention in advance |
| Good value for money according to several guests | Cleanliness questioned in one review |
My advice is simple. Ask whether there's an event on the night you book and, if you can, request a room away from the function rooms. Also confirm how breakfast works. The complaints about the cold are from some time ago and I don't know whether they've been fixed, so if you travel in winter, ask about the heating.
Who I'd choose it for and who it doesn't suit
Lo Racó de l'Olivera suits couples and families organising a wedding, a christening or a big lunch in Fonolleres who want to put guests up in the same place. It also suits anyone on a road trip who needs a bed with parking.
I wouldn't choose it for a weekend of silence, a village-style hotel with character or very polished service. In that case, look at another option in Catalonia, such as the Hostal La Placeta in Arbeca, which is also in the province of Lleida.
What to do around Fonolleres
The area is quiet and mostly a place to pass through, and the natural plan is to head to Cervera. There you'll find the museum, the Harinera and the university, all within 10 minutes by car of the hotel.
If you prefer a different kind of Catalan getaway, with more mountains, you might like the Hostal Rita Belvedere in Puigcerdà. And if your thing is countryside and river, have a look at the Caseta Morritos in Deltebro. They're very different from Lo Racó de l'Olivera, but useful for comparing before you decide.
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.
