With 15 fine dining establishments in the country awarded the distinction of three Michelin-stars, you don’t have to venture far to find the best restaurants in Spain. From the vibrant capital Madrid, where high-end dining mixes seamlessly with rustic bistros and hipster markets, to Barcelona where cutting-edge dishes, innovation and flavor pairings converge, and that’s just for starters. Here are some of the top venues to visit on your next trip to Spain, whether you are tempted by the pinnacle of seafood platters, Iberian traditional flavours or a vegetarian bounty.

To experience the best of Spanish dining, join us on a luxury Spain tour.

1. Quirat, Barcelona

A new Michelin star hero in 2024, Quirat is a contemporary Catalan restaurant in a light-filled, neutral-styled dining room. Here, chef Víctor Torres (who had already had a hit with Les Magnòlies in Arbúcies) sculpts delicate, arty bites such as creamed rice with sea anemones or tenderloin with a roasted red pepper reduction. Two multi-course tasting menus are named 18K and 24K, in reference to the jewelers’ measurement of carats. You’ll find this high-end dining establishment in the InterContinental Hotel, in the locals’ favourite Poble-Sec neighbourhood.

Image credit: @quiratrestaurant on Instagram

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2. Atrio, Madrid

When a restaurant has been awarded three Michelin stars, you know it is something special. Atrio’s food and wine menu “harmonizes avant-garde cuisine with the greatest respect for tradition and Extremaduran products.” It deserves its accolade as  one of the best restaurants in Spain and one of Madrid’s most famous eateries. Housed in a luxury hotel , if you are lucky enough to get a reservation at this ‘temple of gastronomy,’ turn it into a cozy weekend away with a stay in the well-appointed guest rooms. Atrio also has a spectacular wine cellar, featuring numerous historic vintages. Over 40,000 bottles from 20 different countries, including 5 vintages from the 1891.

Image credit: @atriotono on Instagram

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3. Suto, Barcelona 

It’s not all about jamon and queso in Barcelona; some of the best fine dining in Spain, and in this city in particular, is to be found in its international restaurants. One of two new one-starred restaurants to join the guide in 2024 (along with Quirat), Suto is a bijou Japanese spot, where chef Yoshikazu Suto slices up an omakase menu to a small group in a setting that feels more like a Japanese home than a restaurant. The handful of seats up at the polished pine bar are most sought-after, where you can hear the chef’s stories and creative reasons behind each dish as they’re presented. Expect dishes such as a delicate mackerel escabeche with shimchi spices.

Image credit: @suto_barcelona on Instagram

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4. Akelarre, San Sebastian

One of San Sebastian’s three 3-Michelin starred restaurants, Akelarre has thrived under. the helm of Pedro Subijana. This famous Northen Spain eatery is tucked into the hillside on San Sebastián’s Mount Igeldo, the dining room overlooking the Bay of Biscay, with a breathtaking view of the Ocean. Offering a choice of set menus, on which you can also swap out certain dishes to customize your dining experience, each dish a work of art, both in presentation and flavor.

No flash in the pan, Akelarre was established in 1970, and has held 3 Michelin stars since 2007, after 25 years with two Michelin stars. Since 2017 it also has rooms, a spa and a new bar and restaurant with large terraces, creating a flawless combination of high-end dining in Spain and luxury overnight accommodation.

Image credit: @restaurantalekarre on Instagram

5. Disfrutar, Barcelona

A whimsical number in the Eixample neighbourhood of Barcelona, Disfrutar got the biggest cheer in the room when it was announced as a three-star winner at the 2024 Michelin Gala. Run by three chefs ‒ Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas ‒ all formerly of the legendary elBulli, it has long menus (25 courses on one option) and a “surprise and delight” ethos that diners love. Head here for some of the best fine dining in Spain: think beetroot meringues, molecular olives and vegetable sashimi.

Photo credit: @disfrutarbcn on Instagram

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6. L’Antic Molí, Uldecona

A real hidden gem, L’Antic Moli is a favorite of the locals for special family occasions and communions. A purveyor of the slow food movement, Chef and restaurant architect Vincent Guimerà describes his style as ‘country kitchen’, but we call it Spanish gastronomy at its finest. His innovative dishes focus on organic products, home produced ingredients and strong links with the local “Terres de l”Ebre” area. This guarantees the finest produce, whilst reducing emissions and farmers costs. As well as its Michelin-star status, the restaurant has numerous accolades for sustainability and offers a 100% vegetarian menu for those who want just a plant based culinary experience. Enjoy for yourself on our Spain & Portugal in Style tour.

