Jordi Vilà
Catalan chef-owner of Alkimia — one Michelin star, three Repsol Soles, and over twenty years at the vanguard of new Catalan cooking.
- Michelin stars
1- Repsol Soles
4- Restaurants
- 3
- Born
- 1973 · El Papiol
Jordi Vilà is a Catalan chef-owner whose Alkimia in Barcelona has held one Michelin star continuously since 2004 and earned three Repsol Soles (the guide's top distinction) in 2021. He also runs the casual al kostat alongside Alkimia at the Moritz brewery complex, and Vivanda in Sarrià.
From @jordialk on Instagram
Biography
Early years
Born in 1973 in El Papiol, near Barcelona, Vilà grew up in a family rooted in home preservation, sausage-making, and seasonal cooking. He began cooking at fifteen at the Baixas pastry shop, then trained at the Escola d'Hostaleria Joviat in Manresa, working through the kitchens of Casa Irene, Neichel, Joan Piqué, and Jean Luc Figueras.
Career
In 1998 Vilà opened his first restaurant, Abrevadero, on Avinguda del Paral·lel in Barcelona, with his partner Sònia Profitós leading the dining room. In 2002 the pair opened Alkimia, which earned its Michelin star in 2004 and has held it continuously ever since. The restaurant later moved to its current home inside the Moritz brewery on Ronda de Sant Antoni, with the more casual al kostat operating in the same complex. Vilà also runs Vivanda, a Catalan kitchen in Sarrià, with Gabi Calzado. In 2021 he was awarded three Repsol Soles for Alkimia, the guide's top distinction.
Philosophy
Vilà is associated with what the Repsol Guide calls 'the vanguard of new Catalan cooking' — deeply rooted in regional tradition (sausage-making, conserves, seasonal market produce) but reinterpreted through fine-dining technique. He has held the Catalan National Gastronomy Award and is recognised as one of the city's enduring contributions to modern Catalan cuisine.
Accolades
- ·1 active Michelin star at Alkimia (since 2004)
- ·3 Repsol Soles at Alkimia (top distinction, awarded 2021)
- ·Over 20 consecutive years holding a Michelin star
- ·Catalan National Gastronomy Award
Frequently asked
How many Michelin stars does Jordi Vilà have?
One — at Alkimia in Barcelona, which has held its star continuously since 2004. Alkimia also holds three Repsol Soles, the guide's top distinction, awarded in 2021.
Where can I eat Jordi Vilà's cuisine in Barcelona?
Three restaurants. Alkimia inside the Moritz brewery on Ronda de Sant Antoni is the Michelin-starred flagship. Next door, al kostat is the more casual sibling — a casa-de-comidas format with one Repsol Sol. Vivanda in Sarrià is the Catalan kitchen he runs with Gabi Calzado.
Why are Alkimia and al kostat at a brewery?
The Moritz brewery on Ronda de Sant Antoni was redesigned as a gourmet complex. Alkimia moved into its first floor — a marine-themed dining room facing the kitchen — and al kostat occupies the adjacent informal space. The location lets Vilà operate a fine-dining and a casual concept side by side.