Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona
🍽️ At number 163 on Carrer de Villarroel, in the heart of the Eixample district, facing the bustling Mercat del Ninot, stands a venue that from the outside seems discreet, almost anonymous. However, behind its simple façade lies Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona, one of the most important gastronomic temples in the world.
The three chefs who run it —Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas— have taken avant-garde cuisine to the international summit. At The Sun Places we want to tell you everything about its history, its awards, its philosophy and why staying in the city with us is the perfect choice to experience a complete luxury experience.
What is the history of Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona?
📜 History and origins: from elBulli to the world summit
The origin of Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona dates back to the 1990s, when Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas met in the legendary kitchens of El Bulli, the restaurant of Ferran Adrià that revolutionised world cuisine. All three became head chefs and key pieces of the creative team of the Cala Montjoi establishment, which closed as a restaurant on 30 July 2011.
After years of work at elBulli and the Bullipedia, the three entrepreneurial chefs decided to go it alone: in April 2012 they opened Restaurant Compartir, a contemporary Mediterranean cuisine restaurant in Cadaqués. The next step was to make the leap to Barcelona, opening in December 2014 Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona, a haute cuisine proposal where they could develop their avant-garde and personal style.
The name of Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona
The name "Disfrutar" (Enjoy) is no coincidence. The chefs conceived the restaurant with a clear objective: that each diner would experience an experience full of creativity, emotion and, above all, pleasure. Thus was born this unique space, whose name perfectly sums up its philosophy.
Which chefs run the kitchen of Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona?
👨🍳 The three chefs: the triforce of Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona
Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona is the result of the alliance of three great talents who share the same vision of cooking, but bring different nuances.
Oriol Castro
- Born in Barcelona in 1974. He trained in pastry and haute cuisine. He joined elBulli in 1996 and was head chef together with the other two chefs. He spent the most time at elBulli.
Eduard Xatruch
- He joined elBulli in 1999 and rose quickly. He comes from a family with a hospitality tradition in Tarragona, his hometown. He is one of the most creative when it comes to imagining new textures and combinations.
Mateu Casañas
- He arrived at elBulli in 1997, from Riells (Girona). Sea cuisine and local produce are two of his hallmarks. He is responsible for many of the most poetic dishes on the menu.
All three were head chefs and the creative trio that assumed responsibility for elBulli during its last period of maximum splendour. It is no exaggeration to say that they were the "right-hand men" of Ferran Adrià.
What awards has Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona received?
🏆 Awards and recognition: an impeccable collection of accolades
Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona has obtained all the highest honours one can aspire to in the world of gastronomy. These are its most important awards in 2026:
Three Michelin Stars
- The highest award of the Michelin Guide. It is one of 16 three-star restaurants in Spain in 2026.
No. 1 The World's 50 Best Restaurants
- Chosen as the best restaurant in the world. Only 10 restaurants in the world have simultaneously obtained this award and three Michelin stars. The other Spanish one is El Celler de Can Roca.
Three Repsol Suns
- 2018 – 2026 (eighth consecutive edition)
- Highest distinction in the Repsol Guide. It revalidated it at the 2026 gala.
National Gastronomy Award
- Best Head Chef by the Spanish Academy of Nutrition and Food Sciences.
The Best Chef Awards
- Chosen each year as one of the best chefs in the world.
📍Where is Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona?
Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona is located at Carrer de Villarroel 163 in Barcelona, right in front of the Mercat del Ninot and a short distance from the Hospital Clínic and the Provença FGC station. It is in the Eixample district, one of the most dynamic and bustling areas of the city, very close to Passeig de Gràcia and the main tourist attractions.
🎨 Design and architecture: ceramics, tradition and avant-garde
The interior of Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona is as surprising as its cuisine. The studio El Equipo Creativo (Oliver Franz Schmidt, Natali Canas del Pozo and Lucas Echeveste Lacy) was responsible for the design. Ceramics are the common thread of the project, inspired by the history and legacy of the Mediterranean.
The space is divided into two distinct areas:
- Entrance area: More urban and active, with the bar and wine cellar inspired by the wrought iron of the Mercat del Ninot and the colours of Miró's ceramics.
- Main dining room: A white, bright, glass-enclosed space that evokes small Mediterranean fishing villages and connects to a terrace.
One of the most unique details of Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona is that its kitchen is completely visible to customers. In fact, to access the main dining room, diners must walk through a central corridor lined with ceramics that literally crosses the open kitchen, allowing them to observe the team's work up close. This transparency is a nod to the restaurant's philosophy: there are no secrets, only shared passion.
🍽️What can you eat at Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona?
Creative direction and three menus
The gastronomic offer of Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona is structured around avant-garde cuisine with a strong emphasis on the flavours of the Mediterranean Sea. The cuisine is open, bold and fun, seeking taste as the main proposition with constant surprises in the preparations and flavours.
The average price of the menu in 2026 is €325, with a wine pairing of €180. The restaurant is only open Tuesday to Friday (closed Saturdays and Sundays) and summons all diners at 12:30 pm for a meal that becomes a performance lasting several hours.
What connects elBulli to Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona?
What connects them is a gastronomic genetic line. The chefs of Disfrutar —Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas— were head chefs at elBulli in its golden age, trained directly by Ferran Adrià. The creativity, laboratory spirit and non-conformism of elBulli still beat strongly in Disfrutar, which today is its most direct heir.
What is elBulli and what does Ferran Adrià represent for the gastronomic world?
elBulli was a restaurant in Cala Montjoi (Roses, Girona) that, under the direction of Ferran Adrià (1984-2011), became the greatest culinary creativity laboratory in history. It obtained three Michelin Stars (1997) and was voted the best restaurant in the world on five occasions (2002, 2006-2009).
But its greatness transcends awards. Adrià revolutionised cooking by understanding that flavour could be constructed from science: he invented spherification (liquids that become solid spheres on the outside and liquid on the inside), airs, foams, gelifications and unexpected emulsions.
He not only created new textures, but also changed the way of thinking about cooking: he turned it into an artistic language based on surprise, emotion and intellect. For the gastronomic world, Ferran Adrià represents the definitive break with tradition. He is the father of avant-garde cuisine, the chef who demonstrated that a restaurant can be a research centre.
His legacy extends to a school of talent from which chefs such as Joan Roca, Andoni Aduriz, José Andrés, and the Disfrutar chefs themselves have emerged. More than 2,000 disciples have carried the elBulli seed across the planet.
✨ elBulli and Disfrutar: two chapters of the same revolution. ✨
💫What it represents for Barcelona and The Sun Places
Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona is not just a haute cuisine venue: it is an ambassador of Barcelona's creative capacity and a magnet for visitors from all over the world. By staying with The Sun Places, you will have the opportunity to combine this gastronomic experience with maximum comfort in the heart of the city.
- Haute cuisine at your fingertips: Our concierge service can help you get a reservation (months in advance) to enjoy the €325 or €295 menus.
- Luxury rest: After a multi-hour sensory experience, you will return to a refuge with high-end beds and absolute comfort.
- Exclusive experience: Restaurant Disfrutar in Barcelona is one of those places that turn a trip into an unforgettable memory. We take care of ensuring the rest of the trip lives up to it.
✨ Contact The Sun Places to design your luxury gastronomic experience in Barcelona. The best table in the world awaits you. ✨
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