DiverXO in Madrid is, without a doubt, one of the most unique (and honestly the best) dining experiences I've ever had. From the moment you walk in, it's clear this isn't a traditional fine dining restaurant. The entire space leans into a bold, punk rock aesthetic that somehow pairs perfectly with its wildly creative "flying pig" cuisine concept. Every dish felt like a surprise. Nothing was predictable, and that's what made it so exciting. From the very first bites to the final courses, each plate delivered intense, layered flavors and unexpected textures. It genuinely felt like being taken on a journey around the world--yet at the same time, there were combinations and sensations that felt completely new, like nothing I'd ever tasted before. Some dishes challenged what I thought food could be, in the best possible way. There's a sense of playfulness and rebellion in the cooking, but it's backed by serious technique and precision. It almost feels like a glimpse into the future of food--where creativity, storytelling, and sensory experience matter just as much as taste. I'm really glad I managed to get a reservation while I was in Madrid. read more

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Madrid's only three Michelin-starred restaurant, DiverXO, offers guests a dreamscape wherein boundaries between food, art, and imagination either vanish or never existed in the first place. Dabiz Muñoz is its visionary genius and master craftsman. He was honored as Best Chef in the World a jaw-dropping three years in a row (2021-2023). Each of Muñoz's creations is a surreal masterwork. Each challenges convention, defies rubrics, and yet enchants every palate. I have dined at DiverXO twice, and both visits were mesmerizing. Unable to secure a reservation online during the booking window, I reached out to the restaurant hoping that there might be some availability being held from the online booking system. Fortunately, there was. The staff were impeccable. Genuinely accommodating, professional, and eager to help-- going above and beyond to find a table for my wife and me-- knowing it was for a special occasion. We were made to feel celebrated throughout the entire experience. My wife and I at the end of our meal during our honeymoon. You step into a positively electric ambiance charged with equal parts wild fantasy and sleek, restrained elegance. The décor is as daring as the menu offerings. Flying pigs adorn the restaurant, emerging from walls and soaring overhead. This perfectly echoes Muñoz's tasting menu, aptly named La Cocina de los Cerdos Voladores ("The Flying Pig Cuisine"). Think Alice in Wonderland meets gastronomic dream through the lens of a mad, yet genius chef. Showers of color and bold design statements perfectly mirror Muñoz's boundary-obliterating approach to fusion cuisine. Visual Arts and Culinary Arts dance in superb synchronicity. Where many chefs strip dishes down to minimalism, Muñoz embraces the opposite -- a controlled chaos that only he can orchestrate. Ingredients that wouldn't normally earn chairs in the same symphony are somehow coaxed into the most soaring harmonies. Expect a thrilling performance that blends notes from Asia, Latin America, and Spain, while balancing dramatic flair with technical precision. Every bite exalts. Every course enchants. The team at DiverXO extended hospitality beyond our meal. They graciously helped us secure a reservation at StreetXO-- Muñoz's more playful, street-food-inspired restaurant-- which will be spotlighted in an upcoming article. The affection shown to all guests, and the ingenuity of every plate is not an accidental juxtaposition. It is confirmation that DiverXO was never intended as a mere restaurant. It was meant to be a revolution. Booking Tip: reservations are available 90 days in advance, but book quickly. Lunch reservations tend to be easier and allow for the same quality of service, food, and ambiance. read more

Most fun meal I've had in a long time and thankfully delicious with excellent service, as well! 3 Michelin star restaurant Diverxo serves some of the most inventive and creative bad ass food over 16 rounds, some of which had multiple dishes in one course. Everyone who worked at Diverxo was so kind and descriptive in their explainations. The decor and atmosphere was relaxed but classy. Just loved everything about the restaurant. I won't spoil too much for you but have to share about my favorite bites of the night. The best dish for me (and my friend agreed!) was their Minutejos del Agus. They describe it better than I ever could - "Crispy Iberian suckling pig sandwich, pecorino cheese, cured goose yolk, homemade siracha and suckling pig head cold cut. Peppercorns around the world and black chanterelle pesto sauce". This was the best couple bites of anything during my entire time in Spain. I'm obsessed with this restaurant and dying to go back to where pigs can fly. Even the bathroom is cool AF! Start to finish, truly a beautiful experience and I can't wait to return. read more

