Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

The Marbella Club hotel, that old stomping ground of the rich and famous, is just minutes away from Villa Tiberio, probably the reason why many celebrities that are found there, dining in the luxurious restaurant or probably the splendid garden.

Nearly two decades ago, there was just a decrepit house overgrown with weeds, in this same location. It took the vision and passion of Sandro Morelli to bring it to its present splendour. With the azure pool glinting in the warm sun, the neatly trimmed shrubs surrounding it, the fragrant arbour that leads to the restaurant, al fresco seems to be the preferred mode of dining for patrons.

In this gorgeous setting, almost fairytale like in its lush splendour, guests are treated like royalty as they sit down to a wonderful meal. The cuisine is not limited to one country but favours a more cosmopolitan approach with flavours from the Mediterranean interspersed with those from Italy and Spain.

The gastronomic journey at Villa Tiberio starts with scallops and jumbo prawns in a cream and brandy sauce, thinly sliced beef with avocados and lemon dressing, or pancakes filled with spinach, fresh salmon and cheese au gratin. As a prelude, these dishes are excellent, and provide a fresh burst of enthusiasm for what follows.

The homemade pasta, with a variety of rich sauces, are tempting and you could try the pappardelle alla Sandro, flat noodles with generous chunks of lobster and tomato for a delicious main course. The other variations, with cream, caviar and smoked salmon, are equally enticing, while risottos and lasagnes are prepared with care and skill, leaving no room for dissatisfaction.

Affirmed meat lovers will find the fillet of beef with Madeira wine, foie gras and truffle to be a generous display of culinary excellence, while the pan fried veal, with fresh peppers, black olives and capers holds its own ground. The duck baked with orange and Curacao liqueur, the crispy roast suckling pig and baby lamb braised in Barola wine are signature dishes at Villa Tiberio, that have led to repeated success with customers.

The wine list is extensive and covers three thousand bottles of the best Spanish, French and Italian wines. Sandro Morelli is a connoisseur of fine wines and vintages and the 1938 Chateau Margaux, Petrus or the 1894 Chateau Haut Brion in his bodega are proof enough.

While Marbella attracts the usual crowd of jet setters and glamorous personalities for its white sands and beaches, Villa Tiberio is one destination everyone makes a point to visit.

Dining is invariably that much more pleasurable in an engaging and restful atmosphere, but only your imagination could be trusted to lead you to a restaurant as beautiful as this. Es Moli Den Bou is surrounded by fields of orange and almond and located in a lovely old stone mill - making every minute of your time there, absolutely unforgettable. A shellfish stone staircase leads up to the comfortable dining area decorated simply and in complete harmony with the surroundings.

Consider yourself fortunate when you get to taste Chef Tomeu Caldentey's wonderful creations. He is the man behind the success of this venture that offers uncomplicated yet creative Mallorcan dishes to diners who love to call the place their own. The appealing twists he has given to traditional island cuisine have helped him to achieve a Michelin Star.

Different varieties of local olive oil are used by Tomeu's young and energetic team to create mouth watering fare. You could consider the coca, a traditional pizza with sweet onions and cured Sobrassada pork sausages; prawns with peas; an interesting dish of foie gras with dark chocolate and roasted sweet corn, or a creamy marine soup with crab meat and zucchini to make a flavoursome start.

These could be followed by a special fish of the day that comes to the table accompanied by pumpkin and cocoa or Venere rice and saffron. An aromatic dish of lamb with honey and mint or leg of deer with apple and cinnamon are other popular creations that burst with the amazing flavours of Mallorca.

The desserts are worth more than a passing glance, with choices such as Mahone cheese ice cream with melon and apricot, strawberries with goats' milk, and walnuts with chocolate and mint, that tempt you to indulge.

The wine list features numbers such as Miquel Gelabert Torrent Negre 2003 and AIA 2002, from noteworthy Mallorcan producers as well as a range from mainland Spain along with cava and champagne. Their sommelier gladly assists customers who need advice on the best combination of food and drink.

