Restaurant Jardí de l'Ànima

Went on a whim for a late afternoon smoke. Didn't know the hotel or the garden beforehand. When I entered the hotel I was welcomed and shown to the garden (where I wanted to sit). I picked a table and the first thing I noticed was the ashtray was full, but thought nothing much- just asked the waitress to change it. Normally, I assumed she would bring a cigar ashtray given it is a hotel, but she just brought a regular one back.. Whatever.. The garden was green, calm and with lots of singing birds. The chairs were comfy.. Service from the girls wasn't particularly nice as I didn't feel kindness, being welcomed there or anything remote of the sort.. they just executed their tasks very mechanically. Maybe because they were preparing for dinner service? At some point more personnel arrived and a nice guy brought me a cigar ashtray. So it seems they had one from the start.. I take photos sometimes to draw the experience I've had and so I wanted to take a photo (as seen here).. really liked the reflections in the ice bucket but found it with stains, so took a napkin and rotated to find the best part to expose, only to discover it had sticky stains all over, even at some part there was a tomato seed or so.. Whatever, I thought the place wasn't particularly glamorous or luxurious (although with nice interior and garden), so I really put this past me.. When I was leaving, I noticed several white dried bird poos on the back of my seat. Seems I have sat in a rush and haven't paid attention. As mentioned above, I thought the place wasn't high-end, so just shrugged it off. Went to pay at the bar to only discover a glass of wine is 12 eur and small water 8 eur. Although this is not so shocking, given the distant service, the ashtray and the cleanliness of some items, I was honestly surprised and found it not justifiable. It was overall a good experience and debating to go back for a meal, but really cannot understand how such details could be overlooked when they charge this much?

Beautiful ambiance outside on the patio garden. The pumpkin soup and chocolate cake were delicious. The steak was chewy and not best.

Great setting inside of the Alma Hotel - trendy interior inside or nice garden in a courtyard. But … despite being on the Guide Michelin watchlist - we were quite disappointed as you see below. Nice greeting by the staff, interesting move to place our jackets next to the table in a basket. The first appearance : Croquettes with tuna - as amuse bouche from the kitchen were crisp and tasty. We accepted the offered classical Bread with tomato - just to test if the simple dishes are also cared about. And there you go : beautiful crisp bread that felt like puff pastry with great tasty tomato spread with the right portion of high qualitative olive oil and salt As starters we chose Aubergine with burrata - great texture with the Aubergine being soft and tender with the burrata melted over it - leaving it as a yummy soft experience with great flavors. Then also the Leek soup with quail egg was a nice composition but compared to the Aubergine nothing special - something was missing as contrast. Then as mains we had the special of the day: entrecôte 300gr was rather disappointing - missing flavors at all, the spots of sauce were not defined and the meat was really really chewy… not good for a upmarket restaurant. Unfortunately same experience for my main dish - the hake with catalan clams was missing the special twist and taste unfortunately, the sauce had no flavor at all. Final sweets : Basil lemon combination was a lively taste explosion and the other dish, the yolk flan was also great - so the patisserie did a good job here (5/5 stars) - but in the end it can not compensate for poor main dishes. Nevertheless, it is strange that they are on the Michelin watchlist - in this context only 3 stars because normally restaurants operate on a much higher level if you make it to their list - maybe the kitchen team was not in order on a Sunday evening. But the restaurant was also nearly empty … maybe a sign that things don’t go in the right direction ? Quite unfortunate but maybe we expected too much. Service was friendly and nice but also not totally to the point.

Disappointing Experience with the Manager at Jardin del Alma Jardin del Alma used to be one of our favorite restaurants in Barcelona — a place we visited regularly and truly enjoyed. Unfortunately, a recent experience has completely changed our opinion. We reached out well in advance to organize a small birthday dinner and were put in contact with the manager, Javier — whose lack of professionalism was frankly unacceptable. From the start, communication was difficult, as Javier barely speaks English — which is surprising for someone in a managerial role at a restaurant with international clientele. Still, we clearly communicated very simple requests: to push two round tables together and allow for minimal birthday table decor. Javier initially confirmed everything with no issues. He assured us that it would all be possible. But four days later, much closer to the event, he suddenly emailed us saying that none of it could actually be done. His reasoning? That the restaurant already has its own table decor. In reality, this “decor” is nothing more than a tiny vase with a single flower — hardly something that would conflict with a few tasteful additions for a special occasion. This kind of last-minute refusal, after previously giving full approval, is not just disappointing — it’s completely unprofessional. There was no effort to find a compromise, no proper explanation, and no apology. It’s incredibly frustrating to experience this kind of treatment from a place we used to recommend and return to often. Sadly, after this incident, we no longer feel welcome or respected as guests. We truly hope the restaurant’s leadership re-evaluates the quality of its management and service — especially when it comes to loyal customers.

The setting of Jardí de l’Ànima is undeniably spectacular. Nestled within a 5-star hotel, the ambiance—especially the small garden—creates a serene and elegant atmosphere that sets high expectations. The service is also commendable, with staff who are both friendly and flexible, demonstrating attention to detail, such as individually plating shared dishes. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to the setting. The flavors often felt mismatched, and some textures were less than pleasant. Given the price point (€224 for two, including a €65 bottle of champagne), one would expect a level of culinary refinement that simply wasn’t there. The salad, pumpkin soup, and fish of the day were underwhelming compared to other restaurants in the same price range, where quality and execution are far superior. Adding to the concerns, the restaurant was completely empty during our visit—perhaps a telling sign. While the service was friendly, it wasn’t entirely sharp, contributing to an overall sense of disappointment. A beautiful venue with potential, but the food needs serious improvement to justify its positioning.

Good food, good customer service ! A good place in the center of the city ! Little expensive !

One of the best desserts I’ve ever had in my life.

I love this place to bits. Food is outstanding, simply superb. Fresh product, the best and incredible dishes. The service is of the highest level and yes. The price is rightly leveled with what you receive in exchange. It’s the perfect balance. I couldn’t recommend this place more. It’s one of the best restaurants I know!