Great experience, not without flaw but still one I really enjoyed. The food was creative, full of flavor, great plating and dishes. The space is really unique, I love the curtain partitions where you feel like you're in a restaurant but still feels very private. Service was great, the explanations for the dishes were wonderful and I loved the menu cards presented before the dish even arrived. The only mishap for me was at the end, it took over 20 minutes to close out the check, which at the tail end of a 4 hour meal felt excruciatingly long. My issues with the meal were that it was long but also felt very long. I was dining solo and did not want to drink much, so the later savory courses and the end dragged on a bit, some of the breaks between courses were in the 15-20 minute range which is too much (however, most were 10-12 which was great). That and the menu overall was very heavy throughout, lots of bold flavors and sauces, lots of components shining brightly individually but many courses as a whole left a little to be desired. Diner fatigue set in and with the menu I had, it was hard to predict how many courses to expect (actually thought the savory courses would end 1-2 rounds before they did), as there were so many that felt like "entrees". Desserts for me were good not great, lots of fun textures and flavors but nothing overly memorable that I need to eat again. With that being said I'm excited to return for a future menu, next time will come very hungry and well rested to best appreciate the menu and wine. read more

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Yea, it's worth it. We were thrilled to score a reservation at this renowned spot via their website. (Tip!) We logged on the day reservations opened and got a spot without issue. The restaurant is located in a hotel so it's unassuming from the street, but once you enter through the revolving doors you are transported to the magical land of flying pigs, butterflies and picnic ants. (Don't worry, it all works...) The meal is about 14 -16 courses and the place was already buzzing. It's whimsical and a bit theatrical with the staff uniforms and showmanship with each course, but we expected nothing less. Meal lasted about 4 hours and we both agreed the pacing was perfect and it felt much faster. I reserved taking pics of each plate because I appreciate a little mystery in these places. I would recommend people go if you are a foodie and like the spectacle of it all. You won't be disappointed. Also, I loved the take home artwork we got as a souvenir!! read more

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Some courses more successful than others. Though somewhat elevated, overwhelming number of courses are basically sweet and sour. Most are too heavy with mud up flavors. The famed XO sauce is disappointing at best. The Japanese sweet at the end's fresh delicate mochi skin is successful but the balance in volume to the very sweet fillings was disproportional. Lost all delicacy in what one expect to find in Japanese dessert. The taste of most dishes may wow diners who are unfamiliar with Asian flavors, it really lack luster in elevating the material. Comparing to the actual original cuisines that it is playing a Spanish version, I cannot call it successful. While the sauces are fine stand alone in the pea and caviar dish, the peas as well as the baked caviar are better on their own without the sauces. The waiter begin the meal by pouring a totally flat glass of champagne. Upon question, he admitted that it was beyond not a fresh bottle. That is substandard in quality control. The service is error on disrespectful, the server does not clarify items on plate while upon questioning her to clarify after scrutinizing the picture guides that she ceremoniously presented before each course, she said they had not updated the cards and they were not accurate. To serve food at this price range with this complicity, to not advise the diner what they are consuming is below standard. My dinner partner finally voice his disbelief after his chair was kicked for the 3rd time not even 1/3 through dinner. When one cannot wait for the dinner to be over, I will call it an epic failure. I do not share the esthetic of the establishment but it could have served a purpose if there was a theatrical element in the presentation. However, there was no showmanship that I witnessed at any of the 4 tables that their experiences were in clear view to us. The dinning chairs are not comfortable though big in size. We were seated by the kitchen door with red velvet like draperies on that side. First they did not want to close it all the way. I would wonder why bother to place the heavy draperies there if not to shield diners from the swinging kitchen doors and servers hanging out there? Instead of approaching the table from the proper side, sometimes one of the two servers will just push open the drape to deliver one of the two portions. I find it unprofessional. In many ways, it is an establishment with over hyped, underwhelming products and this business is under substandard management. Looking over some of the reviews and their pictures, we clearly do not have the same version of a meal. In the lobster dish, the head portion, both of us were served with inedible parts included. Diverxo can be resting on its laurel and feel that they are so confident that the diners were the lucky one to be sitting there. Though it is how I felt at many restaurants, Diverxo was not one that I as a person or my tastebuds felt even close to being respected. That really is a shame that the culture of the business led them to believe the level of products they provided was far superior than what it actually was. I agree with an other review that the meal I was served was too heavy through out. It felt like it had passed its prime......... read more

Diverxo is one of the most memorable, mindfuck meals I've had in my life. Highlight of my year and my trip, and Top 5 meals of my life so far. If you're on the fence about shelling out and splurging for this, don't be. It's honestly worth every penny. You'll be leaving extremely full and satisfied with degustation memories of a lifetime. They used a lot of seasonal ingredients, lots of proteins (especially seafood), and combined all of these into combinations that one would never expect or even think of. Some courses were familiar due to the influences the chef used from Indian, Japanese, Chinese, and even Thai cuisines, but the ingredients used are local and highlights the best of what Spain has to offer. Best bites include: - the two dessert courses were absolute stunners - I still day dream about the beetroot dessert course with rice pudding and pop rocks up to this day - the salad course was also very surprising but so so good - Indian-inspired course with the buffalo milk and the lobster head was a total umami bomb We also celebrated my mom's bday and the restaurant presented us with a massive cake with a small ganache chocolate cake inside - this was a total surprise but highly appreciated Most restaurants are only for the gram and nothing else - all smoke. But I can confidently say that Diverxo is not that - it truly does live up to its hype and proves that mindfucking good food can be visually appealing art too. read more