The staff serve you in a manner that definitely adds to the joy of dining, making a meal at Es Moli Den Bou, in the village of Sant Llorenc de Cardassar, an experience that lovers of good food should not miss.

When Maurizio Gucci, grandson of the famed couturier, purchased the luxury yacht Creole in 1983, it had already gone through a turbulent history, which is why the  tag of 'unlucky' had been pegged to it over the years. Some people attributed Gucci's violent death, a few years later, as being a result of the misfortune associated with the yacht. For Piero Rossi, who worked there as his chef in 1988, the connection, however, proved to be slightly more fortunate, and now twenty years later, his restaurant located in the Port of Alcudia has become renowned for its delicious Italian food in Mallorca.

Elegantly furnished in warm tones, the cosiness of the atmosphere is evident with the dark wood furniture, while the white tablecloths edged with blue are nice Mediterranean touches. Pictures of the Creole are displayed prominently on the walls and customers can sit back and relax in the friendly and convivial ambience over authentic pizzas and pastas. The terrace with its verdant ring of trees is a popular spot for al fresco dining and you can see many patrons enjoying their food, breathing in the tangy ocean air.

Expect to find starters such as vitello tonato, thin slices of chilled veal, smothered with tuna sauce, or the provolone rebozado, a soft heart of cheese with blueberry jam. For mains, the pastas, such as the ravioli with spinach and cheese in a smooth asparagus sauce, are a good choice and meat lovers will find a good selection of carpaccios there. The beef filet with green pepper sauce and tenderloin with blue cheese are other excellent dishes that showcase the chef's expertise in satisfying carnivores especially.

Pizzas from the wood fired oven lend an authentic touch that no pizzeria chain that operates on mass production principles can ever match. A separate gluten free menu promises well prepared delights for those with dietary restrictions, while child friendly portions for the little ones makes this a complete family restaurant.

The dark and white chocolate mousse tart is decadent, and aims to banish all calorie counters with its alternating soft, sweet and bitter tastes, while the buttery and flaky short crust pastry base forms the perfect foil.

The ingredients for a good restaurant are all there; good location, lovely terrace garden, excellent food and a down to earth and friendly atmosphere, fortunately Piero Rossi weaves all these elements together beautifully.

A trip to Barcelona might be considered incomplete if you didn't visit Via Veneto, the city's most respected, and one of the oldest, restaurants there. This uptown place is renowned for its sumptuous Catalan cuisine and its elegant and plush décor, while its clientele, like influential businessman and politicians, help to give it a powerful ambience.

José Monje established Via Veneto in 1967 and his culinary expertise undoubtedly counts for the numerous accolades that have come its way. His son Pedro Monje is also now involved in making sure everything runs smoothly and together the duo have forged a strong contender for one of the best restaurants in the city.

In Via Veneto's luxurious surroundings, anything less than an elaborate meal might almost be considered not being fair to your taste buds, so start with the sautéed king prawns with vegetable coca bread in a pine nut vinaigrette or the salad of oven-roasted sea scallops with ham and crispy parmesan cheese.

For mains, their range of fish, meat and game dishes is extensive and equally tempting. Try the charcoal-broiled turbot with aubergine caviar and oven-baked vegetables and cockscombs or the red mullets fillets with saffron rice and orange blossoms if seafood is your passion.

Meat lovers will embrace the idea of roasted rack of baby lamb with a crust of fine herbs and millefeuille of Perol pork sausage with enthusiasm but the pièce de résistance is their roasted duck a la presse. A whole baby duck is slow roasted until golden and brought to the table. Efficient staff will debone it and then run the bones through an antique silver press to extract the rich juices. The combination of the two results in an explosion of flavours and creates a gastronomic experience that is absolutely exquisite.

As befits the entire gamut of tastes there, the desserts are equally decadent and delectable. Whether it is the millefeuilles of chocolate and orange cream with mint ice cream or the savarin with dried fruit consommé and lemon verbena sherbet, these delightful concoctions are a fine way to end the meal unless of course you prefer something simple like the cheese board.

