


5

"Any food lover worth their salt knows the unassuming former market food stall, Direkte Boqueria, is a must-visit on a trip to Barcelona. Bookings disappear so fast it can make your head spin. The formula is simple: two tasting menus, two tasting menus, seven dishes for €72, or 10 for €86. And it doesn't take long to appreciate why chef Arnau Muñío was named Chef of the Year 2018 at the prestigious Gastronomic Forum of Girona. His style is Catalan-Asian fusion, and there's no mistaking it as the delicately balanced umami of the oyster gyoza dumpling with its "capipota" sauce explodes in your mouth (capipota translates as "head and hoof" and refers to a rustic Catalan stew made from veal head and hocks). Although the real showstopper is the ultra-gooey matcha cheesecake." - Isabelle Kliger, Gemma Askham