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With the rise of Instagram, the idea of food as "art" is more prominent than ever, but for those fortune enough to visit some of the world's top tables the difference between #yolkporn or a #cheesepull and truly inventive cuisine is obvious. At DiverXO, Chef Dabiz Muñoz goes one step further, turning dinner into a performance complete with "set" changes, themes, a costumed staff and dialogue - there is even a complete playbill that arrives as cards preceding each course. Currently Madrid's only Michelin 3* Restaurant, its location inside NH Collection seeing a revolving door give way to "the hedonistic, greedy and creative world" of its Chef, diners fortunate enough to secure a reservation will be taken on a journey during which precedent is cast aside in favor of fantasy and flawless service. €250 for the Tasting menu, Asian influence and exotic Ingredients abound, it is after passing by flying Pigs, Ants, Butterflies and more that diners find themselves divided by varying cloths such that each dish or "canvas" is a surprise unto itself. Undersold by describing each dish individually, the first six items embracing Muñoz's love of Thai Street Food, one will quickly realize that despite DiverXO's styling the bulk of its cookery relies on grills, stoves and fire rather than molecular or modernist technique. Changing the menu with far more frequency than many of the W50B, in a way that suggests unbridled creativity, "course" two uses Yakitori Fish as Condiments to a Salad inspired by lost product while "Crunchy Texture Ceviche" offers snappy Baby Eels in complex heat prior to a one-bite XLB filled by Cuttlefish, Pork and Chili Paste. Relying on surprise with Fried Eggs and Black Pudding, its second half revealed with similar flavor but alternate texture, "Sea Noodles" resemble something emerging from the depths before a supple Pigeon Leg tenderized by Wine alongside Noodles made of Gelatin with Eggs of Hen and Sturgeon. Undoubtedly inspired by Dali, and wearing that fact on his sleeve with "Galician Lobster Waking up on the Beaches of Goa," Muñoz unveils a masterpiece in three Indian ideas complete with an elongated Elephant before continuing with Grilled Monkfish and vibrant green Gazpacho. Next showing off A5 Kagoshima Wagyu, before serving it sucked from a Bone, there is little surprise when Rabbit Brains arrive as a palate cleanser preceding buttered Risotto and a White Chocolate Orb with Black Olives, Truffles and Rhubarb. Suggesting "avant-garde cuisine in which everything is possible," including Black Currant Bubblegum that somehow makes Garlic for Dessert work, Japanese Bombons come atop motorized Mad Hatter's hats to complete an experience that truly reinvents the idea of "exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey." read more

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We arrived for a 3pm reservation, which seemed like the last reservation for lunch service as all of the tables around us were in the full swing of the menu and so the beginning of our experience was to wait. I had a full view of the kitchen doors and I just watched the flurry of activity with so many people coming and going. It took a long time for a waiter to come over and even longer for wine to come. It was probably 25 minutes before the first course came out and we were worried that would reflect on the rest of the meal/service. Luckily, the food more than made up for it. Each course was so well thought out to the flavor, texture, smell and presentation. Everything had a Spanish and Asian influence which was so fun to see the chef's creativity really shine. We were there about 4 hours and were definitely full at the end, compared to other Michelin star restaurants. The food was very rich. There's a reason DiverXO is so popular! It's also such a quirky place it's worth coming just to look at the restaurant decor. read more

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Wonderful dining experience. Food as art. Finesse to the extreme. Every flavor one can imagine. Wine pairing was best ever. Nine unique and perfectly prepared and presented dishes. Plating was spectacular. Highly recommended read more

Diverxo - Signature Cuisine Near Me - Madrid, M

Absolutely amazing. Great service, wildly innovative and delicious food, and great aesthetic. read more

Diverxo - Signature Cuisine Near Me - Madrid, M

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I came in with lofty expectations and they just weren't met. Ambiance and service were top notch. Pace of the meal was too long, but it almost had to be that way because the portion sizes were so big, no one could finish it sooner. There were some great dishes like the waygu, both desserts and the sushi, but there were too many total bombs like the eel pasta, pork dumpling, salad, and pigeon. Plating was top notch. The bigger issue is meal construction, it was heavy from start to finish. There was no amuse, first dish was a heavy spinach and venison. Every day was meat forward and heavy. It became an utter enjoyable chore. Not a veggie dish at all, hell almost never a veggie anywhere. Hugely disappointing. read more

