The fifth edition of the TheFork Awards, organised by the online restaurant booking platform, is approaching. A total of 41 restaurants from 14 Spanish autonomous communities have been nominated as the best new restaurants to open in 2025.
The nominees were selected by a jury of 56 chefs whose restaurants hold one, two or three Michelin stars. Among them were Ángel León (Aponiente), the Torres brothers (Cocina Hermanos Torres), Paco Morales (Noor), Martín Berasategui (Martín Berasategui), Elena Arzak (Arzak), Nacho Manzano (Casa Marcial), Ramón Freixa (Atelier), Carito Lourenço (Fierro), Begoña Rodrigo (La Salita) and Lucía Freitas (A Tafona).
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Nominees from Alicante, Calpe and Altea
The Valencian Community is represented by six restaurants. Three establishments in Alicante province are in the running:
- Plegat – Alicante;
- Amas – Calpe;
- Talaia – Altea.
The other three nominees are in Valencia: Bar Bèra, Casa Pescadores and La Oficina de Carito y Germán.
Planning to explore the local food scene? Our Alicante food guide introduces traditional dishes, local produce and restaurants worth visiting.
Restaurants nominated elsewhere in Spain
Catalonia has nine nominees. Five are in Barcelona: Melós, Casa Fiero, Direkte, Franca and Macambo. Girona province is represented by Can Gelada (Riudellots de la Creu), La Cort del Mos (Palamós), Unça (Banyoles) and Fonda Cal Ros (Girona).
The Community of Madrid has five nominated restaurants, all in the capital: Tetsu, Caja de Cerillas, Manifiesto 13, Flor and Pipilacha. The Basque Country is represented by Etxemaite (San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa), Muina (Zumaia, Gipuzkoa), Euskalduna by Etxanobe and Mokadu (both in Bilbao, Bizkaia).
Andalusia has three nominees: Clomada (Málaga), Martié (Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz) and Milonga (Córdoba). The Region of Murcia also has three: Pepe Juan Barra, Barrapomelo and La Macetúa, all in Murcia city.
In the Balearic Islands, two restaurants on Mallorca made the list: Ritma in Fornalutx and Pueblo in Sóller. Cantabria and Castile and León each have two nominees: La Bena Bar de Vinos and Seña Wine Bar (both in Santander), and La Barra de Gonzalo (Salamanca) and Arrope (Rueda, Valladolid), respectively.
Completing the selection are Native in Lastres (Asturias), Lava in Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife), D’Obra in Melide (A Coruña), Dromo in Badajoz (Extremadura) and San Nicolás in Logroño (La Rioja).
Asturias and Extremadura are represented for the first time in this fifth edition. The full list brings together 41 restaurants from 14 autonomous communities, reflecting Spain’s culinary diversity across both major cities and smaller towns.
When will the TheFork Awards winner be announced?
TheFork users had until 11 October 2026 to vote for their favourite new restaurant from the jury’s selection. Voting has now closed.
The restaurant with the most votes will receive the People’s Choice Award as the best new restaurant to open in 2025. Nine other restaurants will also be recognised as finalists.
The results will be announced at the awards ceremony on 16 November 2026 at the Gran Teatro CaixaBank Príncipe Pío in Madrid.
If you are planning a food-focused trip to the Costa Blanca, explore our Alicante travel guide for ideas on combining restaurant visits, city walks and time by the sea.