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Photo: Casa Bernardi in Benissa
That food and drink is taken very seriously in Spain is no secret. Those who want to take it even more seriously can visit one of Spain’s more than 250 Michelin-starred restaurants. Spanish gastronomy at its best! In this blog, we focus on Michelin-starred restaurants on the Costa Blanca.
The modest luxury life on the Costa Blanca
The Costa Blanca is the perfect region for those who love an understated luxury life. It is not without reason that many celebrities and professionals in the sports and business world have a house or second home on the Costa Blanca North or Costa Blanca South. Here you can enjoy everything Spain has to offer, such as culture, history, nature and, of course, the wonderful climate. If desired, you can look for luxury, for example with a chic dinner in one of the starred restaurants on the Costa Blanca.
All Michelin-starred restaurants Costa Blanca 2024
On November 28, 2023 was the most recent presentation of Michelin-starred restaurants in Spain. The 2024 list consists of no fewer than 13 starred restaurants on the Costa Blanca, including one three-starred restaurant and two two-starred restaurants. We’ve listed them for you, in order of most stars.
1. Quique Dacosta, Denia ***
Which should definitely not be missed is the region’s only three-star restaurant: Quique Dacosta. This restaurant is considered one of the best restaurants in the world! Chef Quique Dacosta has already received numerous awards and prizes, including the three Michelin stars for his eponymous restaurant in Denia. He has also been named best chef in Europe by the prestigious International Academy of Gastronomy.
Dacosta is known for his use of local ingredients, many of them from the nearby Montgó Natural Park. He is widely recognised for his innovative and creative approach to cooking, combining traditional Spanish cuisine with avant-garde techniques.
Besides the three-star restaurant in Denia, Quique Dacosta has other restaurants, including El Poblet in Valencia, with two Michelin stars.
Restaurante Quique Dacosta
Calle Rascassa 1, Denia
Reservations
By phone: +34 965 78 41 79
Website: quiquedacosta.es
2. BonAmb, Javea **
In Javea you will find BonAmb, a two-Michelin-starred Costa Blanca North restaurant run by chef Alberto Ferruz and his team. They are known for innovative, Mediterranean dishes using the best local and seasonal ingredients.
The restaurant offers several ‘tasting menus’, including a vegetarian option. Menus change regularly based on the availability of ingredients and the creativity of the chef.
BonAmb is located in a beautiful setting overlooking the Montgó Natural Park and the Mediterranean Sea. The restaurant has a modern chic interior, with an open kitchen through which you can see the chefs at work.
The restaurant has received numerous awards and recognition in addition to its two Michelin stars, including a spot on the list of the world’s 50 best restaurants. If you are looking for an exceptional dining experience in a beautiful location, BonAmb is the place to be.
Restaurante BonAmb
Calle de Benitachell 100, Javea
Reservations
By phone: +34 965 08 44 40
Website: bonamb.com
3. L'Escaleta, Cocentaina **
A little further inland on the Costa Blanca, you’ll find L’Escaleta with two Michelin stars. The restaurant is headed by chef Kiko Moya and he is assisted by his nephew and sommelier Alberto Redrado, who was named Best Sommelier in Spain in 2019.
L’Escaleta’s menu is heavily influenced by the traditions and flavours of Mediterranean cuisine, combining both modern and classic dishes. One of the restaurant’s signature elements is the use of herbs and spices grown in their own garden.
The restaurant is located in an old finca and in the interior you can see a lot of attention to detail and an eye for design. It’s not just the inside that’s a picture, as the terrace is also a great place to sit, with stunning views of the Sierra de Mariola mountains.
Restaurante L’Escaleta
Subida la Estacion del Norte 205, Cocentaina
Reservations
By phone: +34 965 59 21 00
Website: lescaleta.com
4. El Xato, La Nucia *
Close to Altea and Benidorm, you will find the restaurant El Xato, with one Michelin star, in the town of La Nucia. The restaurant has been around for more than 100 years, but has held the acclaimed star since 2019 thanks to Cristina Figueira‘s cooking.
