Álvaro de Juan Sánchez, a Spanish gourmet chef and former sous chef at Noma and Tickets, lives in Copenhagen. Here, he shares where he eats when he’s back home in Spain.
Álvaro de Juan Sánchez is one of the top Spanish chefs you should keep a close eye on. This 32-year-old, Andalusian-born culinary talent has developed and demonstrated his creative skills as sous chef at Noma in Copenhagen and the now-defunct Tickets in Barcelona. On the side, he runs an olive oil business, through which he imports his family’s high-quality organic olive oil from Jaén to Denmark.
“I tend to stay a long time at restaurants I really believe in. I spent five years at Tickets in Barcelona and six years at Noma in Copenhagen,” he says.
At Tickets in Barcelona, time never stood still. According to Álvaro, the team was constantly pushing the boundaries of what they thought they could do.
Working at Noma, Álvaro claims, is the best decision he has ever made. There, he found himself surrounded by the most talented people in his field, and René Redzepi showed him the next—and new—level of expertise. A genius who can bring out the best in every single chef.
“I’ve always been drawn to challenges, intensity, creativity, and energy. No matter where you work, I think it’s important to avoid falling into a rut. I get restless when I feel too comfortable in a kitchen! It’s always more fun when there’s something that challenges you every day,” he says.
And Álvaro is heading toward new challenges. He’s currently working on a new—and secret—project. So stay tuned for culinary news if you want to know where and how Álvaro has chosen to hone his culinary skills next. Until then, you can dive into his recommendations for restaurants in Spain.
1 Ultramarinos Marín – Barcelona
Ultramarinos Marín is a new-generation restaurant and grill. It all starts with high-quality ingredients, but they take the flavors much further. They’re incredibly skilled at fermentation and make everything from scratch: sauces, bread, charcuterie… Traditional flavors are elevated to a whole new level.
The place has two areas. The first is reminiscent of an old-fashioned local bar, while the second is the grill restaurant. In the evening, only the bar at the front is open. The menu focuses on dishes cooked on the restaurant’s plancha (Spanish griddle), which are fantastic. The atmosphere takes you back to the bars of 1970s Barcelona, and I think they really nail that vibe.
The restaurant is run by Borja García Ordoño, who, in my opinion, is one of the best chefs in Spain. He has worked in kitchens such as Mugaritz, Noma, and Dos Pebrots. After growing tired of fine dining, he chose to focus on unpretentious cooking that doesn’t place excessive emphasis on how the food looks on the plate. It’s all about flavor.
Ultramarinos Marín is one of the places I always try to visit when I’m in Barcelona. Order from their selection of meat and fish charcuterie: Everything is made on-site. Then order plenty of small dishes from the plancha, and finish with something from the grill.
The restaurant is located on Carrer de Balmes, across from Diagonal Boulevard, a little off the beaten path, but it’s easy to get there. I recommend the grill restaurant for lunch or the bar in the front room in the evening.
Ultramarinos Marín is recommended in the Michelin Guide.
Ultramarinos Marín – Bar – Grill, 187 Balmes St.
2 Enigma – Barcelona
Enigma is the ultimate expression of the creativity of one of the greatest chefs in history. And we’re so lucky that he’s still cooking! Albert Adrià is a genius of a kind you rarely find anywhere in the world.
In his tasting menu, you can both taste and see his extraordinary creativity with fantastic ingredients, without him ever losing touch with traditional flavors. It’s a truly unique experience.
I have a very strong personal connection to Albert. He was my first mentor, and I will always be grateful for everything I learned from him. I was fortunate enough to work for him at Tickets from 2015 to 2020, which was one of the best experiences of my life.
Enigma is located in the Sant Antoni neighborhood, very close to Paral·lel, and has been awarded two Michelin stars. For anyone who loves creativity in its most ambitious form, it’s a must-visit destination. The restaurant itself is spacious and immersive: you spend a few hours completely immersed in Albert’s wonderful, INSANE world.
My advice is to let yourself be seduced by the tasting menu and enjoy the magic.
Enigma, Carrer de Sepúlveda 38, 40
3 Estimar – Barcelona and Madrid
Estimar is a temple to seafood. If you want to taste some of the best seafood in Spain, this is the place I’d send you. To me, it represents luxury in its best and most authentic form: exceptional ingredients and fantastic cooking.
The chef, Rafa Zafra, is an old friend and one of the great figures of the culinary world. He has an incredible way with people. He’s funny, cheerful, and full of warmth. And he cooks like very few others. He’s a genius!
I recommend trying the grilled shrimp, mussels with fino sherry, langoustines, anchovies, and charcoal-grilled turbot with pil-pil sauce. The desserts are fantastic, too, so be sure to save room for them.
Estimar, 3 C/ Sant Antoni dels Sombrerers, Barcelona, and 18 C/ del Marqués de Cubas, Madrid
4 Bagá – Jaén
Bagá is not very well known outside of Spain. It is a tiny restaurant measuring 45 m2 with seating for just eight guests. It is considered Europe’s smallest restaurant to have been awarded a Michelin star.
Chef Pedrito Sánchez has a style that is visually minimalist yet full of depth. His cooking is artistic, full of flavor and humility, and at the same time very bold. I think his voice is unique in Spain.
The restaurant is located in the city of Jaén, in my home province of Andalusia, which makes it especially meaningful to me. Jaén is still a relatively unknown and highly underrated city.
My recommendation is to put yourself in Pedrito’s hands and enjoy the menu.
Bagá, 3 Reja de la Capilla St.
5 Bardal – Ronda
Benito Gómez is a Catalan chef who puts his own unique spin on Andalusian cuisine. He is truly brilliant. His food has real depth; it is elegant, full of flavor, and based on common sense. He has mentored many great chefs in Spain.
Bardal has two Michelin stars and is located in Ronda, a beautiful town that is well worth a visit in its own right.
I’ve eaten there several times, and it’s one of those restaurants where I always find myself wishing I’d spent some time working there. I’ve never told Benito this, but I’ve often thought, “I hope that one day I can cook as well as he does.”
Every time I go back to Benito’s, I feel like his food is better than ever. He also has a bar in Ronda called Tragatá, where you can experience a more laid-back side of his cooking. It’s fantastic, too.
At Bardal, I’d recommend the tasting menu, especially in the fall. He’s exceptional when it comes to game, mushrooms, and seasonal ingredients.
About Álvaro de Juan Sánchez
- Lives in Copenhagen
- Born 32 years ago in the small town of Bailén, in the province of Jaén in Andalusia
- Began his culinary career in Jaén in 2011
- Sous Chef at Tickets in Barcelona from 2015 to 2020
- Sous Chef at Noma from 2020 to 2026
- In addition to his job as a chef, Álvaro runs a small olive oil business. He brings fresh, high-quality organic olive oil from his family’s farm in Jaén to Copenhagen. It all started when Álvaro brought a few bottles of olive oil to his colleagues at Noma. They asked for more, so he decided to start the business, which sells to individuals, restaurants, and hotels.
- Currently working on a new (still secret) project
Find Álvaro de Juan Sánchez on Instagram. If you’d like to try Álvaro’s family’s olive oil, send him a message.
More inspiration on where to eat well in Spain
Córdoba has a diverse, yet somewhat overlooked food scene—find tips for great places to eat in Córdoba.
Girona, located north of Barcelona, is known for its gastronomy. Find great places to eat in Girona.
The Basque capital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, is often overshadowed by San Sebastián, but the city is teeming with restaurants serving excellent pintxos.
