ASADOR ETXEBARRI — THE WORLD’S BEST RESTAURANT 2026 One Michelin Star In the tiny Basque hamlet of Axpe, beneath the mountains of Atxondo, Asador Etxebarri began life as a long-closed local bar. Bittor Arginzoniz bought the building in 1989 and opened the restaurant in 1990, teaching himself to cook and gradually developing his extraordinary command of wood-fired cooking. He designed much of the equipment himself, allowing him to cook everything from seafood and vegetables

CAPOTE Y TOROS HAM & SHERRY BAR Capote y Toros South Kensington opened in 2011 as part of Abel Lusa’s successful Cambio de Tercio restaurant group. He aimed to recreate the atmosphere of a traditional Andalusian taberna, bringing a little of Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera, and Sevilla to London’s Old Brompton Road. The intimate bar quickly became known for its remarkable selection of sherries, originally numbering more than 100, alongside an excellent selection of Spanish tapas.

DIS TINTO TABERNA MADRID WINE & TAPAS We visited DisTinto Taberna Madrid Wine & Bar with Mark Walsh of Walsh Jewery. The restaurant bar opened in 2018 in Madrid’s Barrio de las Letras, just a few steps from Plaza de Jesús. Unlike some of its historic neighbours, this relatively modern establishment retains much of the atmosphere of a traditional Spanish tavern. Founded by four cousins with extensive hospitality and wine experience, DisTinto quickly built a reputation for its

RESTAURANTE ES VENTALL Michelin Plate IIO Es Ventall Ibiza is one of our favourite restaurants in Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio): The restaurant has been open for over 35 years. Since 2005, when the younger José Miguel Bonet took over, the traditional dishes have been given a much more inventive twist. However, they still include many of the island’s favourites. These include rice dishes, such as paella, fideuá, arroz a banda, bullit de peix, and fish and seafood. Th

LA JOSEFITA IBIZA La Josefita is a charming little restaurant located in the backstreets of Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio), close to the famous West End, which is currently undergoing a significant transformation from its previous, wilder incarnation. This tapas restaurant, opened in August 2023, pays tribute to Grandma Pepita - Josefa Pepita. The Josefita offers a concise menu of reimagined, familiar tapas. We started with; Berenjena frita (deep-fried aubergine). Tost

KBZÓN TXIKI During our 2025 trip, we discovered a spot we had not been to before: Bar Kbzón Txiki, a small hidden gem in the parte vieja (old town) that offers a delightful culinary experience. The atmosphere is inviting, and the decor is charming. The bar offers innovative dishes crafted from familiar ingredients. They appear to use the sous vide method in their excellent cooking, which enhances the flavours. We settled in and ordered a couple of glasses of txakoli, the refr

APONIENTE Three Michelin Stars A return visit to the Angel León restaurant, Aponiente, renowned for its cuisine of the sea and exclusively seafood. After relocating from its previous site in the centre of El Puerto de Santa María, the new and much more glamorous restaurant is situated just outside of town in what was once an old flour mill built in 1815. A small river or stream flows beneath the current building, and the energy it produced for the mill was used to grind

AZURMENDI Three Michelin Stars Chef Eneko Atxa Azurmendi was the youngest Spanish chef to obtain 3 Michelin stars in 2012. You will understand why when you visit this subtropical glasshouse, which overlooks the beautiful Basque countryside and is located 25 minutes from Bilbao. Azurmendi operates as a self-sustaining ecosystem focused on sustainability. It is environmentally friendly, utilises renewable energy sources, recycles all generated waste, collects rainwater, and

JOSÉ CARLOS GARCIA One Michelin Star UPDATE JUNE 2026 Rumour has it that Michelin-starred chef José Carlos García was planning to move his restaurant from Malaga Port. Even he wasn’t entirely sure about his new destination. While he knew he wanted to leave the port, the location remained uncertain. Finally, the Malaga-born chef, who has held a Michelin star at his eponymous restaurant for nearly 15 years, is returning to his roots. “It was a difficult decision, but I’

AIRE GASTROBAR Michelin Guide A return to Aire Gastrobar. This longstanding favourite in Málaga City is ideally located in the heart of town, just a short walk from the Bullring (Plaza de Toros). After settling in, we began with Jamón ibérico de castaña-bellota from the Genal Valley in Ronda (this luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth Iberian ham comes from pigs fed on chestnuts and acorns). Croquetas de gambas al pil-pil con emulsión de sus cabezas (prawn croquettes in pil-pil sau