We arrived 20 minutes late as it was pouring rain and our uber went right where the traffic was! They kindly held our table and what a treat it was! We choose the 22 course meal. Each item was unique, full of flavor and well crafted. From duck tongues to tuna the chef really has made pigs fly! Highly recommend for a group, might be a bit intimidating for a date. The wine we ordered was good, but I felt like we needed 7-9 smaller tasters of wine, beer or spirts to properly enjoy all the courses. read more

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DiverXO is worthy of it's Michelin 3 star rating. This is our second 3 star restaurant, and our sixth 1 star or better. These restaurants are crazy expensive, but they are much more than a meal; they are an experience. The tastes are often fabulous. The presentation is over the top. And the service is second to none. So now to the key question.... Is it worth it? Diverxo has increased their price a lot over the past year but customers are still packing the place, so their answer must be yes. But I would say no. Nearby the 2 star restaurant Ramon Freixa is 1/3 cheaper and offers a similar experience. Is Diverxo better? Yes. But I would recommend Ramon Freixa read more

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Never before have I experienced a restaurant as crazy, wacky, creative, and unusual as DiverXO. Walking into the DiverXO restaurant space is like walking into an amusement park or circus. Wacky, upbeat music plays in the background, and the restaurant is decorated with colorful statues of pigs, skulls, and butterflies. Upon arriving, we were first taken on a tour of the restaurant (of just 12 tables) and the kitchen, where a brigade of chefs were working to prepare dishes. We also passed by the chef's working area (containing a huge collection of cookbooks from all over the world), where he comes up with new ideas for dishes. Finally, we were taken to our table, which was completely enshrouded by a black curtain and decorated "romantically" with a fake rose, a fish skeleton, and candles. And then, the adventure began... Our waiter explained to us that the first stop of our tour would be in Mexico, and he brought us three small dishes in succession. After we ate these quick bites, suddenly, the curtain surrounding our table was pulled open, as the waiters yelled, "Welcome to DiverXO!" All the while, wacky carnival music played continuously in the background. We were given a "menu" listing out the 15 different courses we would be trying. The next few courses were all served on large white "canvases." The food on each of the canvases took up only a small portion of the large, white sheet, but the detailed attention to the plating was impeccable--each dish was a work of art in and of itself, and to highlight this even more, we were given a white "spatula" as one of our utensils, which we could use to scrape up the sauces, just like an artist would scrape around paint on a canvas. It's difficult to describe everything we tried, but the most memorable elements for me (just to give you an idea of what the "canvas" dishes were like) were the "fettuccini" made of rings of squid, the "Whopper" made of duck and Asian spices, and the BBQ prawn head. After the initial round of canvas dishes, one of the waiters carried out to us a lazy Susan, like the ones typically used in Chinese restaurants, along with a music box playing "traditional" Chinese music. He told us we would next be going to Hong Kong and asked us, "Do you know Yum-Cha?" The waiter brought us out a tall stack of steamer baskets that were bathed in "steam" (actually liquid nitrogen), inside of which were scallop shells filled with rockfish stew and a "cod" dumpling (the skin of the dumpling was made to look like the skin of a cod fish). There were actually three other dishes that formed the dim sum course, and one of our favorites was the corn and truffle "brioche," which was served in a Chinese takeout box and looked like a mochi ball, but had an extremely flavorful, umami filling in the center. After dim sum came four more courses with Asian-inspired flavors, including a monkfish cooked in a wok and served with a jalapeno chili and coconut "gazpacho"--the monkfish was to be eaten with the hands and acted like a sponge that soaked up the tart, spicy, fragrant gazpacho on the side. Part of another course was a cocktail called a Shiso Rebujito, which was served in a pipe coated with sugar and served with a shiso leaf. The final savory course was a wok-fried Wagyu beef, plated with the other ingredients to look like a fish! As if this weren't already enough to eat, next came 5 different courses of dessert! Frankly, I was not a fan of any single one of the desserts for their flavors alone (which were far too sweet for my palate), but the novelty factor (and artful plating) continued to be in full force. For example, we had a rhubarb cocktail topped with cream, served in the "tail of the Pink Panther"; a bubble gum and beetroot flan in a vase jar with lips; and a croissant ice cream topped with a mini croissant on top! Yes, DiverXO was a surreal, fantastic experience, lasting about three hours in total for 15 courses (though some of the courses had multiple components as well). The meal was an absolute steal at just 195 Euros per person. Sounds like a lot (especially for lunch!), but if you observe for yourself the unusualness of ingredients and the level of detail, preparation, and work (let alone the army of staff) that goes into every bite, you'll realize that we got an unbelievable deal for our experience in this 12-table restaurant. But most of all, in my opinion, DiverXO was worth every penny and minute of time because of the stories we took away from the experience. Because while I can say without hesitation that none of the dishes here actually tasted particularly good to me, that doesn't change the fact that I had eagerly looked forward to every next moment of our meal here, wondering what kind of crazy, novel ideas and contraptions the chef had come up for us next. read more

