Paulo Airaudo
Argentine chef whose eight active Michelin stars span Spain, Italy and Hong Kong.
- Michelin stars
8- Repsol Soles
3- Bib Gourmand
1- Restaurants
- 9
- Born
- 1985 · Córdoba
Paulo Airaudo is an Argentine-born, San Sebastián–based chef whose group holds eight active Michelin stars across five restaurants in Spain, Italy and Hong Kong. His Barcelona restaurant Aleia at Hotel Casa Fuster, opened in late 2021, earned its second Michelin star in November 2025 under head chef Rafa de Bedoya.
From @paulo_airaudo on Instagram
Blue and red merge through embossing and foil finishes, turning the menu into the first taste of the experience at Amelia Restaurant by Paulo Airaudo. Materials, details and textures shape an identity that begins on paper and continues at the table. Creative direction by Kidstudio
In San Sebastián, @restaurantamelia opens a new chapter. ✨ In an intimate and contemporary setting, chef @paulo_airaudo crafts a gastronomic experience imagined as a dialogue between cuisine, ingredients and guests. Centered around an open kitchen, Amelia invites guests to surrender to a true “Ita
Con determinación. @paulo_airaudo lleva el restaurante Amelia @RestaurantAmelia al interior del @hotelmariacristina y transforma uno de los espacios más emblemáticos de San Sebastián en una experiencia gastronómica íntima y contemporánea. Cocina abierta, raíces italianas y una propuesta en constante
Biography
Early years
Born in 1985 in Córdoba, Argentina to a family of Italian immigrants, Airaudo left home at 18 to pursue cooking. He trained in stages at Arzak in San Sebastián, The Fat Duck in London, and Magnolia in Italy before opening his own restaurants.
Career
In May 2015 he opened La Bottega in Geneva with a partner; it earned a Michelin star within five months. In 2017 he opened Amelia in San Sebastián, which earned its first star within seven months and its second in 2021. Aleia opened in Barcelona's Hotel Casa Fuster in late 2021 (first star 2022, second star 2026). He has since expanded to Hong Kong (Noi, two stars), Florence (Luca's, one star), and — all opened in 2025 — Bangkok (Sartoria), Chiang Mai (Belén) and Venice (Da Lorenzo), with additional venues in San Sebastián and Bogotá.
Philosophy
Airaudo's cuisine is rooted in modern Italian technique, often described as 'Italian cuisine with Japanese accent.' His menus emphasise product-driven simplicity, ingredients sourced daily from local markets, and tasting formats built around a small number of intensely refined courses.
Restaurants
Elsewhere
8Paulo Airaudo in our guides
Editorial guides featuring Paulo Airaudo’s restaurants.
Accolades
- ·8 active Michelin stars across five restaurants (2026): Aleia 2, Amelia 2, Noi 2, iBAi 1, Luca's 1
- ·Aleia (Barcelona) earned its second Michelin star in November 2025
- ·Amelia (San Sebastián), 2 Michelin stars + 2 Repsol Soles
- ·Aleia (Barcelona), 2 Michelin stars + 1 Repsol Sol
- ·Sartoria (Bangkok) and Belén (Chiang Mai) entered the Michelin Guide Thailand as Selected listings (2026 Guide)
- ·Osteria della Bottega (Geneva), Bib Gourmand, 2025 Switzerland guide
Frequently asked
How many Michelin stars does Paulo Airaudo have?
Eight active Michelin stars across five restaurants in 2026: Aleia in Barcelona (2 stars), Amelia in San Sebastián (2), Noi in Hong Kong (2), iBAi in San Sebastián (1) and Luca's in Florence (1) — every count verified against the Michelin Guide's own pages. His 2025 openings in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Venice are not starred.
Where can I eat Airaudo's cuisine in Barcelona?
Aleia at Hotel Casa Fuster on Passeig de Gràcia, which he opened in late 2021 and which earned its second Michelin star in November 2025. The kitchen is led day-to-day by head chef Rafa de Bedoya, with Airaudo as founder and gastronomic director.
Is Paulo Airaudo Spanish?
No, he is Argentine, born in Córdoba in 1985 to a family of Italian immigrants. He has been based in San Sebastián since 2017 and runs his group from there, but his cuisine and identity are explicitly Italian, drawing on his family heritage.