Barcelona has quite a few Michelin starred restaurants, and I'm slowly working my way through them. For my friend's birthday, I booked a lunch at aBaC. I'll be honest, the menu didn't immediately excite me and felt a bit underwhelming at first. That said, the execution completely won me over. Everything tasted far better than expected. Highlights/Memorable dishes: The onion, cheese, anchovy, and enzyme dish was deeply savory and full of umami. Their interpretation of onion soup was comforting yet refined, and the flavors worked perfectly together. The cured sea bream with mollusks, frozen hummus, and spring onion gazpachuelo with cilantro was another highlight. It was almost like a ceviche. The fish was incredibly tender, and I loved the mussels. Great! The squid with Roman style caviar was another hit! Think squid tartare topped with caviar. Simple and delicious! Naturally, my friend and I went all out and ordered a bottle of wine each. The service was exceptional, made even better by our attentive and very charming server (Mitsu?). He was funny and entertained our shenanigans lol. All in, I spent around $700 for two, including the $200 deposit required to secure the reservation. Overall, money well spent and a solid Michelin experience. I would definitely recommend it. read more

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Magnificent! ABaC restored my faith in Michelin rankings for Barcelona. The space is well organized with a simple design with black, white, beige, and antiqued bronze colors. Plenty of space between tables. Service was perfect: polite, attentive, and plenty of people. The food was inspired. Every course was delicious and organized around regional influences. Several were fun, such as the deconstructed Caprese salad. An anchovy embedded in a thin slice of bread to resemble a fossil. The last dessert included a helium balloon. Other interesting touches included a candle made of butter, into which could be dipped the excellent rustic bread. The pacing of the courses was ideally timed. Wine pairings were excellent. I highly recommend ABaC. It's worth the expense. read more

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We had a great time at ABaC. The chef mixed classic fine dining with some fun dishes. Almost every course had some finishing touch prepared at your table. The menu definitely felt carefully curated- there was a dessert inspired by the Little Prince and a balloon themed one. Many of the dishes were branded with their logo in some way. Like most Michelin star menus in Europe, the menu was generous, and we couldn't finish everything. read more

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Great dinner, don't eat lunch or breakfast before you come. Save room for the Wagyu. Lots of different tastes.

Wow! Where to start... one of the most memorable and special gastronomic experiences of my life. We were welcomed for a reservation and invited to join the staff in the kitchen for some super special appetizers and a killer bloody Mary. Once we finished a number of wonderful treats in the kitchen, we moved onto our table where our server walked through the tasting menu. The restaurant has a clean, modern vibe, very minimalistic which allows you to focus on the food and the choreographed service We decided to go all in and participated in wine pairing. It should be noted that we were invited to utilize any choice from their extensive wine menu rather than the wine tasting. Just for fun, we checked out the menu and it even included a number nice selections from USA Napa Valley. All of the food was delicately prepared and well thought out. Wine pairings were all Spanish wines, and not one style; we enjoyed wines from all over Spain, most notably from their Rioja region and north. Selections included a nice variety that included white, reds, cider, and Sherries. Each of the wines was well paired with the wonderful array of foods that we experienced. Many of the courses lean towards fish, which you would expect being so close to the Mediterranean. A wonderful squid dish, a flight of tomato based dishes, the absolute best hake may have ever had the pleasure to taste, just name a few. Wonderful lamb protein course towards the end of the meal, followed by several rounds of dessert, each whimsical and delicious at the same time. Honestly, everything was wonderful and the only thing I didn't care for was really an aside for fun a candle of coconut oil that melted bread dipping, fun but it wasn't my favorite taste Our meal, lasted more than 3 1/2 hours, and it just flew by! The service was impeccable, wines, varied, and fun, food, absolutely one of a kind. A must if you ever have the opportunity to be in the Barcelona Spain area to experience Chef Cruz absolute genius. Reservations are a must, in advance, to secure a spot at this restaurant. read more