El Xato offers traditional Spanish cuisine with an accent on rice dishes and fresh seafood. Some signature dishes on the menu include Arroz con Costra, a fried rice dish with crispy egg on top, Arroz a Banda, a rice and seafood dish cooked in a tasteful broth, and Caldereta de Pescado, a hearty fish stew.
The restaurant is located in a charming 19th-century building. One of its striking features are the beautiful, hand-painted ceramic tiles that adorn the walls and floors. There is also a terrace.
Restaurante El Xato
Av. l’Església 3, La Nucia
Reservations
By phone: +34 965 87 09 31
Website: elxato.com
5. Peix & Brases, Denia *
In Denia, head to the one-Michelin-starred Peix & Brases restaurant, which specialises in seafood and grilled meats.
The restaurant has two different ambiances: the gastro-bar ‘Mediterrasian‘ on the ground floor, where more informal fusion-style dishes are served, and the gourmet dining room on the first floor, with access to a beautiful roof terrace. Here you have an extensive à la carte of traditional Mediterranean cuisine, with a focus on open grill, along with savoury rice dishes and top-quality fresh seasonal ingredients.
Peix & Brases is located almost opposite Denia’s marina, offering great views of the Mediterranean Sea and the arrival and departure of boats.
Restaurante Peix & Brases
Plaza Benidorm 18, Denia
Reservations
By phone: +34 965 78 27 57
Website: peixibrases.com
6. Beat, Calpe *
Beat is a one-Michelin-starred restaurant in Calpe, which is run by chef Jose Manuel Miguel. The menu is a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine.
Chef Jose Manuel Miguel works closely with local farmers and producers to select and use the best and freshest ingredients. The dishes at Beat are creative and visually a picture to behold. Some signature dishes include the ravioli filled with seafood and ginger broth, the grilled octopus with truffle sauce and artichokes and the tempura of vegetables with soy and yuzu dip.
The restaurant is located near the coast of Calpe. It is located in The Cookbook Gastro Boutique Hotel & Spa.
Restaurante Beat
Partida Marisol Park 1, Calpe
Reservations
By phone: +34 628 27 78 58
Website: ar-hotel.com/restaurantes-calpe/beat
7. Tula, Javea *
In Javea you will find another starred restaurant, which is the restaurant Tula with one Michelin star, headed by the couple Borja Susilla and Clara Puig.
Susilla and Puig’s tasty dishes reflect their experience in big restaurants, and for good reason … they were able to gain this experience during their internship with chef Quique Dacosta! You will find many market suggestions with fish which has been slaughtered with “Ike Jime,” a Japanese technique that intensifies the taste.
Tula is located right across the sandy beach of El Arenal. As they describe it themselves in “a modest space with no tasting menu and no white tablecloths.
Restaurante Tula
Avinguda de la Libertad , 36, Javea
Reservations
By phone: +34 966 47 17 45
Website: tula.es
8. Casa Pepa, Ondara *
In the town of Ondara, just under 10 kilometres from Denia, you will find the restaurant Casa Pepa. The restaurant was founded by chef Pepa Romans and has had one Michelin star since 2012.
Since 2019, Casa Pepa has been under the wing of the BonAmb group, known for the two-star restaurant by the same name in Javea. With Emmanuelle Baron in the kitchen and BonAmb’s award-winning chef Alberto Ferruz, you can be sure that all culinary senses will be stimulated. The cuisine is modern-Mediterranean with a twist on classic dishes.
The restaurant is located in a rustic finca. After a makeover, it now boasts an attractive terrace with palm trees, olive trees, a hundred-year-old vine.