Image credit: @lanticmoli on Instagram

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7. Abantal, Seville

Contemporary Andalusian cuisine at its finest, Abantal’s passionately crafted ‘avant-garde’ plates are worth every cent. Head chef Julio Fernández treats traditional Spanish dishes and flavors to a more cutting-edge approach, without losing an ounce of authenticity. Large, well placed tables provide a relaxing ambiance, and an 12-course tasting menu leaves you feeling satisfied and impressed. Depending on the season, expect sophisticated dishes featuring Sea Bass, lobster, red tuna broth, spring chicken and Iberian ham sauce. For the ultimate unforgettable dining experience at one of the best restaurants in Spain, you can actually book a table in the kitchen.

Image credit: @abantalrestaurante on Instagram

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8. Mina, Bilbao

Championing seasonal produce from local suppliers, this one Michelin-star restaurant sets the standard for Spanish cuisine in Bilbao. Located in a discreet building, opposite the busy Ribera market, Mina owes its name to a former mine entrance that once existed beneath. From the bar you can watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen, with head chef Álvaro Garrido presiding over what has been described as ‘life’s favors.’ With only 25 covers per service, a reservation at Mina is quite the coup. The restaurant’s focus on seasonality the menu changes daily, seafood places a key role with a balance of flavors from the land and from far away.

Image credit: @minarestaurant on Instagram

9. Cocina Hermanos Torres, Barcelona

This Barcelona hangout joined the ranks of three-Michelin-star venues in 2023, thanks to its theatrical cooking stations, standing unshielded in the middle of the dining room. This means diners can unobtrusively watch the maestros at work, frothing and saucing some of the most dazzling dishes in Barcelona. Chefs and brothers Sergio and Javier have dreamt up a high-ceilinged, glossy black-and-cream space with cloud-form light fixtures and shimmering gold wall panels. There are plenty of edible flowers, smoky dry ice dishes and unique ceramics to photograph: Iberian suckling pig with apricot and tamarind is a standout dish, alongside gazpacho bonbons and baby eels with pil pil sauce.

Image credit: @hermanostorres on Instagram 

10. Aleia, Barcelona

A 2023 addition to the guide, one-star Aleia is notable for its architectural pedigree as well as its food and wine ‒ it’s located in Lluís Domènech i Montaner’s Modernist building, Casa Fuster (now a hotel). With just one tasting menu at lunch and dinner, decision making is taken out of your hands (though you can choose how indulgent you want to be with a shorter or longer wine pairing). Chef Rafa de Bedoya champions European-Asian fusion, so expect mash-ups such as brioche with cuttlefish and hollandaise, or Iberian pork consommé.

Photo credit: @aleiarestaurant on Instagram

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 11. Estimar, Madrid

Serving up the essence of the sea and praised for its interior design, Estimar is a must visit for all seafood lovers when in the Spanish capital. Only the freshest of catches make it to the table in this sophisticated, intimate eatery. Spanish gastronomy is brilliantly showcased through crayfish carpaccio, sea urchin, pan fried razor clams and red prawn tartare with caviar, leaving you feeling you have the ‘sea in your mouth.’ Fresh produce is laid out in the kitchen while Head chef Rafa Zarfra and his team get to work.

Image credit: @estimarzafra on Instagram

12. COME by Paco Méndez, Barcelona

Opened in 2022, this Barcelona Mexican is a prime example of great fine dining in Spain. Mexican chef Paco Méndez and his pastry-chef wife, Emma, have created a concept that’s both authentic and modern ‒ hot pink walls, woven rope lanterns, tiled cacti and decorative skulls mean this is no stuffy ice-white Michelin venue. The food is a modern, high-end spin on typical Mexican dishes and drinks: think wagyu tostadas, avocado with black garlic mole, and a horchata-inspired rice pudding. Méndez started out as an intern at the world-famous elBulli, and it’s thrilling to see how far he’s come.

Image credit: @comerestaurant on Instagram

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Whoever you’re flying with, Business Class or Economy, chicken or fish, airplane food is somewhat of an acquired taste. Either way, those in flight meals are the punctuation marks of long-haul flights and there’s no denying that the little flourishes on your tray can make or break your experience. Here’s our rundown of the 8 best airlines for food, in reverse order.

