The Macarfi guide crowns La Bodega de Can Roca and expands into Latin America

BarcelonaAt a gala where the La Paloma room was packed to the rafters, the Macarfi guide presented its list of recommendations to more than 600 people, which includes 4,000 restaurants from all over Spain and the ranking by autonomous communities. As it was the tenth anniversary, the city to host the event "could not be other than Barcelona," said the creator of the guide, Manuel Carreras Fisas.

In the general ranking there were three restaurants that eat separately. Those that form the category "Top of the tops". To enter, you have to be in the first position three times consecutively. Three restaurants complete the requirement: Enjoy, Diverxo and Etxebarri. Any time you enter you will enter a fourth restaurant, which is none other than El Celler de Can Roca. The Gironi establishment is the one that encapsulates the ranking of Catalonia here, and with which has remained leader for the third time, the winery will now go to some other restaurant incorporated into the Olimp for competitions.

An important change in this is that it is not divided by provinces, but by autonomous communities. the In fifteen positions, Koy Shunka by Hideki Mastuhisa and Les Cols by Fina Puigdevall were tied. Així doncs, they have decided that the position is shared ex aequo, "like the Goyas," Carreras Fisas explained, laughing.

The other positions are as follows. In second place, Cocina Hermanos Torres, and rounding off the podium in third place, Via Veneto. Fourth place goes to Alkimia by Jordi Vilà, fifth to Ca l'Enric, in the Bianya Valley, sixth to Estimar, and seventh to Can Jubany. It so happens that Nandu Jubany was responsible for the catering at the party, because according to Manuel Carreras Fisas "he is a guarantee of quality."

Eighth place goes to Lasarte, followed by Enigma, Aürt, Miramar, Gresca, Boscana and fourteenth to Dos Palillos. There is no great surprise in the Catalan list because it is made up of very solvent restaurants with great chefs at the helm. In fact, many of them did not want to miss the gala. Names such as Eduard Xatruch, Bittor Arginzoniz, Juan Roca, Elena Arzak, Sergio and Javier Torres, Paco Morales, Rafa Zafra, Ricardo Camarena, Paco Pérez and Aitor Arregui were present.

Other territories and new openings

The top positions and rankings of the rest of the communities were also announced at the gala. In Madrid, the first place went to Desde 1911, in Euskadi to the Getaria restaurant Elkano and in La Rioja to El Portal de Echaurren. The first place in the Valencian Country went to another ex aequo for two great chefs: Ricard Camarena Restaurant and Quique Dacosta Restaurant. In Andalusia, the chosen restaurant was the Bardal de Ronda. In Cantabria, the Cenador de Amós, and in Asturias, Casa Marcial.

One of the categories where there is always a lot of interest is that of new openings, which the guide calls rookies. For Macarfi, the best opening in Spain in 2024 has been Ibai, in San Sebastián. In second place we find Pabú, a Madrid restaurant that has generated a lot of expectation in recent months. On the list of 15 new restaurants, there are two Catalan restaurants. In third position, Maymanta, on the terrace of the top floor of the Grand Hyatt hotel (formerly Princesa Sofía) in Barcelona. It is the proposal of the Peruvian chef Omar Malpartida that also has privileged views of the city. A spacious and comfortable place with a good cocktail menu.

The other Catalan establishment that appears on the list of best openings is in fourth place and is Esperit Roca. Located in the castle of Sant Julià de Ramis, the restaurant has already obtained its first Michelin star in the year of its opening. The space It has an impressive wine cellar, the largest in a restaurant.They offer two tasting menus, one that focuses on savory dishes, and another on sweets. In addition, the facilities include a hotel and Coming soon with a Catalan cuisine restaurant.

An expanding guide

The Macarfi guide has been growing for ten years, even beyond our borders. "We started with two people and recommended stalls in Barcelona and now we have 22 workers and we recommend 4,000 restaurants in eight autonomous communities," says Carreras Fisas, who adds that next year they will cover the whole of Spain except the islands, which will take a little longer. Macarfi has 2,500 ambassadors, 125 investment partners and feeds a community of 30,000 people, 20,000 of whom are registered in its own. newsletter and 18,000 who have downloaded their mobile application.

But what is an important novelty is that the Macarfi guide has made the leap to Latin America, specifically to the Dominican Republic. On April 3, they will present the guide to the country. The reason why Macarfi has traveled is not because it was part of their growth plan, but because the Dominican Academy of Gastronomy (ADG) went looking for them. The country does not have inspectors from the Michelin Guide and although the 50th Best Restaurants list has a division for Latin America, the country is very diluted in the ranking. So the members of ADG saw a very good option to associate with Macarfi because they had "everything" know-how" , as Carreras Fisas said , who stressed that gastronomy in the Caribbean country is very important because it must be taken into account that it is a country with 11 million inhabitants and 11 million tourists every year . He also wanted to highlight "the spectacular wine lists" and "the great decorations" of Dominican restaurants . other Spanish-speaking countries, which have also contacted them with the intention of seeing if they could collaborate with them.

• Enjoy (Catalonia)
• Divercho (Madrid)
• Etxebarri Grill (Basque Country)

Catalonia

1. The Can Roca Winery
2. Torres Brothers Kitchen
3. Via Veneto
4. Alchemy
5. Ca Enric
6. Estimate
7. Can Jubany
8. Lasarte
9. Enigma
10. Aurt
11. Miramar
12. Fracas
13. The Boscana
14. Two Chopsticks
15. Koy Shunka / Cabbages (ex aequo)

The best openings

1. Ibai - Basque Country
2. Pabu - Madrid
3. Maymanta - Catalonia
4. Rock Spirit - Catalonia
5. Leartá - Andalusia

The best of the other communities

• Ricard Camarena Restaurant / Quique Dacosta Restaurant (ex aequo) - Valencian Country
• Elkano - Euskadi
• Since 1911 - Madrid
• Bardal - Andalusia
• Amós Gazebo - Cantabria
• Marcial House - Asturias
• The Echaurren Portal - La Rioja