Juan Antonio Medina
Chef who trained at Zalacaín and led Madrid's A'Barra to a Michelin star, now global executive chef of TATEL and TOTÓ.
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Juan Antonio Medina is a Madrid-trained chef who spent two decades at Zalacaín under Benjamín Urdiain before opening A'Barra in May 2016, which earned a Michelin star about six months later. He later led gastronomy at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid under Quique Dacosta, and since January 2022 has served as global executive chef of TATEL and TOTÓ restaurants. A'Barra's kitchen is now run by chef Sergio Manzano.
From @jamedinagalvez on Instagram
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Biography
Career
Medina joined Zalacaín in Madrid in 1996 under chef Benjamín Urdiain, and also worked at Arzak, El Racó de Can Fabes, El Bulli, and Dal Pescatore Santini in Italy before rising to head chef at Zalacaín. He opened A'Barra in Madrid in May 2016, and the restaurant earned a Michelin star roughly six months later. He went on to lead the gastronomy programme at the renovated Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid under Quique Dacosta, then joined Tatel Group as global executive chef on January 10, 2022; he is now global executive chef of TATEL and TOTÓ restaurants. A'Barra is today led by chef Sergio Manzano.
Philosophy
Medina describes his approach as product with updated recipes, without forgetting the hand of a cook who prepares good stocks and cooks things slowly, summed up in his own line: "Without tradition, there is no vanguard." At Tatel, he has framed his goal as carrying Spanish gastronomy beyond its borders.
Juan Antonio Medina in our guides
Editorial guides featuring Juan Antonio Medina’s restaurants.
Accolades
- ·Michelin star, A'Barra (awarded 2016/2017, as founding head chef)
Frequently asked
Does Juan Antonio Medina still cook at A'Barra?
No. Medina opened A'Barra in 2016 and led it to its Michelin star, but the restaurant's kitchen is now led by chef Sergio Manzano. Medina is currently global executive chef of TATEL and TOTÓ.
Where did Juan Antonio Medina train?
He joined Zalacaín in Madrid in 1996 under chef Benjamín Urdiain and also worked at Arzak, El Racó de Can Fabes, El Bulli, and Dal Pescatore Santini in Italy before becoming head chef at Zalacaín.
Does A'Barra have a Michelin star?
Yes. A'Barra has held a Michelin star since 2016, awarded about six months after it opened.
What does Juan Antonio Medina do now?
He is global executive chef of TATEL and TOTÓ restaurants, a role he took on when he joined Tatel Group on January 10, 2022, after running the gastronomy programme at the renovated Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid under Quique Dacosta.
When did A'Barra open?
Juan Antonio Medina opened A'Barra in Madrid in May 2016, and it earned a Michelin star roughly six months later. Sergio Manzano leads the kitchen today.