Germán Espinosa
Co-chef of one-Michelin-star MAE Barcelona — gastronomic syncretism between Catalan, Costa Rican, and Colombian traditions.
- Michelin stars
1- Restaurants
- 1
Germán Espinosa is one of the co-chefs of MAE Barcelona, the Michelin-starred restaurant he opened in August 2023 with Colombian chef Diego Mondragón and Costa Rican restaurateur Mariella Rodríguez. A disciple of Martín Berasategui, he previously led the kitchen at Fonda España for a decade. MAE earned its first Michelin star within a year of opening.
From @german.xef on Instagram
Argila, Xarel·lista, Balma, La Graua… Darrere de cada plat hi ha una història… i un Corpinnat de @masbertran! L’Eva, l’enòloga d’aquest petit celler familiar de Sant Martí Sarroca, ha creat el maridatge perfecte per a cadascun dels nostres plats. Ara només falta esperar al 6 de juliol perquè vosal
Aquest juny, l'arròs del mes arriba de la mà dels nostres amics @diego.mondragonvictoria i @german.xef, del @mae.restaurant: arròs de papada adobada, musclos i ají. Vine a tastar-lo a partir d'aquest dimarts 2 al Cruix! - Este junio, el arroz del mes llega de la mano de nuestros amigos Diego y Ge
Gràcies als nostres amics @german.xef i @diego.mondragonvictoria, del @mae.restaurant i als qui ens van acompanyar, per una nit inoblidable! - ¡Gracias a nuestros amigos @german.xef, @diego.mondragonvictoria, de @mae.restaurant, y a los que nos acompañaron, por una noche inolvidable!
Biography
Early years
Espinosa came up as a disciple of Martín Berasategui — the same Spanish chef whose group includes Lasarte and Fonda España. He led the kitchen at Fonda España at Hotel España in Barcelona for around a decade.
Career
The MAE project began when Espinosa travelled to Costa Rica to cook a four-hands dinner with Colombian chef Diego Mondragón. The two decided, together with Costa Rican restaurateur Mariella Rodríguez (a Mondragón co-owner at En Boca and Tres Perros in Costa Rica), to launch a gastronomic project in Barcelona. MAE Barcelona opened in August 2023 in the former Freixa Tradició space; it entered the Michelin Guide within four months and earned its first Michelin star within a year. In 2025 the team extended the project with a sister restaurant in Costa Rica.
Philosophy
Espinosa, Mondragón, and Rodríguez describe MAE's cuisine as 'syncretism' — a Catalan foundation onto which Diego's Colombian and Mariella's Costa Rican traditions are layered. The menu is intentionally accessible at the Michelin-star price point, with two tasting menus (Menu Mae and Menu Gran Mae) plus an à la carte option.
Restaurants
Accolades
- ·1 active Michelin star at MAE Barcelona (earned within one year of opening)
- ·Disciple of Martín Berasategui
- ·Decade leading the kitchen at Fonda España
Frequently asked
How many Michelin stars does Germán Espinosa have?
One — at MAE Barcelona, which earned its first star within a year of opening in August 2023.
Who founded MAE Barcelona?
Three partners: Spanish chef Germán Espinosa, Colombian chef Diego Mondragón, and Costa Rican restaurateur Mariella Rodríguez. Espinosa and Mondragón are the co-chefs; Rodríguez manages the business and brings her Costa Rican hospitality experience.