The wine list has an amazing range of ten thousand or so bottles and choosing the right one might seem a daunting task, so it's advisable to ask the sommelier to recommend one that will suit your taste and complement the meal appropriately.

Artkuisine is the culmination of Chef Remy Lefebvre's gastronomic quest to deliver quality food, prepared expertly and served in a stylish, modernistic ambience. Located in Barcelona's Madrazo district, this trendy restaurant is quite close to the Galvany market and has been rated as an exciting neo bistro by patrons and critics alike.

Remy is intense and passionate about the culinary feats that he performs in his kitchen, turning out Mediterranean cuisine in a decidedly French atmosphere. Crisp white linen, pale off white walls, soft fabric covered chairs and minimalist paintings add to the allure, helping you to relax while you enjoy a flavoursome meal.

The amuse bouche is exquisite, a slab of foie cooked at low temperature, sprinkled with sable Breton crumbs and topped with apple and rhubarb compote, and sets the tone for the ensuing courses. Sardine fillets, spit-roasted and served with a ring of quince compote and guacamole, with saffron mustard on the side, are elegantly rendered and make an excellent starter.

The main course of pan fried scallops in a cauliflower puree with a fondue of vegetables, cava and pistachios is delicious, while the oxtail braised with porcini mushrooms and black pepper, served with a cocoa and banana compote is a most unusual combination, layering different textures in a unique cocktail of flavours. The experimentation continues favourably with a melange of monkfish, pepper, fennel and apricot.

For dessert, the tarte tatin, generously topped with a swirl of cinnamon ice cream is a blissful ode to the sweet tooth, bringing you a true taste of this Gallic delight. Wines for the discerning drinker are aplenty, and there are over seventy choices to select from, featuring reds and whites from Spain as well as cavas and champagnes.

The gentle jazz notes form a serene backdrop to your dining experience and Artkuisine, with its uber chic décor, gourmet cuisine and its fabulous range of wines has indeed become iconic for those in search of a fulfilling gastronomic experience.

La Vaca Argentina brings a flavour of this soccer-crazy, steak-loving country to Madrid, and, with their numerous restaurants spread across the city, they have established a faithful clientele, especially among the beef aficionados. Having started in 1994, they have made quite an impact on the gastronomic experiences of their patrons, providing delicious and quality food.

At Las Cortes, just a few minutes away from Spain's House of Commons, the simple, modern and functional décor provides an elegant and classical space. The service is polite and non-intrusive, allowing you to soak up the atmosphere while you settle down to a satisfying meal.

Thinly sliced sirloin with shavings of parmesan cheese, duck foie with raisin bread, pickled tuna salad with lentil vinaigrette are some of the many enticing cold starters there. Warmer options such as scrambled eggs with blood sausage, pine nuts and straw potatoes, breaded eggplant with cane honey and tomato jam, or crepes filled with leek, mushrooms and king prawns with Hollandaise sauce co-exist peacefully, even if they make it difficult for you regarding choice!

The main courses largely features grills, and you could try the entrecôte with blue cheese and French fries, baby squid, or cod fillet with scallions and shrimps. The sirloin with fries or the much loved tenderloin with either pepper or duck liver sauce are all cooked to perfection and make a veritable treat for carnivores.

Desserts are traditional favourites such as tiramisu, cheese and caramel pie, white chocolat and raspberry coulis cake, and brownie with vanilla ice cream; a fitting end to an enjoyable experience.

The wine cellar offers an intriguing tour for customers so that they can view and select the right bottle, and their list features quite a few from Argentina, which complement the meat dishes suitably.

La Vaca Argentina has maintained their zeal for producing top notch cuisine throughout their different ventures, proving that successful chain restaurants, which do not let quality slip, are no longer a mythical dream, but as real as the cattle they are so fond of.

Many have admired the restaurant Pedro Larumbe for the sheer attractiveness of the building it is situated in - once the office of the right-wing newspaper ABC - as it dates back more than a hundred years and one of the most emblematic landmarks of Madrid. Others are drawn to taste owner and Chef Pedro's wonderful creations, and if there is anyone still left to be smitten, the restaurant's location in the exclusive Serrano Street, in the heart of the city, speaks for itself.

