10 of the best restaurants in Spain

Spain is renowned for its fantastic cuisine, from the classics such as paella and gazpacho to theheavily seafood influenced dishes such as suquet (seafood stew) and empanada (bread pies filledwith shellfish) there are thousands of new and exciting flavours to try while holidaying in Spain.

If you are a bit of a foodie and are looking to try out some of the finest dishes while youre away,then take a look at our guide to 10 of the best restaurants to visit in Spain.

1. El Bulli

El Bulli, the Michelin 3 star restaurant on the north-east tip of Spain, is regarded as being one of thevery best restaurants in the World. El Bulli has featured as the number one restaurant in the worldby Restaurant Magazine a record five times, and is run by head chef Ferran Adria.

Typical dishes include: hot and cold trout roe tempura and tapioca of Iberian ham.

2. Mugaritz

Mugaritz features head chef Andoni Aduriz, who was an apprentice at El Bulli. Situated in SanSebastian, and similar to El Bulli, has been recognised as being one of the best restaurants in theWorld, with two Michelin stars. A fire destroyed the kitchen of Mugaritz in February 2010, but it wasquickly restored to working order and opened back up for business.

Typical dishes include: ceramic potatoes and monkfish cheek.

3. Arzak

Another fantastic Basque restaurant is Arzak situated in San Sebastian, with the cooking doneby a unique father-daughter combination. Arzak mixes robust Mediterranean flavors with the21st Century, delivering a truly once in a lifetime experience. Consider opting for the highly-recommended 16-course taster menu while visiting.

Typical dishes include: smoked white tuna with fresh figs and pine nuts.

4. Can Fabes

Can Fabes is dedicated to delivering s! ome of t he finest Spanish cuisine in the country, with classicaldishes at the forefront of the menu. The clock never ticks at Can Fabes with it standing outas one of the unique restaurants in which you are encouraged to stay, talk and have an all roundenjoyable evening after you have finished your meal. Can Fabes was also the first Catalan restaurantto be become a Michelin 3-star establishment.

Typical dishes include: hot-and-cold mackerel and tender pigeon with duck tartare.

5. Martin Berasategui

Spains Martin Berasategui is one of the most unique restaurants in Spain in the sense that you willvery rarely hear about a bad experience being had by diners. Traditional cooking techniques areblended with science to coax out the most wonderful flavours in the boldest of dishes. As with someof the other big-hitters in this list, Martin Berasategui holds 3 Michelin stars.

Typical dishes include: grilled sole with liquid chili and smoked fish snout.

6. El Celler de Can Roca

Headed up by Joan Roca, El Celler de Can Roca is the work of three brothers. Along with a stunningSpanish menu, the popular restaurant is most well known for the dining experience, featuring a winecellar offering diners a complete audio-visual journey through the five key wine regions in Spain, anda phenomenal dining space crafted with organic materials.

Typical dishes include: baby squids with onion rocks and Tahitian vanilla ice cream.

7. Jockey

A favourite amongst celebrity visitors to the region, Madrids Jockey blends traditional cuisine withFrench tendencies. The cuisine is elaborated to satisfy the most demanding of tastes, with eachnew chef priding themselves on developing new and creative dishes. Along with the Michelin-starredfood, there is also a modest choice of over 700 varieties of wine and spirits to choose from.

Typical dishes include: grill-roasted young pigeon and sole filets with figs in Chardonnay.

8. La Terr! aza del Casino de Madrid

La Terraza del Casino de Madrid is another one of restaurants from El Bulli owner Ferran Adria, andlies on the top floor of Madrids casino. The an experimental yet mouth-watering restaurant, LaTerraza offers some of the finest cuisine in the Spanish capitol, featuring attentive staff and servicethat is regarding by most as being perfect.

Typical dishes include: Asturian bean soup and jamon jabugo (cured ham from acorn-fed pigs).

9. Sant Pau

Sant Pau is a three Michelin starred restaurant headed up by Carme Ruscalleda the only woman inSpain to receive 3 stars. Situated just north of Barcelona, Sant Pau is a fusion of traditional Catalancuisine blended together with Ruscalledas modern twist. The dining area of the restaurant is splitbetween a romantic first room with a contrasting summary second.

Typical dishes include: Iberian pork shoulder and stuffed calamari.

10. Cal Pep

Although one frequented by many tourists to the region, Barcelonas Cap Pep is famous for its freshsea food tapas and fantastic atmosphere. Cal Pep is known for being a true local experience, servingup a whole manner of Catalan classics in a warm and welcoming environment. This two-Michelinstar restaurant aims to push the boundaries of the traditional palate.

Typical dishes include: shellfish a la plancha

Whats your favourite?

With so many fantastic restaurants across the breadth of Spain, there are endless possibilitiesno matter where you decide to venture out to this summer. Do you have a favourite place toexperience some traditional cuisine while in Spain? Wed love to hear your suggestions!

Kieron Josep is an Oline Marketing Execuitive at Thomson Al Fresco, a provider of family holidays throughout Europe.

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