The Michelin Guide Spain winners 2026 were announced at a spectacular gala held on 25 November in Malaga for the first time.
This year, the awards celebrated an impressive line-up of 16 Three-Star restaurants. While there were no new entrants in this category, a further five were awarded Two-Stars. This brings the total to 37 restaurants. Finally, an additional 25 restaurants gained their first Michelin Star, increasing the category total to an impressive 254 establishments.
Malaga restaurant earns first Michelin Star
Earning their first Michelin Star and joining the elite group of restaurants with Michelin Star status on the Costa del Sol is Palodú. Located in Malaga, it is in excellent company, which includes Skina, Sollo, José Carlos García, Kaleja, Messina, and Nintai.
Here is a complete list of all the Michelin-starred restaurants in Spain for 2026
Talking about the number of new additions, Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides, said:
“This year, the high number of new additions confirms that the culinary scenes of Spain and Andorra are experiencing an unprecedented dynamism, marked by the consolidation of established restaurants and the strong emergence of young talents, pointing to a truly promising future.”
Michelin Guide Spain winners 2026 included new Bib Gourmand and Green Star entries
Alongside the Michelin Stars, a total of 29 new entries were added to the Bib Gourmand award, introduced in 1997. This award was created to recognise restaurants that offer excellent food at affordable prices. In total, there are now 204 Bib Gourmand restaurants in Spain.
The Green Star, which highlights restaurants demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices, has added five more establishments. This brings the total in the category to 59. These restaurants are Ama (Tolosa, Guipúzcoa), Bakea (Mungia, Biscay), Garena (Dima, Biscay), Hika (Villabona, Guipúzcoa), and Tarrae (Port de Pollença, Mallorca).
Quique Dacosta recognised with Michelin Mentor Chef award 2026
The stars were exceptionally well aligned for Denia’s very own Michelin star chef, the incredibly talented Quique Dacosta. Not only did his restaurant retain its coveted Three-Star status, but he also received personal recognition. Sponsored by Blancpain, he was honoured with the Michelin Mentor Chef award 2026.
Over the years, he has mentored many young talents who have gone on to become highly esteemed chefs. The list includes names like Ricard Camarena, Alberto Ferruz, Carito Lourenço, and Germán Carrizo, to name but a few. However, what truly stood out was Quique’s desire to ‘cook beauty’, elevating his vision of gastronomy to the level of art.
Service, Sommelier, and Young Chef 2026: Michelin Guide Spain winners 2026
There were three other personal honours: Service Award, Sommelier Award, and Young Chef Award. Abel Valverde, front-of-house manager at One Michelin Star Desde 1911 (Madrid), received the first award. Considered one of the best head waiters in Spain, he divides his responsibilities between managing the dining room and training staff within the Pescaderías Coruñesas Restauración group.
The Sommelier Award was presented to Luis Baselga, who is responsible for the wine cellar at the Two-Star Smoked Room (Madrid). He is renowned not only for selecting wines but also for reinterpreting them, using precise, accessible language to describe the sensations each glass evokes.
Finally, the recipient of the prestigious Young Chef award was chef Juan Carlos Garcia. He runs the kitchen of One-Star Vandelvira (Baeza, in Jaén). In addition to shaping the family business, he stands out for his maturity well beyond his 32 years, offering a modern cuisine firmly rooted in seasonal and local produce.
Discover your new favourite Michelin Star restaurant with our recommended establishments on the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca