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Overrated! There are certain expectations when dining at a restaurant with 3 Michelin stars and ABaC did not live up to the hype. At best, ABaC might be worthy of 1 Michelin star. The food was not bad, but not exceptional either. The most memorable dishes incorporated gimmicks such as a ballon, dry ice and a butter candle more than they contained flavors & tastes that stick with you after a meal. The service was attentive (up to a point... keep reading), although the coordination could have been better. We were given two identical napkins after first sitting down (not a big deal, but a clear indication of a lack of communication by the waitstaff) and on multiple occasions our dishes lingered for many minutes after they were finished. This is in stark contrast to the top-notch service we received at Enigma the night before. The biggest problem occurred when we were invited outside for our final course/desserts and left to sit at an empty table for 25 minutes as every couple sitting outside around us was served their spread of sweets. I eventually had to walk back inside and inform the waitstaff that we hadn't gotten our final course. Even once I did let the waitstaff know, we never did get the desserts plated and ultimately left with our desserts packed away in small cardboard containers placed inside a bag. What had started as a romantic night out ended with a frustrating dud. Jordi Cruz was on property that night. We saw him come out and greet multiple tables, but he never acknowledged us. Not sure if the pleasantries were only reserved for native Spaniards or we just didn't look worthy of Jordi's precious time, but that was also pretty disappointing. We were scheduled to dine at another one of Jordi's restaurants the following night (Atempo) and made sure to cancel that reservation after the letdown at ABaC. We won't be back and won't be dining at any of Jordi's establishments again. Our visit to Lasarte a couple nights later put our meal/experience at ABaC to shame. With all the wonderful fine dining options in Barcelona, you could and should do much better than ABaC. read more

Wow!!! Wow!!!! This place blew me away. This place was my second 5 out of 5 rating since I've been to Spain. Everything was on point. I really enjoyed standing during the appetizer stage. That was a very different experience for me. Come hungry because you get a lot of food. read more

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Wonderful experience. You begin in the kitchen with a few amazing courses. The staff is sweet, attentive and friendly (so long as you are), otherwise they are quite professional and to the point which is still appreciated. Sommeliers are intelligent and enjoyable. We were so full by the end, my partner needed to help me with the last courses (we came for lunch, tasting menu was about 3hrs). I love how playful some of the last dishes were. You must experience this restaurant and their creativity! Having been to a few other Michelin restaurants, i felt the quality, quantity and pace of ABaC to be perfect. Being that we are spending all our money on quality food, we walked our butts to the restaurant from Las Ramblas area and I was glad to have a trek back to digest. There are also a few parks along the way to rest, reflect and digest. Book you reservation now! read more

ABaC Restaurante - Spanish Near Me - Barcelona, B

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My dinner at ABaC was over 4 years ago, but it still remains one of my most memorable dinners to date. My wife and I went on our first international trip together to Spain, so we splurged for the occasion. I don't remember the exact pricing, but it was actually relatively reasonable for a 3 Michelin star restaurant, as compared to other Michelin restaurants in the US and Europe. I know the reviews for ABaC are a bit bipolar. Maybe some people just prefer more traditional fine dining, with less experimental technique (ie. molecular gastronomy) or prefer a more traditional presentation. However I was thoroughly impressed with all aspects of dining at ABaC. The atmosphere, service, food taste and presentation were all top-notch. I've never seen such synchronization, with the waiters bringing out the plates in tandem, it was almost like a well choreographed dance. Sure, some of the presentation and plating was pretty modern and theatrical. But I actually enjoyed that and it's what I was paying for. It was a 16 course meal (not a typo) and every single dish was good. I remember particularly enjoy their desserts. If I ever find myself in Barcelona, I would love to revisit ABaC. read more