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Hands down, the best meal I have ever had was at Diverxo. I still think about the meal I had at Diverxo almost every day, since my experience here was just unbelievable. I would give this place so many more stars if I could. Any time in the future when I'm in Spain, I will make a stop in Diverxo for a visit, this place was just that good!! I'm a relatively newbie in the Michelin star restaurants, but when my boyfriend and I were in Madrid, we knew we had to splurge and dine at Diverxo. Actually, the price is pretty reasonable for a 3-star Michelin restaurant when compared to other 3-star Michelin restaurants in the United States, so to me, this seemed like a relatively good bargain for the quality of meal and experience we had. Anyways, the restaurant itself is located in a pretty unassuming part of Spain. When I first got there, I was certain we must have come to the wrong area actually. But nope, we were in the right place. The interior itself is pretty sparse, and has some whimsical decorations that I was first confused by, but then by the end of the meal, I found to be really endearing. The best way to describe my meal was an ADVENTURE. Everything on your plate can be -- and is meant to be -- eaten. For example, that means that even the little flower petals on your plate, which you thought were just decoration, actually were thoughtfully prepared and complement the dish. It won't be a tasteless petal, but it will be packed full of unique flavors that just fit the dish perfectly. One of my dishes had a baby corn as part of the dish, wrapped in what appeared to be charred foil. However, fear not, it was not foil -- not sure exactly what it was but it made eating that baby corn a whole lot more fun. Diverxo will create dishes you never in your wildest imagination could have thought up -- I had carrot foam, which I never would have thought was even possible. The presentation of the dishes was absolutely stunning, they were like works of art, with every ingredient, drop of sauce, etc. strategically placed. Diverxo creates not just an experience for your taste buds, but for all your senses. All your courses in the meal are united by a common theme, and they provide you with a paper description of your dishes that explain everything. Service here was beyond top-notch. You are serviced by at least a dozen waiters/waitresses, so it seemed. Everything was perfectly timed and executed, you never feel rushed, you also are never waiting around for an excessively long time for your next course. If you request, you can have a waiter/waitress speak English. I consider my Spanish to be fairly good, but even I had some trouble understanding the fancy food-preparation terms that aren't used in every day language, so we ended up having an English-speaking waiter explain all the dishes to us, which they were very kind about. Book early!!! I'd recommend months ahead of time, if you know your plans that far ahead of time. This place gets filled up quickly, as I'm sure you can expect. My experience was memorable, fun, whimsical, adventurous, delicious, etc. -- and I'm sure yours will be too. I cannot say enough good things about my experience here. Happy eating :) read more

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Two years later and the third Michelin star and I finally went back. They moved locations and the new place is awesome. It's a mix from Alice in wonderland and Goofy's kitchen. It's like being an assemble character in a play. Everything was amazing. No wonder why it's the only 3 star in Madrid. Totally worthy but be ready to pay good money. Cheers read more

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It's rather tragic that this restaurant cannot seat a party of 5. I have dined all of the world and have never encountered a restaurant who will not seat a family of 5. read more

After venturing around Spain at different Michelin star restaurants, DiverXO was on par with one of the most whimsical and fun meals we had. From the entryway decor to the food presentation, this was such an exciting meal! We did lunch here and in typical Spanish lunch fashion, it was almost 5 hours long. Easily one of the best and most fun things we had was their version of Burger King's The Whopper. Having had a number of Whoppers in my lifetime, I can tell you that this definitely evoked a whole host of memories. From the charbroiled taste, the fried duck tongues that served as the fries, and even the slightly sweet taste of the bun, it was absolutely incredible. The second favorite dish dessert at the end that was a panna cotta that you "kissed" off the dish. Service was amazing with a ton of attention to detail and making sure we were provided with some explanation at each point. I would absolutely come back here again; this was delicious and amazing experience! read more

