Discover the gastronomy of the Costa Brava: Palamós prawn, suquet, rice dishes, Michelin temples and luxury experiences such as private tastings and star-studded dinners. Stay with The Sun Places.
🍤 At The Sun Places, luxury is also savoured.
That's why we've created this Costa Brava Gastronomy guide, a journey through the most authentic and exclusive flavours of the Mediterranean.
Stay at our Luxury Accommodation in Costa Brava and let yourself be seduced by prawns, rice and Michelin stars.
The Costa Brava Gastronomy is a living heritage that combines seafaring tradition, locally sourced produce and the creativity of some of the world's best chefs.
From the port of Palamós to the coves of Tamariu, through the Pals Rice Fields and the Empordà wineries, every bite tells a story.
Today we take you to discover the dishes, restaurants and most exclusive gastronomic experiences in the region.
🌍 What does Costa Brava Gastronomy represent for the region and for The Sun Places?
The Costa Brava Gastronomy is a fundamental pillar of the cultural and economic identity of Empordà.
For the region, it represents centuries of fishing, rice-growing and winemaking tradition, as well as a commitment to quality and sustainability.
For Catalonia, it is an international benchmark that attracts high-spending travellers in search of unique culinary experiences.
And for The Sun Places, gastronomy is an essential part of authentic luxury: the luxury of sitting on a terrace overlooking the sea, of meeting the fisherman who caught your dinner, of being surprised by a tasting menu at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Our Luxury Accommodation in Costa Brava are located near the best restaurants and markets, and we can arrange private tastings, fish market visits and in-villa chef dinners.
We are committed to a relaxed, respectful and exclusive gastronomic tourism.
🍤 Palamós prawn: the caviar of the Mediterranean
The Palamós prawn is, without question, one of the star products of Costa Brava Gastronomy.
It is caught in the deep waters of the Montgrí Natural Park, the Medes Islands and the Baix Ter, and its flavour is intense, sweet and slightly salty.
Its firm texture and head full of juice (the famous "suquet de cap de gamba") make it a delicacy coveted by chefs around the world.
The best way to enjoy it is grilled, with just a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Or boiled, to appreciate its texture and natural flavour.
Restaurants specialising in Palamós prawns often offer tasting menus where the prawn takes centre stage.
🍽️ Where to eat Palamós prawn exclusively?
- Restaurant La Gamba (Palamós): pioneers in promoting Palamós prawn. Terrace with harbour views and ultra-fresh produce.
- El Raco de Palamós (Palamós): traditional seafood cuisine with modern touches. Their grilled prawn is legendary.
- Restaurant Aiguablava (Begur): although famous for its rice dishes, it also serves Palamós prawns in season, with sea views.
🍲 Suquet de peix: the quintessential fisherman's stew
Suquet de peix is the most traditional dish of Costa Brava Gastronomy.
It is a stew of rock fish (scorpionfish, gurnard, monkfish, etc.) with potatoes, almonds and a garlic and parsley picada.
Its origins date back to fishermen who, at the end of the day, prepared a broth with the smallest catches and potatoes from the garden.
Today it is a haute cuisine dish served in the finest restaurants.
The texture should be creamy but not thick; the flavour, intense and deep.
It is accompanied by good rustic bread for dipping into the sauce.
🍽️ Where to try the best suquet de peix?
- Can Xiquet (Vulpellac): traditional Catalan cuisine in a medieval village. Their suquet is famous among locals.
- Restaurant Can Segura (Sant Feliu de Guíxols): in the harbour, with fresh daily catch.
- Barraca de S'Alguer (Sant Feliu de Guíxols): in the very cove, they cook the suquet over coals, giving it a smoky touch.
If you want to learn how to cook it, some restaurants offer private cooking workshops. Ask at The Sun Places.
🍚 Sea and mountain rice and black rice: two rice classics
Rice is another of the great protagonists of Costa Brava Gastronomy.
Sea and mountain rice combines seafood (prawns, mussels, squid) with meat (chicken, rabbit, sausage). It is a hearty and flavoursome dish, very popular throughout Catalonia.
Black rice, on the other hand, is coloured with cuttlefish or squid ink, giving it an intense colour and a very characteristic sea flavour.
Both rices are cooked in a paella pan or clay casserole, and served with aioli on the side.
The quality of the rice is essential: Pals rice, grown in the marshes of Baix Ter, is the chefs' favourite.
Soon we will tell you more in our guide on Pals Rice Fields.
🍽️ Where to eat luxury rice dishes?
- La Roca (Peratallada): specialists in broth-based and dry rices. Their Palamós prawn rice is unforgettable.
- Restaurant Terrassa (Tamariu): black rice with cuttlefish and aioli. Terrace facing the sea.
- Can Lluís (Monells): sea and mountain rice in a dreamlike rural setting.
- For a unique experience, book a rice tasting at the Pals Rice Field itself, where the producer will explain the cultivation and cook the rice for you.
⭐ The temples of haute cuisine: Celler de Can Roca, Compartir and El Bulli
Costa Brava Gastronomy would not be the same without the revolution of El Bulli nor the current leadership of Celler de Can Roca and Compartir.
