In 2024, the MICHELIN Guide has begun to announce its first ever MICHELIN Keys — a brand new distinction that recognises the most outstanding hotels across the world. The Key and the MICHELIN Star for restaurants are decided independently of one another, but it so happens that a significant number of places in Spain sport both in one.
Some are destinations in and of themselves — far out in the countryside or otherwise difficult to access, where the hotel restaurant is a crucial resource for travelers. In other cases, they are superb city hotels with restaurants that simply contribute to the richness of the local dining scene, and where hotel guests may dine once or twice before exploring the rest of the options nearby.
In either case, it's the full experience: a hotel and restaurant, together, both at the top of their class. Below, some highlights among these privileged few in Spain: all in one package.
Hotel: Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine (Three Keys)
Restaurant: Refectorio (One Star)
Valladolid, SpainSometimes, exclusivity and service elevate to new heights when supported by a historic setting. This, without a doubt, is one of those times.
The Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine hotel invites you to a truly unique experience, as it has refurbished a spectacular 12th century abbey surrounded by some 500 hectares of vineyards on the outskirts of Sardón de Duero, a small town about 30 km from Valladolid. Here, immersed in nature, you can disconnect from daily stress and enjoy an ecstatic rural getaway, where sustainability and wine culture are both top priorities.
The exquisite rooms and suites, some with private gardens, are complemented by a good range of wellness and spa experiences, in addition to wonderful gastronomic options. The Refectorio restaurant (One MICHELIN Star and Green Star) stands out — the creative, locally-sourced work of chef Marc Segarra.
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Hotel: Akelarre (Two Keys)
Restaurant: Akelaŕe (Three Keys)
San Sebastian, SpainIf chef Pedro Subijana is the father of New Basque cuisine, perhaps we can also dub him the father of the the region’s hospitality scene as well. With 22 spacious rooms, deep bathtubs, soaking pools, a spa, and a setting painstakingly considered by hoteliers down to the last detail, the Akelarre hotel — distinguished with two Keys — exudes innovation. Its modern architecture, which recalls the simplicity of Japanese design, highlights its setting’s landscapes: through windows, gaze at the beauty of Monte Igueldo and the infinite views of the Cantabrian Sea.
Against this same backdrop and with more than 50 years of history, is the Akelaŕe restaurant. The Gin & Tonic on a plate, for one, is a complete deconstruction of the cocktail made with lemon sorbet, gin and tonic jelly, juniper sauce and other ingredients — and it’s entered the history of Basque haute cuisine as one of the highlights of the region. Currently, tasting menus allow diners to combine and exchange a variety of dishes from the selection.
Hotel: Atrio Restaurante Hotel (Three Keys)
Restaurant: Atrio (Three Stars)
Cáceres, SpainAtrio, with its Three MICHELIN Stars, is considered one of the culinary temples of Spanish gastronomy. But for Toño Pérez and José Polo, a hotel stay is the culmination of a journey that only begins with their cuisine — and they’ve always strove to make sure their service and hospitality is at the same level as the food.
The tandem of owners usually refer to their magnificent hotel as the "House." Located in the beautiful medieval center of Cáceres, architects Emilio Tuñón and Luis Mansilla refurbished the original stone architecture to bring it up to present day.
The 14 rooms, dominated by white tones and pure lines, emanate the same harmony of every space of the building. Also worth mentioning: the spaces are decorated with valuable works of art, and the hotel houses one of the best wineries in the world.
Hotel: Mandarin Oriental Barcelona (Two Keys)
Restaurant: Moments (Two Stars)
Barcelona, SpainTraditional on the outside, contemporary on the inside. It’s a statement that sums up both the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona hotel (Two MICHELIN Key), and the Moments restaurant within (Two MICHELIN Stars).
Located in a former bank on Passeig de Gràcia – the most glamorous shopping avenue in the city – and a few steps from Gaudí's famous modernist works, the hotel displays a majestic façade that fits perfectly into its Eixample surroundings. However, walk inside and it feels like Star Wars. Or try the spa, which has the science fiction atmosphere of Blade Runner (that is, until you try some of its holistic therapies and experience an almost complete peace). This same serenity will fall over you after a the night in one of the rooms, expertly furnished by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola.