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Food - 4/5 delicious and creative. Every course was an adventure - it's clear the chef understands texture, color, flavor, and story telling. Our favorites included the oyster shelled velvet sauce, the deconstructed green tomato gazpacho, and the mullet with prawn. An example of the journey - a "prop" was introduced to the table at the beginning, foreshadowing a later purpose. Its full story was revealed at the denouement where it served as one half of one of the final courses. Each dish held a surprise for the taste buds, a vibrant canvas for the eyes, and a puzzle for the brain (eg, a butter stick molded into a candle, which when lit, burnt like a candle and infused the butter with a smoky flavor). The one point short of five is that overall we felt the chef sacrificed too much flavor and taste in the pursuit of creativity. Service - 3/5 a bit unpolished for the tier of restaurant, but overall professional. It was clear the staff performed from a script, but whereas that usually results in refined, rehearsed performance, here it felt stilted, inflexible, and unaccommodating. For example, the staff seemed to struggle to adapt whenever the pacing of the dishes was not to their expectation. Solid 3 points - nothing to complain about - basically hits the minimum expectation I'd expect from this tier of restaurant. Ambiance 5/5. ABaC is located in a walled property in the first floors of a hotel. The entire property is beautiful, and the insides are no different. It's inviting, clean, and spacious. The inside design compliments the gardens outside very well. Overall 1/5. Normally this would've been a 4/5 total. Unfortunately both my dining partner and I got seriously ill after eating here. Omitting the details, we got violently sick with stomach problems. We're both pretty sure the underprepared pigeon was to blame. When we recovered a week later, we wrote an email to ABaC detailing what we thought the issue was and a suggestion for fixing it. We never heard back. For a three star restaurant, that is unacceptable. Let this be a warning to others - while the food is delicious, if one is to get too experimental with borderline-raw food, one must get the details of food safety right. And I do not believe the management here has put the right priority on that. read more

What an incredible dining experience! Each dish was filled with delicious and bold flavors, beautiful presentation, and creativity. & the staff were professional and very service-oriented. I highly recommend ABaC when visiting Barcelona. I only have two critiques, and they're both pretty minor. First, the music didn't fit the overall vibe of the dining experience. While trying some of the best food I've ever tasted, I was listening to some random cover of Hot Line Bling. I think classical or jazz would be a better fit. It was also a tiny bit too loud. Second, the kitchen tour was a bit too cramped. I appreciate getting to see the kitchen and meeting the chefs, but I also felt I was in the way during the kitchen tour. Overall, ABaC deserves the 3 Michelin stars it has. The chefs at ABaC do not shy away from bold flavors and creative plating. The service is also amazing, as the staff will truly do whatever you need to feel comfortable and happy in the restaurant. Highly recommend: 5/5! read more

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One of the best restaurant experiences we've ever had! We were lucky to snag a reservation the day after Christmas and so glad that we did. We started our dining experience in the kitchen with some small bites and the best Bloody Mary cocktail I've ever had. Then we heading to the dining room for the rest of the meal. I could go on and on about the food, but they are constantly changing their menu based off of the ingredients in season. I'll focus on the superb service and their attention to detail. They have a lengthy wine menu and received a really nice recommendation from the sommelier. There are a few cocktails built into the tasting menu which I really appreciated. The service was impeccable! They asked that we let them know ahead of time if we need a dining break so that they can let the kitchen know as most of their dishes are delicate. Overall, we will definitely be back when we come back to Barcelona again! read more

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I really wanted to like this restaurant but for this price point there are a lot better meals to be had. There are some really nice aspects to the meal, and they open really strong. Unfortunately the menu falls off really hard at the proteins and dessert. They also straight up forgot to tell two tables (ours and a neighbor) that one of the dishes was edible (the one with the candle). Highlight of the meal is the first dish, the Bloody Mary, as well as the deconstructed salads. Decent storytelling, particularly the balloon effect at the end but all of the flare doesn't make up for a so-so culinary experience. read more

The ambiance was rather sterile. There is hardly any color in the restaurant, which was surprising because the entrance and outside space is so gorgeous. Service was hit and miss that night. The food overall was okay, some beautiful presentations but not memorable. At one point in the night, several drunk patrons wobbled their way from the back through the long dining room and one man threw up repeatedly on the floor (!!!), leaving everyone shocked and disgusted. One couple immediately left mid meal. I thought maybe the staff would present a courtesy wine pour (as an apology for the gross behavior) but nothing. In fact there was hardly an apology for the ruined experience. This is suppose to be a 3-star Michelin restaurant?? Understand your patrons. I chose to come here because I was unable to secure a reservation at Disfrutar. Sadly I wish I had chosen one of the other 2 or 3 star Michelin restaurants in Barcelona. read more

After visiting Guy Savoy (3 Michelin star) and Le Clarence (2 Michelin star) in Paris only few days prior, we had high expectations of ABAC (3 Michelin star), however we were disappointed, by comparison. We give the restaurant high marks for creativity, presentation and service: balloons, bubble, table side fire and ice, choreographed service, and many servers kept us informed on the ingredients in the multiple courses. Unfortunately, some of the dishes themselves were chipped, the meal was unrefined, unimpressive tasting, repetitive, not very balanced with virtually no meat, lots of fishy tasting fish and generally hard to finish dishes. We would not go back. read more

