Spain’s gastronomical offerings improve year-on-year. For the much-awaited World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024, Spain not only had 5 restaurants on the list, it took top spot with Disfrutar in Barcelona.
Disfrutar is a Michelin three-starred restaurant and last year ranked 2nd in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. The restaurant owned by Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas who all worked at the famous El Bulli.
“We want to dedicate this award to all those who work every day for the gastronomy of our land and to our entire team, who got up very early to go to Disfrutar,” said Eduard.
The restaurant opened in 2014 and has two tasting menus of 30 courses which combine the traditional with the avant garde. As the World’s Best website says, “Regardless of the chosen menu, one thing is certain: you will have the dining experience of a lifetime.”
3 of the top 5 restaurants in the world are Spanish
Disfrutar wasn’t the only Spanish restaurant in the top 5 positions, it was joined by Asador Etxebarri in second place and DiverXo in fourth.
Asador Etxebarri is in the peaceful Basque village of Axpe, Vizcaya. A Michelin-starred restaurant, it has both a la carte and tasting menus. Everything is cooked on the grill, including the ice cream. The chef Victor Arguinzoniz emphasises the natural flavours of the ingredients.
Madrid is the location for DiverXo where the chef Dabiz Muñoz describes his cuisine as hedonistic, creative and unpredictable. The World’s Best website says, “Everything at this restaurant is a piece of art.” As the World’s Best Sommelier 2023, Miguel Ángel Millán, is also based at the restaurant, you know you’ll get a superb wine selection to accompany your meal.
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Valencia also represented
Valencia is proud of Quique Dacosta and his eponymous restaurant. Fish, seafood and rice are key incredients as he pays homage to Valencian cuisine. “His 2024 tasting menu, Por Amor al Arte II (For the Love of Art II), aims to stimulate diners’ feelings and emotions with a harmonious and sensitive approach.”
The Basque region has a second entry on the list with Elkano. Again focusing on grilled food, the signature dish here is turbot, which is grilled whole. The traditional Basque fish stew Kokotxas features on the tasting menu.
Full World’s Best Restaurants 2024 list
- Disfrutar, Barcelona, Spain
- Asador Etxebarri, Axpe, Vizcaya, Spain
- Table By Bruno Verjus, París, France
- DiverXo, Madrid, Spain
- Maido, Lima, Perú.
- Atomix, New York, USA
- Quintonil, Ciudad de México, México
- Alchemist, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand
- Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Septime, París, France
- Lido 84, Fasano del Garda, Italy
- Trésind Studio, Dubai, UAE
- Quique Dacosta, Denia, Spain
- Sézanne, Tokyo, Japan
- Kjolle, Lima, Perú
- Kol, Londres, Gran Bretaña
- Plenitude, París, France
- Reale, Castel di Sangro, Italy
- Wing, Hong Kong, China
- Florilège, Tokio, Japan
- Steirereck, Viena, Austria
- Sühring, Bangkok, Thailand
- Odette, Singapore, Singapore
- El Chato, Bogotá, Colombia
- The Chairman, Hong Kong, China
- A Casa do Porco, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- 28. Elkano, Guetaria, Guipúzcoa, Spain
- Boragó, Santiago de Chile, Chile
30. Restaurant Time Raue, Berlín, Germany - Belcanto, Lisbon, Portugal
- Den, Tokyo, Japan
- Pujol, México City, México
- Rosetta, México City, México
- Frantzén, Stockholm, Sweden
- The Jane, Antwerp, Belgium
- Oteque, Río de Janeiro, Brasil
- Sorn, Bangkok, Thailand
- Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy
- Le Du, Bangkok, Thailand
- Mayta, Lima, Perú
- Ikoyi, London, UK
- Nobelhart & Schmutzig, Berlín, Germany
- Mingles, Seúl, Korea
- Arpège, Paris, France
- Singlethread, California, USA
- Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau, Switzerland
- Hia Franko, Kobarid, Slovenia
- La Colombe, Cape Town. South Africa
- Uliassi, Senigallia, Italy
