Catalonia, the best gastronomy in the world | Campaign by the Generalitat de Catalunya
Around one hundred Michelin-starred chefs and traditional cuisine chefs vindicate Catalonia as the region with the best gastronomy in the world. Photo credit: Arnau Carbonell
When you’re travelling to the Spanish region of Catalonia this summer and you’re a foodie – check out all 62 Michelin-starred restaurants in the region. Three of these are ranked among the best in the world. Catalonia aims to reinforce its leadership as a preeminent culinary destination in Europe and globally. Around one hundred Michelin-starred chefs and traditional cuisine chefs are uniting behind the message: ‘Catalonia, the best gastronomy in the world.’
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Catalonia, the best gastronomy in the world
The campaign, by the Generalitat de Catalunya, was launched to position Catalonia as a world leader in gastronomy, with a high-profile event at Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona. More than 100 chefs, Michelin-starred and traditional alike, joined forces with sommeliers, producers, winegrowers, and restaurateurs to promote Catalan cuisine. Ferran Adrià, the Roca brothers, Carme Ruscalleda, Nandu Jubany, Cocina Hermanos Torres – for the first time, all major representatives of Catalan cuisine have come together with a common goal.
Catalonia welcomes millions of tourists annually, many drawn by food and wine. Culinary tourists spend on average 20% more than traditional visitors. With over 500 active gastronomic experiences, the region continues to strengthen its global reputation. Under the slogan “Catalonia, the best gastronomy in the world,” the Catalan Tourism Agency’s campaign highlights cuisine as a driver of economic growth and international appeal, coinciding with Catalonia’s recognition as the World Region of Gastronomy 2025 by IGCAT (International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism).
Catalonia is also an agri-food leader, with 12 PDOs (Protected Designations of Origin), 13 PGIs (Protected Geographical Indications), and 12 Dos (Designations of Origin) for wines. The agri-food sector represents 20% of Catalonia’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and employs over 573,500 professionals. Annual investment in R&D exceeds €85 million, reinforcing the region’s role in culinary innovation.
The history of today’s Catalan Cuisine
What began with the elBulli revolution over 30 years ago has evolved into one of the most internationally acclaimed culinary movements. Catalonia boasts 62 restaurants with a total of 77 Michelin stars. Disfrutar, El Celler de Can Roca, and elBulli are all ranked among the world’s top restaurants. In 2024, Albert Adrià was named the second-best chef in the world by The Best Chef Awards.
There have been 140 actual protagonists from the gastronomic world participating in the centrepiece of the campaign ad, shot in seven representative locations of the Catalan region: the city of Barcelona, Peratallada and l’Escala (Costa Brava), Valls (Costa Dorada), the muscle farms of the Ebro Delta, the city of Lleida, La Vall de Boí (Pyrenees) and Penedès (Barcelona Landscapes).
Website: Generalitat de Catalunya
