Albert Ventura
Catalan chef-owner of Coure on Passatge Marimón — two Repsol Soles and a long-running 'chef's chef' reputation in Barcelona.
- Repsol Soles
2- Restaurants
- 2
Albert Ventura is the Catalan chef-owner of Coure on Passatge Marimón, a two-Repsol-Sol restaurant in Sant Gervasi–Galvany that he opened in 2008 with a counter that local press regularly cite as one of the most coveted in Barcelona. He also runs Grill Room–Bar Thonet, the restored 1902 modernist tapas bar in the Gothic Quarter.
Biography
Early years
Ventura is from the Segarra region of Catalonia and built his early career in Girona kitchens before returning to Barcelona.
Career
Before opening his own restaurant, Ventura cooked as head chef at the emblematic Jean Luc Figueras in Barcelona — a kitchen that produced chefs including Oriol Castro, Jordi Butrón, Joan Bagur, and Jordi Vilà. In 2008 he opened Coure on Passatge Marimón in the Sant Gervasi–Galvany neighbourhood, a small restaurant built around a counter that the local press regularly cites as one of the most coveted in Barcelona. Coure has held two Repsol Soles. He also runs Grill Room–Bar Thonet, the restored 1902 modernist tapas bar on Carrer dels Escudellers in the Gothic Quarter.
Philosophy
Ventura is widely described as a 'chef's chef' — he is known for declining Michelin's overtures and staying focused on product, craft, and the small-stove rhythm of Coure. He describes himself more as an artisan than an artist; the cuisine is market-led with fusion accents drawn from the kitchens he passed through.
Restaurants
Accolades
- ·2 Repsol Soles at Coure
- ·Counter at Coure regularly cited as one of Barcelona's most coveted bars
- ·Restored 1902 modernist Bar Thonet under his direction since 2024
Frequently asked
Does Albert Ventura have a Michelin star?
No — Coure carries two Repsol Soles. Ventura is openly known as a 'chef's chef' who has declined Michelin's overtures and chosen to stay outside the star system.
Where can I eat Albert Ventura's cuisine in Barcelona?
Two restaurants. Coure on Passatge Marimón in Sant Gervasi–Galvany is his flagship — a small dining room with a much-loved counter. Grill Room–Bar Thonet, the restored 1902 modernist bar on Carrer dels Escudellers in the Gothic Quarter, runs Mediterranean tapas under his direction.