8. Delta

Over the last few years, Delta has been upping the ante to become one of the best airlines for food. The focus is on local farmers and artisans, with a twist on Southern tradition. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q’s has designed some dishes for passengers flying out of Atlanta, USA: the short rib open-faced sandwich with sweet pickles and a side of cheddar and broccoli is not to be missed. Top it off with banana pudding for a true down-home affair. As far as luxury airplane food goes, the Biscoff and chocolate chip cookies are legendary – they come warm in a brown paper bag, making them the ultimate snack in the clouds for economy and first class passengers alike.

Credit: Mashama Bailey for Delta

7. Hawaiian Airlines

Fly from Los Angeles to Honolulu and you’ll get brunch, lunch and a late-night snack. Look out for international offerings like the coconut and lemongrass braised chicken with eggplant and Israeli couscous or the warm yuzu pound cake (by Honolulu-born executive chef Michelle Karr-Ueoka). But the island offerings are a thrill, too: there’s a Kalua pork hash on the menu, plus beers from Maui Brewing Company and custom cocktails from On the Rocks, including the celebratory Tropical Landing (gin with violet, guava, coconut and citrus).

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6. Singapore Airlines

A consistent favorite among frequent flyers, Singapore Airlines has an admirable number of options for all passengers. Premium economy dishes include garlic-roasted prawns with smoked aioli and patatas bravas, beef Bourguignon and Chor Mee (minced pork noodles). The airline has an air sommelier program, in which cabin crew can apply to become wine experts, which means they can offer passengers guidance on wine pairings.

Credit: Singapore Airlines

5. Korean Air

The bibimbap is one legendary in flight meal (and the same one is served in economy, business and first classes, just with different utensils); it’s a platter of beef, steamed rice, cucumber, mushrooms, beansprouts, spinach and pickled radish, ready to be tossed together with a tube of gochujang and a sachet of sesame oil (the pros ask for extra gochujang). On the side: pickled cucumber and seaweed soup. The snack service includes hot rice balls and cup ramen, brought to your seat with the hot water already added, and the seasoning sachet on the side.

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4. All Nippon (ANA)

ANA works with various chefs to get their menus just right. Toru Okuda – a Michelin star master of kaiseki (multi-course meals) – takes care of Japanese food, while Ryuta Iizuka (who studied under Joel Robuchon) advises on French. Expect them to go all out if you’re in first or business class: Wagyu beef sirloin stew with a side of fragrant shiitake, maitake, and abalone mushrooms, sautéed in Échiré butter, for instance. But there are treats in store for the economy classes too: the likes of red rockfish teriyaki and oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl) will see passengers through, with proper miso and pickles.

 

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3. Emirates

Emirates is consistently at the top of the lists of best airlines for food, thanks to its ever-evolving menus, attention to detail and unlimited Dom Perignon for first class flyers. Every passenger gets a multi-course meal and there’s lots of choice and flexibility. Trays are jam-packed with dishes like paneer makhani, vegetable paella, sweetcorn salad and Russian salad plus alluring desserts like apple caramel mousse or chocolate truffle cake. The wines (all from Bordeaux) are excellent. In first class, there’s a movie snack menu which features boxes of popcorn and cheeseburger sliders.

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2. Etihad

This UAE-based airline is driven by farm-to-table freshness, which means salad greens harvested hours before you eat them – a true revolution as far as airline meals are concerned. Business and first class food can be eaten whenever you’re hungry, and includes steak sandwiches and eggs prepared to order, plus elaborate brunches like shakshuka and ricotta pancakes. First class mains include a seafood assiette (scallop, salmon, lobster), chicken margooga, five spiced duck breast and paneer kofta. There is oh-so-much choice.

 

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1. Turkish Airlines

Aficionados of Turkish Airlines’ long-haul flights always order the sour cherry juice, and some claim it helps them to sleep. If it works for you, you can press a button on your screen to let cabin crew know you’d like to be woken for dinner. Beyond the juice, it’s all about the Turkish appetizers, grilled fish, Adana kebabs and sesame pittas. First and business class passengers enjoy the ultimate inflight amenity: flying chefs, who work alongside cabin crew. On flights of over eight hours, those passengers can opt to enjoy chef-cooked meals by candlelight.