Restaurante Casa Pepa
Partida Pamis 7-30, Ondara
Reservations
By phone: +34 965 76 66 06
Website: capepa.es
9. Orobianco, Calpe *
Italian food, but next level. Orobianco is a restaurant in Calpe and has its one Michelin star back with chef Andrea Drago behind the wheel. It is known for its contemporary approach to Italian cuisine, using modern techniques and seasonal ingredients.
The restaurant is headed by gastronomic director Paolo Casagrande, formerly chef de cuisine of the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Lasarte in Barcelona. The restaurant offers a ‘tasting menu’ that changes regularly to showcase the best of the season’s ingredients.
The restaurant is located a few kilometres from the coast of Calpe, giving you stunning views of the town, the sea and the Peñón de Ifach.
Restaurante Orobianco
Partida Colina del Sol 49A, Calpe
Reservations
By phone: +34 966 80 66 61
Website: orobianco.es
10. Audrey's, Calpe *
Another starred restaurant in Calpe, the sophisticated Audrey’s by Rafa Soler with one Michelin star. This restaurant is known for experimenting with traditional Mediterranean cuisine, focusing on local ingredients.
Rafa Soler Atanet, chef and ambassador of Mediterranean gastronomy, can be considered one of the most important national representatives of haute cuisine. He started under the tutelage of chef Martín Berasategui and his talent took him to kitchens such as L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Paris.
The restaurant is located in Hotel AR Diamante Beach, a few minutes’ walk from the seafront.
Restaurante Audrey’s
Av. Juan Carlos I 48, Calpe
Reservations
By phone: +34 608 66 76 37
Website: audreys.es
11. Baeza & Rufete, Alicante *
Baeza & Rufete is a restaurant in Alicante city with one Michelin star. It is named after chef Juan Baeza Rufete, who is known for his creative and innovative approach to Spanish cuisine.
The restaurant offers a ‘tasting menu’ that changes regularly, with dishes prepared with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The common thread in the dishes are different types of olive oil and aromatic herbs. Some of the most popular dishes at Baeza Rufete include Iberian pork with apple and wasabi, smoked eel with cauliflower cream and sea bass with red shrimp broth.
Baeza & Rufete is located in the Playa de San Juan district, within walking distance of the beach.
Restaurante Baeza & Rufete
Av. de Ansaldo 31, Alicante
Reservations
By phone: +34 965 16 22 47
Website: baezarufete.com
12. Casa Bernardi, Benissa *
A new addition to the Marina Alta area is Casa Bernardi in Benissa, a one-Michelin-starred Italian restaurant.
Casa Bernardi is run by Ferdinando Bernardi, a talented chef originally from Rimini, Italy. The cuisine is modern Italian, with a strong focus on careful preparation, including perfectly al dente pasta and delicious Mediterranean dishes. Ingredients come from the Alicante region and local suppliers.
Due to the restaurant’s elevated position, there are stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea from the terrace.
Restaurante Casa Bernardi
Partida Pedramala, 60C, Benissa
Reservations
By phone: +34 622 30 86 25
Website: casabernardi.es
13. La Finca, Elche *
We complete the list in the south of the Costa Blanca, in Elche. Here you will find the restaurant La Finca, with one Michelin star. It is run by Spain’s renowned chef Susi Díaz.
Díaz is known for her focus on market cuisine, using local and seasonal products to create dishes that reflect the flavours and aromas of the region. Some of the top dishes on the menu at La Finca Elche include arroz meloso with duck sea bass fillet with cockles and roast scallop with pumpkin and curry.
As the name suggests, the restaurant is located in a traditional Spanish finca, surrounded by gardens and nature.
Restaurante La Finca
Camí de Perleta 1, 7, Elche
Reservations
By phone: +34 965 45 60 07
Website: lafinca.es
More on Costa Blanca
If finedining is your thing, be sure to save this list of Michelin-starred restaurants Costa Blanca for your next visit and be sure to check out the starred restaurants in Valencia too.
Wondering what else this region has to offer and what kind of houses are for sale in this area? Then check out the page Property for sale in Costa Blanca.
If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us.