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Our first dinner in Europe was here and DiverXO didn't disappoint. The entire experience is like watching a show that you're apart of. Everything is very untraditional, from the menu, to the plating, to the service. You're immediately given a tour of the kitchen. Every employee is working feverishly. There's a lot of calm commotion that seamlessly comes together to give you a unique meal. Even saw David Munoz working throughout the night. I'll spare you the details of each dish but I will say that the Chinese-inspired sequence of dishes were not very good. You simply cannot replicate traditional dim sum and make it high end... even if you have smoke coming from the dish. Just my 2 cents. Solid restaurant. Incredibly unique, theatric dinner. We enjoyed it very much! read more

Of all my Michelin star experiences this one blows everything out of the water. Being the only Michelin 3 star in Madrid I knew DiverXO would be good but nothing could truly prepare me for what I would experience. The restaurant is located in a neighborhood of Madrid where you would never suspect this kind of place being located. Nestled between a grocery store and an ugly apartment building the restaurant seems out of place yet strangely at home. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the casual atmosphere, something you rarely find at a Michelin 3 star. While very efficient, it becomes immediately apparent that the staff is more interested in entertaining you than putting on airs. The first thing that happens after you are seated is that a bag of popcorn is scattered across the table and you are then handed small balls filled with some kind of tart liquid that you are asked to splatter over the popcorn. This gives you an introduction to the surreal, epic culinary journey which you are about to embark on. When you launch full-on into your meal you realize that you are having an experience that very few on the planet ever will. Each course was more imaginative than the last and took my taste buds on a cosmic journey akin to consuming magic mushrooms. Many times the staff likes to play "tricks" on you by serving a miniature version of a given dish and as you consume it they swoop in and proclaim that you have just devoured the soul of the animal while presenting you with the full-sized version. Much like the fabled El Bulli, DiverXO aspires to be more gastronomic laboratory than restaurant so you are truly on the cutting edge of culinary adventure here. If you are anywhere near Madrid run to this food Mecca while it is still relativity unknown and inexpensive. My prediction is that within a couple of years it will overtake NOMA in Copenhagen as the best restaurant on the planet. read more

Not only my favorite meal of the trip, but probably a top 10 meal of all time for me. Against my wife's request I opted for the Diverxo 1 tasting menu rather than the tasting menu that was a little smaller. Diverxo 1 was the 3rd largest of the 4 tasting menus offered. I didn't know what to expect since the restaurant combines chinese and spanish cuisine. There were a few items that were too extreme for my wife so I had to eat them (ie hot and sour soup w special noodles - baby eels, fried duck tongues, and squid heads with strawberries). The best bites were some type of oxtail pastry type thing topped with baby eels which was the first course, won ton/dumpling with a cracker, and ox which came as a thick narrow strip steak. I could also eat those fried duck tongues by the bag. So good. Monkfish was also very rich and good. Our reservation was at 10 and we weren't out of there until after 1. If I had to do it over again I would get the 2nd option tasting menu. The 3rd was just way too much food. I can't imagine the Chef David tasting menu which is the 4th option. Service was great and it was real nice talking to the wife of the chef (owner). Just a very good, very rich meal and one that I won't be forgetting anytime soon. read more

Oh dear. Where do I begin. I would put this on par with the sketchy food stall that gave me food poisoning because at least they gave me prompt, attentive service. The service was a total rollercoaster in that when it was good, it was great, and when it was bad, it left me ready to vomit. Inconsistent: they were giving us the wine pairing, then upselling us more wine, then NOT giving us the pairing... then despite us telling them in not so many words to please leave us alone on this wine debacle, they tried to force upon us a *portion* of the wine pairing? Inattentive: they ignored us for a full thirty minutes. Discreet nods and smiling vigorously did nothing; should we have taken off our shoes and banged on the tables? As far as the food: nothing to write home about. I've been at better 1 stars. If someone has a friend at Michelin, PLEASE let them know. read more

By far, one of the best meals I've ever had. DiverXO takes a tasting experience to whole new level, making a bold statement with its unusual and so incredibly mind-blowing palette of flavors. It's all about surprises, stepping outside of the box, and drawing on canvas, as it says on a small introductory letter you get in the beginning of a 9-course meal. We found out about DiverXO from Bourdain's show. Knowing just how much sought-after this place is, I was still slightly skeptical sitting down at the table. "I mean, really, they can't possibly make plain edamame taste any special", I thought, as the first course was placed on a table. Boy, was I wrong. Stunning taste and beautiful presentation. Every. Single. Dish. DiverXO delivers its promise to the very last bite. This is one experience you will never forget. read more

I would give up my first born to be able to eat here on a regular basis!!! Joking aside this was certainly the best meal-no, culinary adventure of my life. Every part of the service was intentional and orchestrated with surgical precision. Truly an adventure, each course was innovative and unforgettable. Honestly I don't know how I could be any more impressed with the experience. If you are thinking of dining here, stop thinking and book your table now. read more