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The restaurant's decor and atmosphere is wonderful. The staff is attentive and treats you very well. For me the food just didn't do it for me. Some of the dishes were too salty and repetitive. The number of times foam presented in a serving is unnecessary. We got a wine paring option with our meal and it was lacking. In both pairings and service. There were times during the meal the service had moved on to the next coarse and the next wine wasn't poured. I think we actually got the wrong pairing one time. Service wise this place was excellent. Taste wise...I found it lacking. read more

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Is it possible to get too carried away? Maybe. Sometimes the presentation distracts from the amazing food and service. The giant red shrimp encased in salt? Clever. The apple bubbles formed with dry ice? Flavorful, but actually reminded me of TV show mocking high end restaurants: "This bag of lavender-scented air is the first course." Maybe they're making up for the worldwide shutdown. Aside from that strange starter, an incredible meal, excellent service, with a new favorite of oyster marinated in kombucho with hazelnut butter and caviar (photo). I can't wait to return. 2021 09 28. M3. read more

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Wow, what an exceptional experience! From the food, to the attentive service to the ability to be in the kitchen, we had a fabulous time. You start with 3 appetizers on the terrace, which were all phenomenal. Then we were escorted to the kitchen where we tried 3 more appetizers while the chefs were busy working around us. A fun surprise was being invited into the main work station for a photo with all of the chefs. We were then escorted to the main dining room for dinner. There were 2 menu options - classic or gastronomic, but in wanting to try the classic dishes that they're known for, we went with the classic menu. The food was amazing, very carefully thought out and presented beautifully down to the plate or bowl the foods were brought in. I loved the mix of flavors and textures; what a unique way to enjoy a meal. The service was also excellent, we were attended to without being pushed and every detail was orchestrated fluidly. One of the best meals we've ever had! Highly recommend if you're in Barcelona. read more

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With such polarizing reviews of abac, I must say that I am a fan. From being seating outside with a few bites, to being brought into the kitchen and into the main dining room, abac gives a fun and thrilling experience. Every dish on the tasting menu was on point. Our experience at abac was memorable and stood too to toe with our other excellent meals in barcellona such as tickets and disfrutar. Jordi cruz really serves up beautiful and delicious dishes. Truley a must not miss expereince. read more

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Prior to coming here, I read several reviews and was debating on whether or not to keep our reservation. (I read them on Yelp as well as trip advisor.) I'm so glad we kept the reservation because all the poor reviews were completely wrong. Not only was the food amazing, the experience was truly worth it. The ambiance and the service is exactly what you would expect at a restaurant like this. We were told to come here by a few friends who had been here a few years ago... and it's safe to say, they haven't lost their touch. Each food item had meaning and we loved the story line behind them. Our waiters were so lovely and explained everything. We feel we had the full experience pairing wine with our meal so definitely recommend doing such. The only part I didn't like about the experience was the hot temperature of the restaurant, but they started to lower it once they saw how hot everyone was. Overall we are so happy to have experienced this meal and can't wait to come back when we are in the area. Love!! read more

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This is a different type of restaurants from others that we've been before. They served your foods in 3 different locations("terrace", kitchen and main dining room). They also have different dining rooms: one for just party of 2s and the other for bigger party. The foods and the experience were very interesting and unique, however we didn't find the taste to be that good. We were still glad that we went here though, but it's not something we would go back for. Unlike Lasarte from the previous night, the foods here were just okay, some are too salty or under-seasoned. Come here for the experience, not the foods. read more

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(Chanel) honestly did not know what I was in for when we went to @abachotelrestaurant for this fine dining experience. The Michelin restaurant with featured chef @jordicruzoficial did not disappoint. I mean I knew with the 225€ price tag, we were in for a treat. * We all challenged ourselves to try new things and truly embrace this opportunity. I am forever grateful that when they noticed I didn't like something, they tailored my foods to things I would enjoy and I thoroughly enjoyed the eel dishes they prepared for me! * Some highlights were: 1. The Bloody Mary on the rocks - not typically a fan, but this was a take on a Bloody Mary that should be offered everywhere! 2. Whipped hazelnut butter + caviar - the mixture of these two on the bread crisps was on another level.. 3. Salt-cured red shrimp - what a pleasant surprise that was chillin on the table the entire time and we had no idea! 4. Soup - so interesting, yet so tasty! 5. All the desserts - because you know, I love sweets and there were 3 servings of desserts, what a way to end a meal! Service was spectacular and the whole meal we kept saying... "what would happen if someone dropped something?" "How many times did they practice this?" "Are these folx training to be Michelin star rated chefs themselves?" Questions that deserve answers! read more

