Spain’s culinary landscape is not just a feast for the senses – but also for the conscience, too, as a growing number of its prestigious three Michelin-starred restaurants now embrace sustainability. We all know the significance that comes with being awarded three Michelin stars, the highest culinary accolade that the guide recognizes, but the green Michelin star was introduced in 2020 to highlight those restaurants that champion sustainability without compromising on exceptional cuisine. Since then, six restaurants in Spain have earned the rare distinction of both three Michelin stars and a green star, where sustainability isn’t just a buzzword but a core ingredient in every dish.
These restaurants not only shine with their Michelin accolades but also with their dedication to creating a sustainable future for fine dining. Whether it’s through sourcing ingredients responsibly, minimizing waste or championing local and seasonal produce, these chefs and their teams are paving the way for a new era of gastronomy, where sustainability and exceptional cuisine go hand in hand.
[See also: A Guide to All Three-Michelin-Star Restaurants in Spain]
Aponiente – Andalusia
Chef Ángel León, known as the “chef of the sea”, leads Aponiente, where sustainability takes center stage. Located in the port town of El Puerto de Santa María, León’s approach to cooking is deeply rooted in marine conservation and sustainable fishing practices. At Aponiente, dishes are crafted from often overlooked sea ingredients, with León turning what many would consider waste into a gastronomic treasure. Offering a truly unique “cuisine of the unknown sea”, Aponiente’s tasting menu features ocean-inspired dishes that are as innovative as they are sustainable – with this devotion to sustainability earning Aponiente the 2020 Michelin Guide Sustainability Award.
Tasting menu from €310 (approx. $325) per person
Casa Marcial – Asturias
Located in the idyllic village of Arriondas, Casa Marcial offers a dining experience that reflects the natural beauty of Asturias. Helmed by Chef Nacho Manzano, this family-run restaurant is a pioneer in promoting sustainable practices, from its use of locally foraged ingredients to a commitment to reducing waste. Manzano’s dishes highlight the region’s culinary heritage with modern, artistic interpretations. Expect an extraordinary tasting menu featuring seasonal seafood, mountain herbs, and Asturian staples, all served with sustainability in mind.
Tasting menu from €270 ($295) per person
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Azurmendi – Basque Country
Nestled in the Basque countryside, Azurmendi is a beacon of sustainability. Under the leadership of Eneko Atxa, Azurmendi has earned multiple accolades for its commitment to the environment, including being named the World’s Most Sustainable Restaurant by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. From its bioclimatic design to its onsite vegetable garden that reuses rainwater, Azurmendi’s approach to sustainability is nothing short of revolutionary. The restaurant’s tasting menu reflects the purity of Basque ingredients, with every dish prepared with a commitment to preserving the region’s rich culinary traditions.
Tasting menu from €290 ($305) per person
Cenador de Amós – Cantabria
At Cenador de Amós, chef Jesús Sánchez brings a reverence for using local ingredients and an avant-garde approach to fine dining. Here, dishes celebrate the traditional flavors of northern Spain, but Sánchez crafts a tasting menu that’s both innovative and environmentally conscious. Signature offerings include dishes inspired by Cantabrian anchovies and a contemporary twist on the chef’s family recipes, such as his grandfather’s omelette. And produce harvested from the kitchen garden tops off the storybook setting.
Tasting menu from €285 ($310) per person
Cocina Hermanos Torres – Catalonia
Awarded the coveted green Michelin star in recognition of its dedication to sustainability, Cocina Hermanos Torres is a culinary gem in the heart of Barcelona. Led by twin brothers Sergio and Javier Torres, the restaurant sources many ingredients directly from their farm estate in Extremadura, ensuring both local and environmentally conscious produce. Their innovative and dynamic tasting menu offers playful and inventive dishes like cured squid with poultry consommé and caviar, celebrated for their creativity and sustainability. The Torres brothers’ commitment to supporting local producers and their sustainable practices has made them pioneers in the gastronomic world.
Tasting menu from €295 ($315) per person
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El Celler de Can Roca – Catalonia
Not quite content with dominating the culinary world, El Celler de Can Roca has also earned accolades for its impact on the real world, too. Run by the Roca brothers, Joan, Josep and Jordi, this Girona institution is as celebrated for its groundbreaking cuisine as for its environmental ethos. From cultivating their own vegetable garden to utilizing renewable energy, the Roca brothers have embedded sustainability in every aspect of the restaurant. The tasting menu takes diners on a journey through Catalonia’s terroir, featuring dishes that are both emotionally evocative and meticulously crafted.
Tasting menu from €360 ($390) per person
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