El Bulli, led by Ferran Adrià, forever changed world cuisine with its techniques of foams, jellies and deconstructions. Although the restaurant closed in 2011, its legacy lives on at the elBulli Foundation and in the minds of the most creative chefs. We invite you to read our guide El Bulli and his cuisine.
Celler de Can Roca, in Girona, has been voted the best restaurant in the world three times by the 50 Best list. The Roca brothers — Joan, Jordi and Josep — offer a tasting menu that is a journey through Catalonia's emotional memory. Booking months in advance is essential. Read more at Celler de Can Roca: the luxury of the senses.
Compartir, in Cadaqués, was born from the hands of former El Bulli chefs Mateu Casañas, Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruch. Their cuisine is more relaxed and accessible, but with the same creativity and top-quality produce. Don't miss our review of Compartir: the germ of the world's best cuisine.
⭐ Luxury gastronomic experiences with The Sun Places
From our Luxury Accommodation in Costa Brava, we organise for you:
- Booking at Celler de Can Roca, Compartir or other Michelin-starred restaurants (we manage reservations months in advance).
- Private dinner in your apartment with a chef who has worked at El Bulli or Can Roca.
- Luxury tapas tour in Girona with a Catalan gastronomy expert.
🍷 Pairings with wines from the DO Empordà
Costa Brava Gastronomy would not be complete without the wines of the Empordà Denomination of Origin.
The winemaking tradition dates back to the Greeks and Romans, and today wineries such as Perelada, Castillo de Peralada, Mas Estela and Vinyes dels Aspres produce powerful reds (cariñena and garnacha), fresh whites and very fruity rosés.
Empordà red wine is ideal for accompanying fish stews and rice dishes. White wine, for prawns and seafood.
We recommend visiting a winery for a private tasting paired with local products (cheeses, cured meats, country bread).
🍷 Exclusive wine tastings with The Sun Places
- Private tasting at Castillo de Peralada, including a visit to the wine library and art collection.
- Wine and chocolate pairing at Mas Estela winery.
- Luxury picnic in a vineyard with sea views, with a basket of products from the DO Empordà.
- Private transfer from winery to winery with a driver so you can enjoy without worry.
🏺 Local producers: fishermen, rice growers and artisans
The secret of Costa Brava Gastronomy lies in its producers.
Getting to know them is an authentic luxury experience. We suggest:
- Visit to the Palamós fish market at dawn, to see the prawn and fresh fish auction. Some guilds offer guided tours for small groups.
- Tour of the Pals rice fields, where a farmer will explain organic rice cultivation and the marsh ecosystem. Coming soon at Pals Rice Fields.
- Pottery workshop in La Bisbal, where you will learn to make your own clay pieces, which you can then use for cooking or decorating. We'll tell you about it at Ceramics of La Bisbal.
- Meeting with a fisherman from Tamariu or Calella de Palafrugell, who will take you on his boat to cast the nets and cook the fish for you on the beach.
All these experiences can be arranged through the concierge at The Sun Places.
🍽️ Where to eat exclusively: Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury beach bars
In addition to the already mentioned temples, Costa Brava Gastronomy offers many other high-level establishments:
- Massana (Girona): one Michelin star, market cuisine with garden and sea produce.
- Bo.Tic (Corçà): restaurant of the Torres brothers (three stars in Barcelona) who opened this more informal but equally creative project.
- Els Tinars (Llagostera): traditional cuisine with modern touches, famous for its carabineros rice.
- Luxury beach bar Sa Rascassa (Begur): rice and fresh fish on a terrace overlooking Sa Riera beach. Ideal for an informal but high-quality meal.
- El Gin Tonic (Sant Feliu de Guíxols): beach club with cocktails and gourmet tapas at sunset.
Check our guide on Calella de Palafrugell and its beaches to discover more charming beach bars.
🗓️ Perfect plan with The Sun Places to enjoy Costa Brava Gastronomy
Fancy savouring Costa Brava Gastronomy with maximum comfort?
We propose a 3-day luxury gastronomic itinerary:
Day 1 (Arrival and Palamós prawn):
- In the morning: Visit to the Palamós fish market (if possible).
- Lunch at Restaurant La Gamba or El Raco de Palamós.
- In the afternoon: Stroll around the harbour and the Fishing Museum.
- Dinner at a luxury beach bar on Castell beach or in Palamós.
Day 2 (Rice and Michelin-starred dinner):
- Breakfast in the apartment.
- Rice lunch at La Roca (Peratallada) or Can Lluís (Monells).
Day 3 (Wine tastings and farewell):
- Lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant near the winery (concierge recommendation).
- Luggage collection and transfer to the airport.
📌 Practical tips for enjoying Costa Brava Gastronomy in style
- Book Michelin-starred restaurants at least 4 months in advance. We can help you.
- Hire a gastronomic guide for visits to the fish market, rice fields and wineries.
- Learn a few words in Catalan to communicate with producers ("gràcies", "bon profit").
- Don't miss the opportunity to take home local products: frozen prawns, Pals rice, DO Empordà wine or La Bisbal Ceramics.
- Make the most of The Sun Places concierge services to organise private transfers, bookings and bespoke experiences.
📞 Contact The Sun Places and let us organise your luxury gastronomic getaway through Costa Brava Gastronomy.
We advise you on the best accommodation, restaurants and experiences so you can savour the most exclusive Mediterranean.
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