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Quite an experience I must say! Unassuming entrance & minimal decor left a lot to the imagination, however the dishes were filled with care & creativity. The methodical preparation & theatrics of each dish kept us engaged & delighted throughout dinner. It was extensive & dinner lasted over 3 hours! I feel a lighter more consolidated version should be made available because we were overwhelmed half way through. Multiple desert dishes were an overkill at the end. I do agree with Michelin 3 star rating. read more

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Food was salty, service was sloppy and ambiance was stuffy. However, the course's overall concept was quite fun--particularly the desserts; they were nostalgia re-envisioned. Processed candies eaten as a kid, recreated with fine dining ingredients and techniques. One of the desserts tasted like I was drinking a strawberry hard candy (Jolly Rancher for us Americans). Otherwise, the rest of the meal followed played out fine dining usuals like caviar forward appetizers and deconstruction of familiar dishes. Except all of these were worsened by the saltiness of the dishes. My mouth actually puckered from the saltiness. When asked about my experience with the appetizers, I asked if they could pull back on the salt for the rest of the meal, if possible. Which leads me to the service. The food remained salty, and no one asked if the food tasted specifically less salty, for the rest of the meal. Understandably, much of the prepared components of each course may not be able to be adjusted to fit a single customer's request. But I would've appreciated a simple follow up. There were two more noticeable issues with the service. First, look at the pictures. I found a hair in the white sauce of the course shown in the pictures. The waiter took my dish back to prepare a new one. However, I am quite dubious whether a new dish was prepared, and whether the same standard of quality was met. The white sauce's consistency on my dish is quite grainy, like cottage cheese, while the white sauce on my partner's dish is smoothly gelatinous, as mine also was when it was first presented. The second service issue is related to setting the table. Several times when the staff placed new silverware, my partner and I noticed, not only for our table, but for others as well, that the staff almost "tossed" down each utensil. I know I'm being very nit-picky here, but this is a three Michelin star restaurant. It was not pleasant, especially when there was no rapport established between us and our primary wait staff--not to their fault because do have language barriers. Regardless, the impression was carelessness. Lastly, ambiance. This is highly subjective so take it with a grain of salt. The setting was quite intimate, but it was stuffy. I could hear everything from everyone. I felt that I had to lean in and whisper to speak with my partner without disturbing others. Also, jackets are not required for men. If a certain ambiance is trying to be created, follow through. read more

ABaC Restaurante - "Remade" entree after I found a hair in the white sauce. - Spanish Near Me - Barcelona, B

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My wife and I ate at 5 Michelin starred restaurants in under two weeks across Spain, with three of them 3 starred and to me ABaC was the best of them all. The execution was flawless and the menu was the perfect combination of progressive and flavorful. If you're thinking of going to a Michelin starred restaurant while in Barcelona and Spain and are only going to pick one, this should be it. read more

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The food was very good, but the service was a bit lacking and definitely very stiff! Came here for dinner one night due to the 2 Michelin star rating and several friends recommendation. We were seated right away and given menus to review. There were 2 set dinners that we could choose from, BUT we were NOT allowed to each choose our own set. Basically, the restaurant was not flexible at all. I asked the server to talk to the chef and was once again told that was not ok. So, we ended up all ordering the same set menu but substituting several items that we didn't like or were allergic to. The food was beautifully presented and very creative. We were impressed with a few of the courses. This place is extremely expensive, and we did fork out some major greens. There were many seafood dishes and we are huge fans of that, so it was right up our alley. The surrounding garden was very nice and we got some photos. Bathrooms are beautiful, well designed with a modern contemporary look, and of course spotless. The restaurant was not to far from the metro station so it was very easy to get to. read more

