Spain has more than 200 Michelin star restaurants to offer, all spread across the country. However, when talking about Michelin stars, we automatically assume the most expensive meals and high priced restaurants. What we often forget is that the stars do not reflect a price scale but they exclusively describe the quality of what is put on the table.

Thus, one star indicates a good kitchen, which means, if you pass through the area you should try the food at this particular place. A second star defines an excellent kitchen and invites the diner to deviate from his route to get to know the restaurant. The third star is a strong recommendation of this restaurant because its exceptional cuisine is an experience and definitely worth a try.

some of Cocinandos’ art works – a feast for the eyes

So let’s start our restaurant tour in the Galician Yayo Daporta restaurant which offers meals for a reasonable price and high quality. The chef Yayo Daporta himself bases his food on “good taste and common sense”. He calls it typical Galician cuisine “updated with winks to products from other areas, to combine the old with the current”.
(Rúa Hospital, 7, 36630 Cambados, Pontevedra, menu for 45€)

But that’s not it for Galicia! Nova, a restaurant in Orense, opened its doors in 2012 and obtained a Michelin star just two years later. The chefs of this place, Julio Sotomayor and Daniel Guzmán told their secret for every meal they create: product, proximity and freshness.
(Rúa Valle Inclán, 5, 32004 Orense, menu from 30€)

Up north, on the Cantabric coast there is another award-winning restaurant, the Arbidel. Jaime Uz the chef of this exquisite location mixes tradition with avant-garde touches and recommends to taste the menu outside on the terrace of the restaurant to enjoy the high quality cuisine even more.
(Calle Oscura 1, Ribadesella, Asturias, tasting menu 50€)

chef Yayo Daporta, his restaurant and one of his culinary delights

In Leon, Spain’s gastronomic capital 2018 you will find Cocinandos, a one star restaurant founded in 2003 by Juanjo Pérez and Yolanda Leon. It is not only the only Michelin star restaurant in the city but also considered to be one of the cheapest haute cuisine restaurant in the country.
(Calle de las Campanillas, 1, 24008 León, tasting menu 45€)

Moving along to the Pyrenees, there are several restaurants waiting to be explored. Lillas Pastia in Huesca is one of them. Specialized in black truffle cuisine, Carmelo Bosque, who opened the place in 1995, just wants people to “eat well and enjoy”.
(Plaza Navarra, 4, 22002 Huesca, tasting menu 75€)

Tatau Bistro is the name of the second Michelin star restaurant in Huesca. Although it just looks like a tapas bar from the outside, it offers much more exquisite meals inside. With Tonino Valiente, who learned from the best in the famous Hofman school and Arancha Sáinz, the restaurant is in the hands of to master chefs who are known for their culinary works of art.
(Calle Azara s/n, 22002 Huesca, menu from 30€)

When we travel to the centre of the peninsula to the famous Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in the Sierra Madrileña, we will discover Montia, the restaurant of Luis Moreno and Dani Ochoa. They embrace the variety of local ingredients and rely on producers of the area.  Their proposals vary constantly but are suitable for any customer: a small menu (for 45€), a big one (for 60€) and the XL version (for 65€) are available.
(Calle Calvario, 4, San Lorenzo del Escorial, 28200 Madrid)

Xanty Elías, top chef of Acanthum, focused on his mouth-watering creation, as the look is all part of the dining experience

And from the centre to the south. On the other side of the peninsula, on the Atlantic coast in Andalusia, Xanty Elías inaugurated Acanthum in 2011 in the town of Huelva. His intention was to revive the gastronomic legacy of the region and therefore he was rewarded with a Michelin star.
(Calle de San Salvador, 17, 21003 Huelva, from 55€)

And the list goes on and on. There are just so many renowned restaurants, it’s a pleasure for every food lover and gastronomic expert.
If you enjoyed reading this post come back for the next one to learn even more about Spain and its rich culture.

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