Beside the Mediterranean in Barceloneta, the old fishermen’s quarter of the city that has been progressively gentrified during the past 20 years, this relaxed and friendly restaurant is run by chef Xavier Pellicer, who won an outsize reputation when he was cooking at two-star ABaC. Here, he specializes in Catalan rice dishes such as the outstanding rice with baby squid and squid’s ink.
Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta 1, Barcelona. Tel. (34) 93-224-1253.
This dressy Argentine steakhouse features delicious empanadas and succulent
steaks from the pampas. The wine list is outstanding.
Carrer de Valencia 267, Barcelona. Tel. (34) 93-272-4766.
Chef Jordi Esteve won a Michelin star this year for his contemporary Catalan cooking at this calm, elegant dining room. Dishes such as lobster salad with shiitake mushrooms and a mandarin orange dressing, and grilled squid and artichokes with a honey sauce show off his style.
Carrer de Valencia 28, Barcelona. Tel. (34) 93-226-8718.
The seafood tasting menus at chef Albert Adrià’s small, stylish restaurant specialize in Peruvian-Japanese cooking and dazzle with the freshness of their ingredients and unexpected combinations of flavor and texture.
Carrer Lleida 5, Barcelona. Online booking only.
Young Madrid-born chef David Muñoz won a third Michelin star this year. His restaurant in the gritty Tetuán district offers an intriguing experience for anyone keen to try a delicious but uncompromisingly avant-garde meal. The casual dining room is run by serious young staff who are attentive and cordial as they lead you through the various tasting menus. Muñoz is fascinated by Asia, and his cuisine represents a successful meeting of Iberian and Oriental ingredients and cooking techniques, as seen in dishes such as curried green coconut milk soup with clams, scallops, flying fish eggs and garnishes of whitebait; grilled sardine napped with green jalapeño pepper juice; and beef with herring and tomato, peanut butter, yuzu, lime and cider. If this all sounds rather wild, it is. And that’s the point.
Calle Padre Damian 23, Madrid. Tel. (34) 91-570-0766.
This pair of warm and friendly dining rooms on the eastern side of Retiro Park is popular with Madrid’s chefs when they want a meal of Spanish comfort food on their nights off. Dishes not to miss include the ham croquettes filled with béchamel sauce and chopped ham, sautéed potatoes with egg and black truffle, and roasted gratinéed cod with black olive tapenade.
Calle del Doctor Castelo 2, Madrid; Tel. (34) 91-557-2691. Avenida de Menendez Pelayo 13, Madrid; Tel. (34) 91-409-5661.
Andrew Harper members have access to full travel-planning services through Andrew Harper Travel.
1 (800) 375-4685
Open M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM CT