The atmosphere there exudes charm and elegance, and a delightful blend of classicism and modernity, which embodies restaurant Pedro Larumbe's philosophy, pervades the place. You could head to any of their four dining areas, the Salon Fundador, which used to be the newspaper's office, the cosy Patio Andaluz with a beautiful glass ceiling, the Pompeian Hall that has some of Madrid's finest art déco, or the airy terrace, open for al fresco dining when the weather permits.

The chef has excelled in creating a splendid range of modern dishes, all based on very traditional cooking styles, and perfected over the past years. Tacos of foie gras and mango sorbet, lobster salad with almond sauce and orange oil, tartar of prawns in tropical fruit with caviar from the pure waters of Riofrío, and creamy carnaroli Italian rice with sautéed clams and salsa verde lead the way.

The concentration is on quality and taste as evidenced by mains of veal on a bed of pepper, roast fillet of beef with pineapple and lemon, and aromatic ravioli with corvine grapes and Jerez sauce. Pedro Larumbe?s hearty stews, flavoursome and fresh fish dishes such as grilled hake with garlic, potato and green asparagus, monkfish burger, and cod preserved in caramelised red onion, confirm precisely why he is known as a star chef.

Homemade desserts include cups of strawberry and mint with white chocolate and pistachio, parfait of thyme and lemon with mango sorbet and Earl Grey tea and a wonderful chocolate pineapple mousse with yoghurt. The professional sommelier is always delighted to advice on the most suitable wine, cava or champagne from among 150 choices at the restaurant's cellar.

Each month, a new menu that highlights different world cuisines and wine is presented to diners.

Galician cuisine, they say, is simple by nature thanks to the region's economy, which is largely dependent on fishing and farming. Whether it is the shellfish, empanadas, a kind of stuffed pastry, polbo á feira, a dish made of octopus, the cheese, queixo de tetilla, the Ribera de Duero and Albariño wines and orujo liquor or any of the other seafood and meat delicacies, you will be delighted by the earthy cuisine.

Taking this fare to an haute cuisine platform is Combarro, a resplendent place on Reina Mercedes in Madrid, where a stone frontage carved in traditional style, a modern bar, a dining area spread over two floors with several private dining rooms, antiques and paintings for decoration and ambient music create a chic atmosphere in which to enjoy food prepared with great care.

It took close to twenty-five years for the founder Manuel Domingues Limerez to establish his dream. He opened the first restaurant in 1973 and later on the second one in 1999. His son Diego Dominguez Vidal joined him recently and helped the venture further consolidate its popularity. Their commitment to taking customers on an exciting gastronomic journey while staying true to their roots of humble cooking utilizing excellent, fresh products has seen them win numerous awards.

The seafood is sourced from the north coast of Galicia and is displayed in a large salt water fish pond. Spider crabs and lobsters are among the creatures you can spot and select for a sumptuous meal.

Specialities from the rivers include oysters, shrimps, clams, crabs and barnacles. Seafood displays all the variety available along the long shoreline of the province with baked turbot, a European flatfish, on a bed of potatoes, octopus to 'feira', a trademark dish of that area, lamprey - a primitive elongated fish with jawless sucking mouth, prepared in the Ardo - an ancient Hispanic - style, adorning the menu.

Pork with grelos, a vegetable akin to broccoli, suckling lamb chops and partridge pie are on offer to those who prefer meat. Desserts are rich affairs with Santiago tart, containing an almond and quince filling, yoghurt mousse in honey and filloas - large pancakes - with cream and eggs.

The wine list has interesting bottles from France and Spain and the bar provides a grazing menu.  

This venue offers customers an experience of luxurious comfort with its brilliant location, interior and the fare on offer. The Arabella Golf Hotel Son Vida, Mallorca, strives to keep alive the tradition of the mansions of Spanish nobility, and its sand-hued walls, terracotta coloured roofs, wood beam ceilings and intimate lighting greet you elegantly.

