El Molino del Río Restaurant

What it is

The restaurant of the El Molino del Río Argos guesthouse, in Benablón, a hamlet of Caravaca. The mill is in the Argos river canyon, in a protected natural area, and its documented origin is the early 16th century, although the house believes it may be earlier. It became a rural guesthouse in 1998 and has kept the structure and decoration of the farmhouses of the period. The dining room is also open to non-residents.

The cooking

The house describes its cooking as signature and organic, within the same philosophy of respect for the surroundings as the rest of the complex. It works with the idea of zero-mile gastronomy: it buys produce directly from producers less than 20 km away and, preferably, organically grown. With that it builds a menu of novel dishes and a seasonal tasting menu, which changes according to what the surrounding land yields. The website does not publish the day's menu or prices, so ask when you book what the menu includes at that moment.

The guesthouse also brews its own craft beer, which is served in the restaurant. If you have an intolerance or are going with children, say so when you call: the kitchen works with seasonal produce and it is better that they know in good time.

Celebrations

The restaurant is also used for weddings and events, with tables in the mill's gardens, and for corporate days. The house offers less conventional weddings, designed so that guests enjoy the surroundings. If you go on a spring or summer weekend, ask whether a celebration is taking over the dining room.

Getting there and what to combine

It is about fifteen minutes by car from the centre of Caravaca, along the old Archivel road. The website does not publish hours: call 968 433 381 or 692 654 804, or write to [email protected], before going, especially if it is a Sunday or a weekday.

If you want to walk before lunch, the house notes that from the mill you can walk to Caravaca, about 10 km, to visit the Vera Cruz Castle and Basilica. And if you stay the night, see the page for the El Molino del Río Argos guesthouse, with gardens and yoga and relaxation workshops. For a plan of water and shade nearer the town, the Fuentes del Marqués site is just over 2 km from the centre.