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As I entered the restaurant, it was reminiscent of Alice and Wonderland and I was giddy with excitement as I had hoped this meal would be as otherworldly as the atmosphere. Sadly however, it failed to live up to my expectations. The dishes were simply...okay. Some were better than others..There were a lot of gimmicks such as baby eel table side preparation, or soup served in a moss dish and caviar served from a three foot tall elephant. However, none of the dishes were very memorable and fell short of its 3 Michelin star expectation. There were some positives: the service was very attentive, the large round table with sheer draping surrounding it was lovely... allowing you to really feel cocooned in your own private little dining world, and the wine pairing, for me, was the star of the meal. I really wanted to love this place, but DiverXO really needs to focus more on the food than less on the flamboyance. read more

An experience for your palate and eyes. Each dish is designed and presented beautifully - often with multiple parts and surprises. Even some of the plates are designed and created (and signed by the chef) specifically for each course. Prefix dinner only - 7 courses for $95 or 13 for $145. They start off the meal with a poem of sorts - explaining the chef's inspiration. They also explicitly say, no dessert, but we were surprised with one at the end! We got the 7 course dinner (again, all pre-fix, so you can't order): Edemame with olive and yuzu sauce Young coconut soup with beans, scallops, clams, caviar; Sardine skewers came out midway through this course - You HAVE to scrape the coconut out of the shell, so yummy. We saw some newbs leave the coconut - what a waste! Toasted squid, strawberry, yogurt, coffee ("kimchi") - interesting sweet flavor. Partridge broth with eel, tomato and, eel skin; also partridge toast and baby eel came out midway - The baby eels were a little weird (imagine a pile of thin worms... eek) Tuna cheek (tastes like beef!) with peas, potato, mushrooms; Bone marrow on a potato came out mid - you get it... Hayck? (some sort fish) chin with foie gras, mushrooms White asparagus with venison, citrus zest; Toast with pâté of red mallard Shrimp marinated in bone of red mallard; Red mallard with shrimp head and caviar Brioche with oxtail and quail egg - This dish was GORGEOUS - a little bun with an egg perfectly on top Cakes with grapefruit gels, foam, ice cream with a surprise mustard garnish (could have done without the mustard - they actually told us not to touch a small sphere on the side, then the waiter swooped in midway and smashed the mustard on our plates!) If you count all the different parts of courses, we technically got In 10 dishes total. Was it the best meal I've ever had? Hard to say, but definitely an experience. read more

Mind blowing food and excellent service. Great experience overall. The ventilation of the dining room is not so good, you end up with kitchen smell in the clothes. read more

On our third day in Madrid, we ventured out of downtown for our first tasting menu of our Spanish honeymoon. It was lunch at DiverXo. My initial impression was positive. Clean, white layout with sculptures of flying pigs hanging around. I like whimsical. We were quickly seated at a corner table. One surprising thing: considering how difficult it was to get a reservation, the place never really filled up. We were given the option of two tasting menus for lunch and went with the smaller one along with the bottle of wine. What foods should be avoided, they asked. None, we said. Are you okay with a local pigeon? Sure. Sweetbreads? Hell yes. We were then presented with an "artist statement," where Chef Munoz explained his vision for the meal and a menu which did more to pique our interest than explain what were were going to get. Then our eight courses came out, one by one. They were all on canvases with the chef's signature on them. Okay, he's going for "food artist" here. You can definitely see that in all of the platings; all are visually stunning. The flavors were all delicious as well. If you're not familiar, this is Asian fusion that is very much rooted in Spanish cuisine. You're given a mini paint bucket where they put the "tools" you are to use for each course. And you're always given a rubber spatula to scoop off excess sauce, a nice touch. Some highlights: --seafood soup served in a coconut. Like tom kha gai taken to the next level. --One of the meatier courses was a local bird served with a mushroom salad. This bird was very much like a chickeny beef. A very nice and unique flavor --Large prawn served with red mullet sauce. This was part one of a two part puzzle. The second being where the red mullet was served with the sauce of the prawn. Then we were given the head of the prawn to suck. Probably the best part of the meal. --Eel with chipotle sauce was served as a little pinxto to accompany the prawn/red mullet course. They did a lot of that. Little bonus bites at the end of the course. I liked that. --Sweetbreads! Always a highlight for me. They were served with a ponzu sorbet, though and we were told to mix them together. The sourness overpowered the flavored of the sweetbreads and was the one big miss of the meal for me. --The dessert dumpling. It was sweet, but filled with lamb neck meat. This was the best kind of sweet/savory combination. The service was interesting. Despite the fact the place was not full and there was no lunch service after us, they seemed to rush things a bit. The first course was the edamame, and we were only halfway done with it before they brought our next course. They kept it on the table and we continued to eat it in between courses, but they came out so fast that we had hardly any time to finish the edamame. I normally wouldn't quibble about service things like this, but for the price we're paying and the attention they seemed to put on service, it seemed odd. As a whole, the place seemed stuffier than it needed to be. Everyone seemed to be eating and not talking, so other than the tribal music it was a little too quiet. I guess I just prefer a less formal atmosphere. Quibbles about service aside, this was a very nice dining experience. While the flavors here may not have wowed me as much as the meals we had at Arzak and Tickets later in the trip, those two are rather hard to beat. I really enjoyed the flavors here and would definitely recommend it. read more