The options for activity for the guests are many. For serious golfers, three of Europe's finest courses, the Son Vida, Son Muntaner and Son Quint are located next to the hotel, and fitness enthusiasts can achieve that perfect forehand on the three tennis courts by day or under floodlights. Those who prefer a quieter time can bronze their bodies by any of the swimming pools while sampling a fruit punch and reading the latest bestseller. And mountain bikes are available for those who feel like exercising more energetically.

Whatever you choose, you can't help but admire the beauty of the spot with its setting in a uniquely styled garden and enjoy exploring the gastronomic opportunities presented by Plat D'Or.

The one Michelin Star award-winning gourmet restaurant, with its marble floors, exotic columns and romantic atmosphere on the outdoor terrace, serves innovative Mediterranean cuisine and blends the traditional with the modern. You can dine there and appreciate the fine views over the pool area and golf course.

Chef Rafael Sánchez and the team whip up innovative culinary creations, all topped with a generous sprinkling of extravagance. The wine menu is continually updated to ensure that the best vintages are always on offer, while a sommelier is on hand to provide expert advice on the characteristics of each wine. The private salon, S'Estaca, is available for festive dinners with up to twenty-five guests.

Expect to find dishes such as queen scallops, shaved smoked duck, roast peppers and a mandarin and mint dressing; salad of native lobster with potato in rosemary confit, caramelized citrus fruits, salad leaves and a lemon and coconut sauce, and latte macchiato of yoghurt and pomegranate with sweet pastries.

Visitors wanting to enjoy a drink could try the delicious cocktails served at the Bar El Portico. Their other culinary alternative is Restaurant Flame, where you can try an extensive range of delightful food including authentic Spanish tapas, barbeques, snacks and other specialities.

There's something irresistible about a sea front hotel; maybe it is the fact that you can glimpse the rolling sea in all its elements by just parting the curtains or stepping onto the terrace, or probably because you are drawn to the tart ocean air that blows with such alacrity. The reasons are plenty and a visit to the Hotel Club S'Illot in Mallorca could reaffirm some of them and invent many others as a result of staying in this elegant and charming place.

Club S'Illot has fifty five rooms, fitted out with all the facilities that you would expect in a three star hotel, while the nearby golf courses are sure to bring in the enthusiasts. For the discerning gastronome, however, their restaurant Albacora is a splendid excuse to go there and the gourmet food does not fail to please.

This beautiful restaurant boasts of French inspired Mediterranean dishes, with touches of Asian as well as modern molecular cuisine. The blend of all these different tastes leaves a lasting impression. For starters, you could choose the octopus carpaccio with pig's trotters, vine tomatoes and parmesan or maybe the terrine of red tuna with confit of mango and black pepper doughnut.

If you have a fondness for soups and other warm appetisers, the watercress foam with a fresh goat's cheese sorbet or the lobster ravioli on a bed of broad beans with orange and black olives are right on target. For the main course, you could opt for the stuffed oxtail, black salsify and pine nut sauce or the fillet of John Dory with fennel bulb and a risotto of red beetroot. Fusion dishes such as chicken breast in red curry with basmati rice and green beans or the tuna tartare with cream of avocado are appealing and score points for novelty.

Don't skip dessert because some of their homemade creations are simply too good to pass up. Whether it is the delightful lemon crêpes with strawberry salad and chocolate ice cream; the more unusual Catalan cream with rosemary and honey with tonka beans or the intriguing suspension of fruits in sangria with an orange blossom sorbet. The wine list has a judicious selection of Spanish and other quality wines from Mallorca that will complement every aspect of your meal.

The Albacora, with its wonderfully muted red walls, low intimate lighting and clean sparkling white linens, is an oasis of comfort for the discerning guest who likes to eat in a calm and soothing ambience. On pleasant days, you could dine on the terrace that offers a picturesque view of the brilliant blue sea, the pristine white sands and beach enthusiasts out for a tan in the sun.