Alicante shines at a premier Suns Repsol event
Alicante’s vibrant culinary scene was highlighted this week by a premier delivery event that gathered Spain’s culinary elite under the sunlit dome of the Suns Repsol Guide 2023. On Monday, February 27, nearly 600 guests filled the Provincial Auditorium, bringing together Spain’s top chefs, more than a hundred journalists and gastronomy critics, and regional authorities. Four Alicante restaurants earned a place in the Suns spotlight as the city officially embraced its role as a capital of gastronomy for the year, marking the moment at the ADDA in the city center.
The gala carried the theme, The kitchen fills us, and showcased 101 new entries in the guide, a reference in Spanish gastronomy. Notable additions included Espacio Montoro in Alicante, Hogar del Pescador in La Vila, Casa Bernardi in Benissa, Lula by Aurora Torres in Los Montesinos, Maralba in Almansa, and Corral de la Morería in Madrid, all earning Suns distinctions. The event crowned three Suns to these and other standout establishments.
The mayor, Luis Barcala, welcomed the Suns delivery as Alicante’s first departure from the Basque Country, noting that hosting the Repsol Suns ceremony and Spain’s finest culinary minds underscores the city’s leadership in gastronomy. He explained that gastronomy is culture, wealth, labor, and passion, and expressed pride in the city serving as a stage where these values reach their peak expression. The gala, he stated, places Alicante at the nerve center of the gastronomic world and honors the hard work and the quality of local products that professionals bring to the table.
During the evening, the mayor also congratulated the four province-wide restaurants that joined the Suns family and praised their chefs. He highlighted Espacio Montoro, located in the city, for its rising prominence on the national stage.
712 restaurants
The Suns universe for 2023 now totals 712 restaurants, including 43 with three Suns, 164 with two Suns, and 505 with one Sun. Across autonomous communities, Catalonia leads with 105 Suns, followed by Madrid with 98, the Basque Country with 68, Andalusia with 65, the Valencian Community with 58, and Castilla y León with 58. In Alicante province there are 30 base restaurants, eight of which are located in the capital. The gala’s energy mirrored a national economy in recovery and a culinary scene that remains vibrant across regions, as noted in the Suns 2023 guide. [citation: Repsol Guía Suns 2023].
Repsol President Antonio Brufau spoke during the gala about the strong moment for national gastronomy, pointing to a new year of talent in Spanish kitchens that reinforces the sector’s vitality. He stressed that Spain’s culinary power travels beyond borders and that Guía Repsol remains committed to supporting national tourism and gastronomy, helping the sector grow even stronger and more visible. [citation: Repsol Guía Suns 2023].
Valencian Community President Ximo Puig emphasized gastronomy as a shared asset that enriches culture, traditions, and regional knowledge, noting that the Mediterranean identity rooted in landscape, sustainability, product quality, and tradition continues to define the Valencian culinary catalog for visitors. [citation: Guía Repsol statements].
Throughout the evening, the presentation of top chefs and leading Suns celebrated collaborations with culinary masters such as Joan Roca, Fina Puigdevall, Ricard Camarena, the Torres brothers, Andoni Luis Aduriz, and Elena Arkaz. Carlos Mazón, president of the Alicante State Assembly, remarked that Alicante’s gastronomy and the broader Valencian Community are enjoying a sweet moment—an explosion of flavors, experiences, and heartfelt hospitality that professionals convey to diners. [citation: gala remarks].
María Ritter, director of Guía Repsol, reflected on the joy of filling tables and the social energy that accompanies exceptional cooking. She described a culture where people eagerly gather to savor and celebrate distinctive dishes, whether in bustling cities or charming towns, a sentiment echoed by many who cherish good food as a social experience. [citation: Guía Repsol remarks].
3 Suns
This edition features two notable three-Sun entrants, including Maralba in Almansa and Morería Corral in Madrid, marking a pivotal edition with new three-Sun names advancing to the highest level of recognition. [citation: Suns awards night remarks].
2 Suns
The two-Sun category continues to demonstrate strong identity and product-led excellence with establishments such as Ambivium in Peñafiel, Amelia in Donostia, Bo.Tic in Corsa, Castell Peralada in Peralada, Consentido in Salamanca, Deessa in Madrid, El Lago in Marbella, Garena in Dima, Hika in Villabona, Mantua in Jerez de la Frontera, Montia in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Nub in Costa Adeje, O Camiño do Inglés in Ferrol, Oba in Casas-Ibáñez, O’Pazo in Padrón, Rekondo in Donostia, Umiko in Madrid, and Voro in Capdepera, all recognized for their distinct approach to quality and hospitality. [citation: Suns category descriptions].
1 Sun
In the one-Sun tier, 81 new entries reflect a movement of chefs choosing personal journeys over urban rhythms. Examples include Jorge Asenjo moving from Donostia to a countryside project in Atxondo Valley to launch a venture named Erro, and Carlos Oyarbide returning to San Adrián to open his own establishment, the Carlos Oyarbide Bistronomiko. Other notable journeys include Kàran Bistró in Pozoblanco, Mesón Sabor Andaluz in Alcalá del Valle, La Casa de Manolo Franco in Valdemorillo, Lula by Aurora Torres in Los Montesinos, Dámaso Navajos at La Posada del Laurel in Préjano, José Antonio Medina at El Coto de Quevedo in Torre de Juan Abad, and the Hernández Talaván brothers at Versátil in Zarza de Granadilla. These stories illustrate how chefs worldwide are embracing authentic, personal culinary visions. [citation: profile recaps from the gala].