The Moments restaurant has its own surprises. Chef Raül Balam, son of Carme Ruscalleda, provides a thematic menu that follows a trip through the Iberian Peninsula, with stages through Barcelona, Murcia, Granada, Cáceres, Madrid, A Coruña and San Sebastián.
Hotel: Mandarin Oriental Ritz (Three Keys)
Restaurant: Deessa (Two Stars)
Madrid, SpainThe Ritz hotels were born from the vision of Swiss hotelier César Jean Ritz, considered the father of modern hospitality. Luxury is the baseline at any Ritz and today, under the tutelage of the exclusive Mandarin Oriental chain, this century-old hotel continues to captivate. Its building is a monumental Belle Époque structure, and its location is within the famous Golden Triangle, with its three distinguished museums: Museo del Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía.
The rooms, suites and common areas continue to exude the elegance and exclusivity of yesteryear, although they’ve been updated with every latest comfort. As a complement, the extensive culinary offerings (Champagne Bar, Pictura, The Ritz Garden, Palm Court) reach their zenith in the extremely elegant Deessa restaurant (Two MICHELIN Stars), where you can discover the exquisite creativity of famous chef Quique Dacosta.
Book Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid with the MICHELIN Guide →
Hotel: Pepe Vieira Restaurant & Hotel (Two Keys)
Restaurant: Pepe Vieira (Two Stars)
Pontevedra, Spain
The Pepe Vieira hotel is all about connection with nature, and so too is the restaurant of the same name on the premises. The hotel rooms, called "galpones," are independent cubes that, like the main room of the restaurant, feature a large window peeking out towards the forests here in the coastal countryside of Galicia. The hotel's striking minimalism is resounding proof that simplicity and luxury combine perfectly: in other words, less is more.
The Pepe Vieira restaurant is committed too to a deep synergy with its environment: it values local products, local suppliers and artisanal processes. To show its commitment to sustainability, the gastronomic experience begins with an appetizer in the organic garden that provides some of the very ingredients you’ll find in your meal. Later, in the restaurant itself, the daring cuisine of chef Xosé T. Cannas takes its inspiration from Galician traditions.
Book Pepe Vieira Restaurant & Hotel with the MICHELIN Guide →
More hotels in Spain with MICHELIN Keys and Stars:
- Royal Hideaway Corales Resort (Adeje-Tenerife) | Restaurants: El Rincón de Juan Carlos y San-Hô
- Monument Hotel (Barcelona) | Restaurante: Lasarte y Oria
- Ohla Eixample (Barcelona) | Restaurant: Xerta
- ABaC Restaurant & Hotel (Barcelona) | Restaurant: ABaC
- Hotel Arts Barcelona (Barcelona) | Restaurant: Enoteca Paco Pérez
- Canfranc Estación, a Royal Hideaway Hotel (Canfranc-Estación) | Restaurant: Canfranc Express
- Hotel Marqués de Riscal (Elciego) | Restaurant: Marqués de Riscal
- Bless Hotel Ibiza (Es Canar) | Restaurant: Etxeko Ibiza
- Castell Son Claret (Es Capdellà) | Restaurant: Sa Clastra
- Cap Vermell Grand Hotel (Canyamel) | Restaurant: Voro
- Es Princep (Palma de Mallorca) | Restaurant: Zaranda
- El Llorenç Parc de la Mar - Adults Only (Palma de Mallorca) | Restaurant: DINS Santi Taura
- Hotel Peralada Wine Spa & Golf (Peralada) | Restaurant: Castell Peralada
- Hotel Villa Favorita - Adults Only (Donostia - San Sebastián) | Restaurant: Amelia by Paulo Airaudo
- La Bobadilla (Loja) | Restaurant: La Finca
Hero Image: Akelarre — San Sebastian