My first 5 rating. What an amazing experience - artistic and creative from the moment you walk into the eccentric Willy Wonka-like decor to the wonderful friendly and fun staff to the delicious and preeminent cuisine. Do not, do not pass this up or put it on your bucket list. read more

Probably the best meal of my life. I had lunch there, alone, one day I was in Madrid with nothing to do. I opted for the "short menu", which takes over 2 hours to complete. Amazing. REALLY, best meal ever read more

Salvador Dali of Fine Dining The presentation, service and ambience are funky and outrageous with the intent to shock the audience, and somehow it worked. A very fun and entertaining evening. We tried the extended tasting menu, and it was very creative with influence from Chinese cuisine. Several of the dishes use the XO sauce from Cantonese food, and hence, the name Diver XO. The preparation of the food, however, is more traditional as the deep fried technique is repeatedly used in many of the courses, and typical French sauces are used in the meat dishes. read more

After a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Spain for 4 professionals from Chicago which began with amazing dining experiences at Martin Berasategui and Arzak...on this evening, we were declined our reservation at Diver XO despite that it was confirmed by email 6 months prior. The restaurant's front staff asked to see our confirmation; after we presented it, they spent 45 minutes trying to explain how the mishap occurred, with no attempt to provide a legitimate solution. Finally, The David Munoz came to investigate, and we naturally assumed he would come up with a solution to make this difficult situation palatable. Instead of offering a sincere apology, he was shockingly dismissive, providing the explanation that his restaurant -- which holds multiple seatings at various times -- simply could not make any type of accommodation to allow international travelers like us to even taste the food that has earned such international acclaim. Furthermore, he asked us to leave without any alternative solution - namely no recommendation to salvage our evening in Madrid at any other restaurant. It is notable that he owns and runs a more casual restaurant down the street, but this was not mentioned as an alternative. This experience is telltale in several ways. After dining as guests of Elena Arzak the night before, we quickly realized the implications of a self-proclaimed "avant-garde" chef, who believes that he stands above all other 3-Michelin-star geniuses in the value he provides. As guests of a large number of three-star Michelin restaurants across the world, we found it honestly incomprehensible and doubted that any of David Munoz's counterparts would ever have behaved in the same way if presented with the same situation. It speaks to the arrogance and blatant disregard for customers and his disrespect of the most important aspect of running a Michelin-star restaurant - customer service. In conclusion, we would encourage serious caution when considering Diver XO as part of your Spanish haute cuisine experience. read more

I reasearched this place before I left for my trip to Europe in 9/2012. I came across this place watching Anthony Bourdain's travel show. So I decided to try it out myself. Made reservations by email with the restaurant in advance and made sure it was confirmed. Came here when I was in Madrid after driving from Portugal. The food was wonderful! Food is fusion-Chinese and Spanish. Ordered the middle tasting menu to try. All the dishes looked beautiful!! It was like artwork. The service was great, no complaints. They spoke pretty good English, which is a plus. This place is a little hard to find for those of us not from around there. I'm unable to tell you about each dish but trust me, there were all delicious. Was unable to take pictures of the food when I was there but I heard that they let you take pictures now. My friend recently went there during her trip to Madrid. We were allowed to take pictures in the lounge area and outside. If I was in Madrid again, I would definitely eat here again. Definitely try this place out if you love food and you will not be disappointed. Well worth the money. read more

This restaurant is a show. The staff, the service, the food, everything there has been though carefully to have an amazing experience. Dinner in this restaurant is a travel in the tasting world. I recommend it 100%. It is a must in the city of Madrid, but if you want to dinner there you have to plan it with very long time because you have to wait 6 moths if you want to reserve. The best option is check if there is any cancelation in the next weeks. Also, you have to be ready for a very long lunch or dinner, 3 or 4 hour. read more

Absolutely splendid. The flavor that they pack into the dishes is life changing.