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I was apprehensive about trying ABaC of the mixed reviews... but this was the HIGHLIGHT of our Spain trip. I have only been to one other Michelin star restaurant, so I don't have much to compare it to in that way, but we were blown away. My brother, who has been to every Michelin star in San Francisco, was also blown away. Came with a party of 7. We did the traditional menu. The experience started in the kitchen, with Champaign and our first 5 or so courses. Then we were taken to the dining room and treated like queens and kings. The presentation 10/10, the food 10/10, and the service 12/10!!! Absolutely worth every penny. I was nervous that I wouldn't love every dish, but I was wrong. Please visit. I can't speak for the other Michelin stars in Spain, but if you're deciding on a place, do not overlook this one. Also, we had a gluten allergy in our party, and the waiters and the kitchen were SO accommodating. They subbed a few of her dishes for other items but nothing that was "less than" what we were eating. read more

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The expectation for ABaC was high given it had 3 Michelin stars. The place is very nice. Modern hotel with elegant decor. The staff was attentive and did a good job overall. However, when it came time to the food it did not impress. While one or two dishes were decent the majority of them were not up to par. They mostly tried to distract you with creative plates and presentations but the flavors always seemed to be off. It certainly was not worth the high price tag. I'm not sure how Michelin rated it so high but would not expect it to remain for long serving the same menu. I would skip this place when visiting Barcelona. read more

Astounding restaurant in all regards. I enjoyed the contemporary food, which had amazing substance in flavors, while forward thinking in its presentations and recipes. The meal consisted of a large tasting menu (around 20 courses), which straddles the line of highly inventive to molecular gastronomy. In a nutshell, the entire meal was enjoyable and it is quite surprising how well they excelled at all aspects. The service was impeccable, and the staff was surprisingly young, considering how refined they were. The atmosphere was exceptional, with a nice distance between tables and a beautiful grounds surrounding the restaurant (the hotel/spa). Absolutely impeccable experience! read more

ABaC Restaurante - Spanish Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Toqued by Chef Jordi Cruz since 2010, the 39 year old now holding two-Michelin Stars for the past five guides, ABaC Restaurant was booked as the final meal in Barcelona largely as a result of afternoon reservations available on Sunday, a 13h30 arrival at wooden gates where guests are buzzed in unfortunately followed by an excruciatingly long lunch featuring disinterested service and gaps as long thirty minutes separating one course from next. Part of a Historical Building, the former home of photographer and film-maker Doña Madronita Andreu since renovated and converted into a boutique Hotel, ABaC Restaurant resides on the lower floor of a space containing rooms starting at roughly €225 and with a location far outside city-center those looking for a something a little more quiet and luxurious than average lodging are invited to partake in both Spa Therapies and several other amenities in addition to their meal. Described as Modern Spanish Cuisine, Chef Cruz's talents highly acclaimed since he was a teenager and the first of several Michelin Stars earned at the age of 24, guests arriving at ABaC from off-premises will immediately find themselves seated on a lush patio on arrival, the decision to forgo an Aperitif nonetheless followed by a lengthy wait before being led to a brief visit to the kitchen's exterior, the meal starting off oddly as "Bloody Mary's Macarons" listed on the menu were never presented, lunch instead beginning with a frozen Margherita Meringue served atop a Cactus and followed by foam-covered Salmon Tartare. At this point finally led to a seat, the menu choice confirmed in a room with Grey drapes, thick linens and table ornaments reminiscent of those at Martin Berasategui's 3* Lasarte, it was here that the concept of a Bloody Mary was apparently to be repeated in the form of a Eggplant-shaped Ice Sculpture intended to be cracked and eaten as a palate refresher, the idea better than its execution as the flavor was fairly bland while the follow-up of tender Barnacles in Citrus Broth was slightly briny but otherwise tilted towards acid. Never having staged at ElBulli or other modernist temples like so many of Spain's great young Chefs, Cruz's talents instead learned in culinary school and honed across several Restaurants prior to settling at ABac, it was with a highly modernist duo of Melon Meringue with Ham Ice and Melon Soup with Porky Spheres that that the meal lurched forward after the first of several lengty waits, the space picked up slightly for chunks of tender Lobster served in a broth made from boiled Carapace, Roe and Seaweed. Taking a big step away from subtle flavors with the next plate, traditional Salmorejo served with additional Tomato flavor thanks to three Sun-Dried Fruits resting in the creamy Potage beneath lightly sweet Froth, it was here that another twenty-minute gap would be bridged with two styles of housemade Bread and a tiny silver decanter of Olive Oil, both loaves quite good as was the Rockfish to follow, though much as with the Barnacles the flavor of Lemon mostly overwhelmed the Bone Broth. Finally embracing the expected Catalan flavors with plate nine, a vertebrae topped in stewed Tuna with Spinal Jelly and Sherry served alongside a Donut packed with more Marrow and roasted Fish, it was in continuation of this concept that tender Rice arrived with Tuna Belly, Cheese Foam and Tomato Stew, a truly comforting dish that kicked off three meaty courses including smoky Duck Rillettes intended to be eaten like Tacos with a Salad made from fried Tongues and rich Bean Stew enriched by Pistachios and Sausage in two textures. At this point bringing forth a tableside steamer, the waitress informing patrons that this would be used 'later' it was as the device bubbled away that meal's final savory was presented, a thick cut of Pigeon served in mineral-rich sauce atop a Mousse of its insides funky and rich with just a bit of Garlic soon to be washed away by a the flavors of Strawberries and Flowers served as a light Cream wrapped in Sugary glass. Apparently making a Souffle at the table, a small cake slowly rising and soon to be revealed as Chocolate infused with the flavors of "Wood and Vanilla," it was alongside a much-needed Double Espresso that the moist Cake was enjoyed despite a dirty hint of Sunchoke, the "Apple Tartin-inspired Tartlet" an interesting blend of rounded Fruit Pieces and Dippin' Dot-style Ice Cream while the Sweet Pumpkin suggested on the menu was again never seen, the meal concluding at nearly 16h45 with several Mignardises including a smooth Raspberry Cheesecake and a Popsicle made to resemble a tube of Lipstick. read more