Keen, cultured visitors to Stockholm will almost certainly have Fotografiska on their hit list. The museum, that is – one of the Swedish capital’s top sights, a temple to contemporary photography and an HQ for modern photographers and experts the world over. But not every visitor to the city knows that the building, a former Art Nouveau style customs house, also houses one of Sweden’s most sustainable restaurants. 

Known simply as “The Restaurant”, it’s helmed by the innovative, boundary-pushing Executive Chef Martin Wall. “My role here is as ‘planet keeper’,” says Wall. “I try to keep our philosophy forward-thinking and make sure we do as much as we can, sustainability wise”. Guests on Luxury Gold’s Timeless Scandinavia tour will visit this extraordinary sustainable restaurant during their time in Stockholm – in the meantime, we asked Martin to tell us a little about how he merges a luxury museum experience with a sustainable ethos.

“The Restaurant” Executive Chef Martin Wall

The Formula

“The Restaurant at Fotografiska is plant-forward,” explains Wall. “We try to push the boundaries and understand nature”. His team is on a mission, he says, to “prove that [sustainable restaurants] can be high-end gastronomy and sustainable at the same time”. With a firm zero-waste policy and seasonally-led ingredients, Wall’s team curates set menus of different sizes – three or five courses starting with an appetizer of the day, say – as well as sharp, unusual beverage pairings (one popular selection is “Nordic and funky”, featuring some excellent Scandinavan wines and ingredients). “We normally say that the farmers are the bosses of the restaurant. They decide what’s on the menu – we want the best, today, from nature,” adds Wall. Dishes might include blue mussels with seaweed and root vegetables, or lamb with cucumber, garlic and caramelised cream. It’s contemporary but appealing; the ingredients are the star of the show.

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A dish at The Restaurant at Fotografiska, Stockholm

The “S” Word

Though luxury travellers are more aware than ever before of the need to balance incredible travel experiences with an awareness of impact on the planet, Wall feels the very word “sustainability” has perhaps been overused, or lost some of its power in recent years. “Sustainable dining has been up and down since the pandemic,” he ponders. “I think the word [itself] is the big problem; it doesn’t have the same effect as before. So we’re more talking about ‘consciousness’: to be out there and to be aware of what’s going on, to try to keep pushing forward.”

What does that consciousness mean to him? “It’s important for us to be out there, to make people conscious of the world and to show them and guide them to a more sustainable way. It is possible to do it.” To be a thought leader among sustainable restaurants in the region, this could be through highlighting the best vegetables or foraged plants available that month on the menu, or getting creative with zero-waste principles. Initiatives involve using apple cores in desserts or converting onion peelings to compost to nurture future kitchen vegetables. 

The Restaurant at Fotografiska, Stockholm

Award-winning Dishes

The Restaurant at Fotografiska was awarded a Michelin Green Star in 2020, and has maintained it for every year since. “They introduced the Green Michelin star a few years ago,” says Wall. “It means we’re acknowledged for our sustainable work.” Venues are awarded these rare stamps of approval for having high ethical and environmental standards, from provenance to suppliers and employing locals, as well as combining culinary excellence with an eco ethos. The team’s forward thinking also won them three circles by the 360°Eat Guide. “The 360 Award is big here in the Nordic countries, but it’s all about social and planet-minded sustainability, so it’s a big award for us and we’re so proud to be in it.” While it’s a joy to receive accolades, says Wall, it can also place the burden on the team of keeping such a high standard. But he’s up for the challenge. “It’s a huge role to take on, to make sure you understand the planet the best to make the gastronomy line up with the future,” says Wall. “My plan is to [always] be a little bit better tomorrow than today.”

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The Experience

“When they come here, guests can expect to be ‘here and now’,” says Wall of the museum-restaurant space, which occupies a large-windowed, waterfront dining room with – naturally – great photography on the walls. “It’s not all about what’s on the plate – it’s why it’s on the plate.” Everything presented in sustainable restaurants like his, he says, should be centred around provenance, slow food, zero waste principles and great suppliers. It should represent how great cooking can be done in the age of sustainability.

It’s only when asked for his favourite dish of the moment that Wall pauses for thought. “That’s a tricky one. In Sweden right now, it’s been a long, hard winter, so the asparagus feels like the sun, and the future.” He wants guests to become more conscious of what sustainable restaurant can do, but in the moment, to rest and relax, and be completely present with the food in front of them. “We proudly present the way of the future, so you can calmly come here and wine and dine. We’ve been doing the thinking, so here’s the place where you can relax and enjoy – we’ve done the work for you,” he says.

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