Germán Franco
Chef of Almarge in Badalona — a Michelin Guide farm-to-table restaurant trained through Michelin-starred Alkimia and al kostat.
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Germán Franco is the chef of Almarge in Badalona, the farm-to-table restaurant he runs with his partner Marta Rombouts (sommelier). Trained as head chef at Jordi Vilà's Michelin-starred Alkimia and a launch chef at al kostat, his Mediterranean cuisine is built on small sharing plates with natural-wine pairings. Almarge is in the 2025 Michelin Guide selection.
Biography
Early years
Franco built his career inside Jordi Vilà's group — first as sous-chef and later head chef at Alkimia (Michelin-starred), and participating in the launch of al kostat, the sibling restaurant inside the Moritz brewery complex.
Career
Franco and his partner Marta Rombouts opened Al Marge on Carrer de Lleó in Badalona — a farm-to-table restaurant that draws on local ingredients and contemporary Mediterranean technique. Rombouts is the restaurant's sommelier, with deep knowledge of natural wines. Almarge was included in the 2025 Michelin Guide for offering high-quality cuisine in a casual setting.
Philosophy
Franco's cooking at Almarge is described as 'friendly cuisine' — a selection of small plates intended for sharing, including veal tongue on toast with mushrooms and sauce gribiche, and cod loin with white sauce and spinach. The kitchen sits in the Alkimia tradition: local product, careful technique, and a clear Catalan-Mediterranean register.
Restaurants
On Guidavera
1Accolades
- ·Michelin Guide selection at Almarge (2025)
- ·Trained as head chef at Michelin-starred Alkimia
- ·Helped launch al kostat (Jordi Vilà's sibling restaurant)
Frequently asked
Does Germán Franco have a Michelin star?
No — Almarge is in the Michelin Guide selection (2025) without a star. Franco previously cooked as head chef at Jordi Vilà's Michelin-starred Alkimia.
Where can I eat Germán Franco's cuisine?
Almarge on Carrer de Lleó in Badalona, just outside Barcelona. The restaurant — farm-to-table, sharing-plate format — is run with his partner Marta Rombouts as sommelier.