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My wife and I stayed at this hotel because they had a Michelin restaurant located on premises. Great evening read more

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I was initially nervous to commit to dining at ABaC because of the recent inconsistent and mixed reviews... but I decided to take the leap of faith and sure glad I did. I thought overall ABaC was a unique experience and worthy of its freshly minted three Michelin stars. I personally enjoy dancing with the Michelin stars (ha!) and made the splurge and dined at 2 other 3 michelin star restaurants in the past year. I personally thought ABaC was my favorite! I think what made the experience a LOT more enjoyable was our adorable server, Huc (Hugo). I may have butchered his nickname but you'll recognize him if he's super enthusiastic, friendly and full of charisma! he really knows a lot about food too. I think if it weren't for him, dinner would have been good, but he made the dining experience way better. You start out with two appetizers in the kitchen which I thought was unique. I overall loved all the dishes I had and it was the right amount of food. I didn't feel super bloated afterwards and wow, the food was amazing. There are two menu options, either the traditional or grand. Meal was pricy but definitely a lot more reasonable compared to San Francisco. We opted for the traditional since it seemed more appealing. A couple things to keep in mind... for dinner, they open at 20:00 or 20:30 so by the time you finish the metro may be closed. We were stranded for a bit waiting for the night bus. The location is also a bit on the outskirts of city center. I also was a bit peeved when we got the bill and they charged us 4 euros for a darn nespresso. What a great start to 2018! read more

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The service was 4 stars, the presentation was 5 stars, the food was 2.5 stars. The low rating of the food was of no fault to the restaurant but simply a case of not our cup of tea. We highly anticipated this 3 Michelin stars award-winning restaurant by Jordi Cruz during our vacation in Barcelona. We very promptly seated upon our arrival and glad to finally have shelter from heavy downpour of rain. We tried the 18-courses menu and standing ovation for its fine presentation of every course. I feel personally I tried to appreciate and enjoy food but found myself disappointed that most of the courses was very "fishy" tasting or perhaps that is what Spanish food is all about? I get the seafood part but is spoiled and accustomed to North America seafood fresh equals none to minimal fishy taste. What I did appreciate was seeing the amount of creativity being put into each course. My favourite would be the ice cream and the live presentation our service did with liquid nitrogen ice cream, what a show itself! read more

