Indulge yourself in the finest dining experiences that this region of Spain has to offer, featuring 13 Michelin-starred restaurants and a few charming local eateries that made the Michelin guide, but didn't quite get a star this year. Explore Gastronomy and Dining out in the Girona region at its very, very best!
With every client, I ask, "what could we have done better or what improvments would they like to see at CCD in the future". Of course, I love it when they say, "Nothing ! CCD is perfect just as it is !". Some are good , some are wierd, whereas some suggestions just get tossed in the ,"Well, that's never going to happen", bin, (like the idea of a pool bar), but with all of them, I really do listen, and I weigh up the pro's and con's of cost vs practicality vs cost effectiveness vs health and safety etc.. But, most ideas are pretty good ones as we strive to raise the bar with rental property standards here on the Costa Brava.
So, with our lovely clients at CCD, (we are so lucky to have such lovely regular clients), it was only a matter of time before someone suggested that I included some more upmarket restaurants in our Villa guide. You see, I am the kind of person that always tries to find a nice relaxed place to eat with a good view, good basic food, cold beer, good wine, good service and more importantly one that doesn't break the bank....There are many terms for this... I prefer the word "frugal".
So, for those that don't want to spend a small fortune on a meal, here are four classic Catalan style restaurants that immediately spring to mind. Mas Pou (best snails in the world) situated in the the medieval village of Palau Sator, El Palangui (best fideua in Catalunya) a superb-value classic Catalan restaurant right on the beach in Tamariu, one of the prettiest bays on the Costa Brava, Can Mia (a real Catalan experience with the king of meats) with all produce hand reared and home grown to the north of Girona and Els Metges, "the restaurant at the end of the universe". See our blog on that little gem here....
However, I also understand that for some of our clients, coming to CCD is a once or twice a year treat and part of that experience is to go out for a really nice meal.
But, last week, I got a request for somewhere really special as a surprise birthday celebration for clients that are new to the area and it was actually a real challenge to find one with so many great places to choose from. So, in this blog, we are going stratospheric with all 13 of the Michelin starred restaurants in the Girona region, each with their own unique style and approach to fine dining. I have to own up now and say that I have never been to any of these places, but if Michelin see's fit to say that they are great places to eat, then who am I to argue...
I have had to wait to publish this blog though as the clients were the last ones in CCD in October and I didn't want to spoil his birthday surprise. You have no idea how frustrating it was to have a written blog just sitting there, staring at me every morning just waiting for me to push the "publish" button and sit back waiting for all the glory and literary accolades to come flooding in..... Like anyone actually reads them anyway 😏 So, Alles Gute zum Geburtstag M, Ich hoffe, dass Ihnen der Karottenkuchen und Ihr fantastisches Essen gefallen haben.
So, back to those Michelin stars that you are craving for; an anniversary, a birthday, collecting stars or just wanting to go somewhere really, really, REALLY "nice".
Based on a superbly written article by Naturaki, We give you their definitive 2024 guide to 13 restaurants with no less than 18 Michelin stars between them..
"With hard work, perseverance and honesty, gastronomy professionals have managed to turn Girona into a spectacular constellation of Michelin stars, comprising 13 establishments in Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà, Garrotxa, Gironès, Ripollès and Selva."
3 Stars : El Celler de Can Roca (Girona)
2 Stars : Les Cols (Olot)
Miramar (Llança)
Bo·Tic (Corça)
1 Star : Massana (Girona)
Els Tinars (Llagostera)
Empòrium (Castelló d'Empúries)
L'Aliança 1919 (Anglès)
La cuina d'en Simón (Tossa de Mar)
Les Magnolies (La Selva)
Fonda Xesc (Gombren)
Ca l'Enric (La Vall de Bianya)
18 stars covering 13 restaurants make Girona the province that has accumulated more Michelin stars per capita than anywhere else in the world. Well, I'll have to fact-check that one.... In high season (June to September) you'll definitely need to reserve a table. Some like Celler de Can Roca open up their books for one day a year (I believe) and are fully booked by the end of it ! It must be good! However, out of season, you'll find this area refreshingly free of tourists, although I'd always advise you to reserve a table. Catalunya is a pardise waiting to be explored - An undiscovered country of light between sea and mountains and it has attracted some of the most talented chefs in the industry and if you are here to enjoy the food, and maybe also the (golf, beaches, sunshine, walking, hiking, biking, ballooning, sky diving, scuba... oh I could go on.....) then you will not be disappointed.
To sum up, (yeah, yeah, I'm getting there)... whilst researching a suitable establishment for the upcoming birthday bash, I had some recomendations from clients, locals and friends who really appreciate this style of restaurant. Although these places don't have a star, most are already in the Michelin guide and they certainly come under the "notable mentions and runners up categories."
Restaurant Normal (Girona)
El Mimolet (Girona)
Divinum (Girona)
El Dvisi (Palamós)
Blue Fish (an excellent chirringuito on the beach at Sant Antoni de Calonge)
Can Roquet, (a charming restaurant in the Gavarres hills above the Villa at Romanya de la Selva)
Watch out for my next blog on local tapas bars !
Talking of tapas, we used to do a tapas evening in Palamós where I would show my clients around the old town and some of the lesser touristy places, but then my kids came along and it was no longer practical. Now that they are older, maybe I'll start that one up again ! It sure was a lot of fun, especially when we occassionally ran into Santi, our local flamenco guitarist and he would do an impromptu session !
By the way, CCD is almost fully booked for high season next year ! We have availability from April until June, but then it's pretty much booked until November 2025. Normally, I tell my clients that there's no real need to book until after Christmas, but this year, if you want specific dates, I would not wait until the last minute.
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