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This is my second time at ABaC. After a fantastic experience my first go around in 2019, this second time was certainly not the charm. Despite phenomenal service, after 21 different items in their tasting experience, ABaC failed to amaze in 21 out of 21, and on the 21st there was hair in our dessert. Four and one half hours utter of disappointment, a wasted afternoon, and an empty bank account. Very disappointed. At best, the food: Palatable Service: Fantastic. read more

Went to ABAC on the recommendation of our concierge at our hotel while visiting Barcelona. We were celebrating a wedding anniversary and were very excited. Boy were we in for a surprise. While the service was everything you would expect from a 3 star Michelin, the food was anything but. For the next 4 HOURS we were Subjected to the most uncomfortable and unsavory culinary experience we have ever had. Every course was weirder and less enjoyable than the last. From the black goo we were served which smelled and tasted like a plate of death, to the inside out fermented tomato dish that felt like left over pizza paste. From The Luke warm soup like substances we were served to the plate of poached egg simmering in a broth of what looked like formaldehyde, we were left wondering if this was some sort of a prank. Luckily the bread we were served was soft and we were lucky to enjoy it as we waited for anything resembling an edible dish. The prawns which were served towards the end of our experience were promising, however for some reason ABAC believes that half cooked prawns are better than the fully cooked through variety, and we were once again left shaking our heads. The desserts, were the saving grace as those helped fill the void of nutrients in our stomachs after an ordeal lasting from 9pm-12:45 am, however our evening in Barcelona felt like a let down. Not wanting to be rude, we paid out bill and left without a fuss. I contacted the restaurant to let them know of our general displeasure, and we're met with the obligatory "we are sorry, come back again". Having eaten at 3 star Jean-Georges in NYC just two weeks prior, and raving about our experience, we are officially weary of the star system. Would not recommend this restaurant. read more

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Liked it, but didn't LOVE IT. 21 courses. It was just a tad bit under expectations. Service was impeccable but a tad bit slow. No real atmosphere to enjoy. Location and garden/patio nice. My complaint is at the time of reservation we requested no fish/ seafood but got several dishes with both. Could have been life threatening had it been due to food allergies. A place of such high quality/standards and Michelin rating should have been sensitive to our request and adhere to the request regardless of the reason. Overall The food and experience was very good but we have been to Michelin restaurants with less stars that impressed us more than ABaC. read more

This may be obvious, but don't get the vegan tasting menu. It should have been obvious to me. After all, in the giant menu on their website, almost nothing is even vegetarian. Essentially, I came to realize that they were doing me a favor by accommodating me, which is fine on a business trip with a group of omnivores, but not for a special night out where you want to be wowed. Btw, in contrast, El Invernadero in Madrid was one of the best meals I ever had. read more

I have to say me and my husband are very very disappointed about this experience... The service was very official, not even close to friendly & warm. There were a few times we asked questions about a particular ingredient or inspirations behind the dish, but the waiter would only repeat the vocab stated on the menu whitout even trying to explain, and there was a single time he just left us with a few Spanish words as a response (at least sounded like Spanish) and walked away to help another table.. The food was really just okay, some dishes were extremely salty!!! (Knowing that Spanish food are normally more salty but really it was wayyy too much, I could only take one bite and left the rest to waste) One dish called "Chinese box" was made of eel, wasabi and bread....we kept wondering why they decide to call it Chinese? None of the presentation (except the box), the taste, of the ingredient reminds me of any Chinese...(we are Chinese background). Well, as we brought up the question the waiter was like "it's just how it is" Generally speaking this was a bad dinning experience read more

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Having been to other three Michelin star restaurants my expectations were high, and unfortunately this place did not measure up. Nothing on the tasting menu was memorable during our five hour dinner. The service was okay but not worthy of three stars. read more

With three Michelin stars, the bar is high, but ABaC delivers. It's also relatively easy to get reservations here compared to other hot fine dining destinations in Barcelona. What makes this worth of three stars? I'll tell you: - Impeccable service - everyone was so, so nice. I'm always impressed by how multilingual the waiters are at these restaurants - Attention to detail - every detail had been thought out, from the embossed purse holder to the surprise shrimp (don't want to ruin it for you!) - Great, inventive food - so many surprises! A couple things to note: the food here is very seafood-focused, so I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who doesn't love strong seafood flavors. It's also very much on the salty side, which ruined a few otherwise great dishes for me. read more